Yesterday was release day for several kestrels; 4 youngsters that have grown and were ready to go, and “Dino,” an injured adult that had apparently hit a huge glass window very hard. Meredith came to work early one morning and found him lying on a pile of rocks, very still. She thought he was dead, picked him up, and saw he was still breathing. It was rough the first several days in rehab; he needed to be hand-fed at first, and then he gradually improved well enough to go outside in a flight cage, where he proceeded to eat, catch bugs, and work on flying and landing. Dino was taken back to where Meredith found him for release. Chuck’s kestrels are doing well, surprisingly enough even the little one, and we anticipate a release for those 2 soon as well.
Here Meredith opens the kennel door to release the kestrel.
Dino surveys his surroundings after release.
Dino before release, outside.
Okay, we get a lot of good donated stuff and we just KNOW we’re going to use it someday! Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen and before we know it, we’ve accumulated 6 years’ worth of stuff all over the place! We’re very tiny inside and have no outdoor storage facilities; no place to put anything, and until it started raining like crazy a few weeks ago, we’ve been very concerned about fire. So we are very grateful to Dan and Same Day Haulin’, Inc. for donating the big dumpster to us for the weekend so we can clean the place up a bit! In no time at all that dumpster was filled to the brim, and now we can mow and clean up, thus reducing fire hazard.
Thanks, Guys!!
More birds and a coyote. “Hooter” was found in Peyton by Mike H. Mike was driving to work early one morning a few days ago and spotted the owl at the side of the road. A couple of hours later Mike’s wife drove by and saw the bird, too. Well, the next morning and again on the way home from work Mike saw the bird in about the same place, became very concerned, and called around until he got in touch with Linda, who referred him to EWRC. We went out and sure enough, there was the young GHO, sitting just barely off the busy road. After examining the bird, it appears this youngster has suffered a head trauma and we hope with time and stress-free care he will improve for release.
And a young coyote had apparently been through a trauma, too, and suffered a broken leg. Peggy took the coyote to the vet for a surgical repair and pinning of the leg, and again we hope with time and stress-free, outdoor “physical therapy” she will do well and can be released.
Still busy with birds, and more arriving every day! We’re going through frozen rodents, bird seed, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, and worms (eeeww) like crazy! Here’s a peek……
A young flicker takes some formula.
(Released.)
A young meadowlark goes outside and begins looking for bugs.
(Released.)
And the first young Swainson’s Hawk of the season. He will look nothing like this when he’s mature-see below…
(Released.)
And this is what he’ll look like when mature.
(Released.)
Yesterday afternoon we had an enjoyable chat with Chuck Baker, of radio station 1580 KKKK. Chuck’s friend at the station found some young kestrels in terrible condition last week, sitting in the road out east. He and Chuck took the birds to Belcrest Animal Clinic, as Chuck has known Dr. E. for years, and knows Dr. E. is spectacular with birds. After some rehydration there from Cindy, and help from volunteer Louise as well, the birds came to EWRC where unfortunately, one of them had died upon arrival. The birds were very young, wet, and very cold; couldn’t maintain their body temperatures without heating pads. They were covered in a greasy yet crusty substance that was very stinky. I’m happy to say the remaining 2 are doing well, although the smaller one is still kind of touch-and-go, not growing as well as the other and still needs help eating. Chuck is a very caring guy, taking the time to call and check on these birds, and also gave us the opportunity to share information on our facility and the work we do here on his radio program. Thank you, Chuck, for caring and taking the time to find out what the right thing to do is, and for helping spread the word on the work we wildlife rehabbers do. Like you said, nobody knows we exist until they need us and then they’re amazed we exist. Most think we’re nuts for doing this, as we aren’t funded by any agency and use our own time, homes, money, and energy to help care for this valuable resource, our wildlife! I can tell Chuck appreciates most animals, not just wildlife and we appreciate caring people like Chuck who take the time to do the right thing!
Well, it’s hot and muggy, and critters still coming in! All but 2 of the young kestrels are ready to go, along with a couple of injured adults. The youngsters are flying loops in their enclosure, hunting bugs and rodents, and looking great! We will release them here in Ellicott, as kestrels are everywhere here and there is lots of food for them. The injured adults are going back where they came from. Flickers are going outside as soon as we have availabe outdoor facilities for them. Meadowlark is about ready. Blue jays are growing and looking good. Great Horned Owls and red-tailed hawks are close to release, too. A severely injured cottontail came in, could be he was carried away by a raptor or other predator, then dropped. He has major head trauma and lacerations. So far, so good. Cassandra did a great job by giving him homeopathy on intake and Diana gave him a dark, warm, quiet place to rest until we could pick him up. Now we play “the waiting game” and hope for the best. We’ve seen worse injuries that with time, stress-free environment and care, gradually heal and then can be released. And the hawks are coming, youngsters that were washed out of their nests by the recent storms, fledgelings found sitting in the roads with no adults in sight. Again, good food and good, stress-free housing will be key to getting these guys healthy, hunting, flying, and ready for release. This is the time of year for us when we need the best and most food to feed these guys, and appreciate your help with donations! Please, if you’re able, bring a donation with the animal you bring to your local wildlife rehabilitator! When we run out of animal food, we have to turn animals away. Other helpful donations include paper towels, regular towels, bird seed, and heating pads.
Volunteer Diana with a baby flammulated owl
Leslie’s young Cooper’s hawks from Monument
Young blue jay
Today was a scorcher, and a big THANK YOU to Su and Diana for setting up, running, and dismantling the yard sale. Thank you also to Gary and all who donated items for the sale! We have LOTS of animals to feed and we need all the help we can get!!
Is $265.
Yesterday was a day not soon to be forgotten by Meg or Diana, Transport Volunteers. A couple of baby raptors arrived at EWRC and since it was apparent that these birds needed “foster parent” birds of their own kind, which we are not able to provide here for those particular birds, the decision was made to take these babies to Pueblo Raptor Center-STAT!! It seemed like a good idea at the time; the rain had stopped, and the Raptor Center is always a great place to visit. Well, the ride began uneventfully enough but upon nearing Pueblo on I-25, the rain became torrential and quickly the highway became a nightmare, completely flooded and packed with cars, and no options but to white-knuckle through it and hope for the best. On top of all that, a light-up sign above the highway alerted us to a tornado in the area and to take cover! Not very helpful, since cars were trapped on the flooded highway and there was high, rushing, muddy water on either side of the road, and leaving the vehicle to find cover was not an option. Very grim indeed. After nail-biting, praying, and of course, a bit of picture-taking, we finally made it to the Raptor Center with the babies, where Kelly let us in and situated the birds. The sky was black and we wanted to get home as quickly as possible, but we learned that now I-25 had been closed down. The tornado had hit Pueblo West. We had no choice but to take the “scenic” route home, the long way home, but at least it was fairly dry. So the medal of bravery, I feel, must go to Diana for driving the babies through that nightmare situation safely. This was not her first perilous transport. A few years ago Diana drove through a bad storm at 11 pm on Labor Day, all the way out to Limon to pick up a poorwill with a broken wing. So again, a classic example of dedication and care, and this is what makes Diana and other transport volunteers so special! Thank you Diana!!
Okay, we went from drought and fires to storms and flash floods in the space of 2 weeks in the Pikes Peak area! For about the first time in 6 years in Ellicott, we are truly green! Because of all the rain we’ve had lately, we’ve had puddles and still water collecting in every conceivable receptacle outside. This is a good time to dump out all the still water you might have sitting around outside, because this would likely reduce the mosquito population around your home. And let’s enjoy the green while it lasts-going to be HOT and DRY in a few days!
Although it is only July, we are preparing for wintertime and thinking about the types of critters that will have to convalesce here over the winter, and how difficult it can be to find appropriate food for them during that time. We are looking for ripe juniper berries and Virginia creeper berries, as well as choke cherries, buffalo berries, pine nuts, walnuts, and dried fruits (blueberries, blackberries,cherries, and other native berries you may have on your bushes.) If you’re able to help us with these items, we would be very grateful. If you can harvest branches from juniper and Virginia creeper (woodbine) we’ll be happy to pull the berries off. THANKS!!
Due to web site maintainer’s computer crashing, we are unable to update the bid right now, so will do it here. The new high bid on the bird bath is $260 with the auction closing at midnight on July 31st.
It started on Thursday when a homeowner noticed an American White Pelican with an obvious wing problem sitting in his driveway (yes, we really do have pelicans in
