Northern Flicker 26-023 was admitted on March 27, 2026 with a fractured right scapula. After one month at BMW the flicker was released near where it had been found. It seemed very happy be back home!

Young Western Screech Owl 26-039 is recovering well from a collision and possible cat attack. It will soon join three other young Screech Owls. All four owls will be placed in a hack box in preparation for a soft release.

Barn Owl 26-030 was admitted on April 8 weighing 15 grams. Today, 11 days later, he weighs 33 grams! Intern Allison is feeding the owlet in the photo below.

And he has three new siblings as company. All are eating well and gaining weight. 

Hatchling Barn Owl 26-030, the first baby Barn Owl of 2026, arrived on Wednesday, a day or two after hatching. It weighed 15 grams, about 1/2 ounce. Barn Owls nest in cavities and the nest was too well hidden to find.

Bald Eagles Rita and Jonathon have been remodeling their nest recently. On Saturday morning Rita was proudly guarding her first egg of 2026. Although she has laid eggs for many years, they have never been fertile.

Intern Allison released Dark-eyed Junco 26-022 two weeks after it was admitted with head and shoulder injuries. The tiny bird quickly disappeared into the trees along the Umatilla River near where it had been found.

The new clinic has arrived and it is more than double the size of the old clinic. The inside walls are finished. Next is installation of the vinyl flooring.

Western Screech Owls 26-024 and 26-025 were admitted Saturday morning. The small owls had “branched,” moving out of their nest cavity onto a branch. They ended up on the ground, probably the result of a wind gust. The finder couldn’t see the nest and was concerned that neighborhood cats would get the owlets. Our exam found no major injuries. Once they are eating on their own, we will put them with Western Screech Owl 26-021 and place all three young owls in an artificial nest and let them fledge as they normally would. Food will be provided until they are self sufficient.

We attempt to gather as much information as possible in order to accurately assess the condition of wildlife brought to BMW for care. This is especially true for small birds such as Dark-eyed Junco 26-022 who weighed 16 grams at admission, slightly more than one-half ounce. Palpating such a small bird is challenging. Observing the bird in the box it arrived in is helpful (and is part of BMW’s intake protocol for all wildlife). 

We noticed a slight droop in the Junco’s right wing. It can be difficult to get a good x-ray on very small birds. In the x-ray below there is a slight asymmetry in the two shoulders. The airsac (black space below the arrows) on the right is slightly smaller than the same space on the left (the bird is on its back). This could indicate swelling in the right shoulder and is consistent with the droopy right wing we noticed initially.  

We opted for cage rest rather than attempting to bandage such a small wing. The Junco will be placed in a small flight pen in about one week for a test flight.

Northern Flicker 26-023 was the second admission of the week. It also had a droopy right wing. Asymmetry in the shoulders was detected during a physical exam. An X-ray showed increased density/swelling in the right shoulder. Oblique views of the shoulder showed a fracture of the right scapula. The right shoulder has been immobilized with a figure-8 bandage and body wrap. A rolled up towel in the corner of the Flicker’s cage simulates the trunk of a tree, allowing the flicker (a medium=sized woodpecker) to perch normally.

Saturday was a burn day which allowed the Fire Brigade, Tricia and intern Allison, to make a huge dent in the tumbleweed population!

A starving, young Western Screech Owl was the first admission of the week. The young owl was 50% underweight and we were unable to save it. Next was Great Horned Owl 26-019 who was struck by a vehicle. The damage could not be repaired and the owl was euthanized. 

The third admission of the week was Cooper’s Hawk 26-020 who died soon after admission. The hawk appeared to have been involved in a collision, perhaps with a window or car. We are not sure.

And finally, young Western Screech Owl 26-021 who was favoring its left leg. An x-ray showed increased density in the left hip. We are hoping the injury will heal with cage rest and tincture of time. The little guy has an excellent appetite, eating two or three mice each day!