These birds have been enjoying the bird bath in Ellicott the last couple of days; anybody know what they are? If so, please e-mail us at the web site www.ellicottwildlife.com
Yesterday afternoon a Coronado High School student Ivor apparently found an injured hawk that had been hit by a car on Fillmore Hill. He and his friends picked the bird up and wrapped in his jacket, took to the school office, and proceeded to set about finding help. The student spoke with Joel, Coronado student as well, who called Phil at work at King Soopers, as Joel works there and is familiar with EWRC. Phil recommended taking the bird to the vet for treatment, so Ray who works in maintenance at Coronado took the hawk to Dr. E. who determined the bird has a fractured ulna. DOW volunteer Cheryl picked the bird up from the vet and brought to EWRC. Time and rest, then some exercise in an outdoor flight, then we anticipate the bird will be released back to the area where first picked up, with all the people that cared enough to take the time to help this critter.
Yesterday evening we loaded up Nate, Handsome, and Hootie and headed out to the Science Fair at Talbott Elementary School, where I’m guessing we visited with about 150 students, parents, and educators to talk a little bit about wildlife rehab and the birds’ stories. We had a good time. The kids showed up with Ziploc bags containing the bones of critters they’d dissected out of owl pellets; pretty neat! After we finished the bird part of the program we all headed to the auditorium to meet a reptile group that had brought some fascinating critters of their own, including a boa that I think we were told would soon be on the threatened list. All in all it was a pretty good time and I found out a book called “Owl Moon” that I think we might implement in our owl program. Thank you, Beth, for inviting us!!
If you’re getting rid of old sheets and would like to donate them, we could sure use them now. Old bath towels, too. Please call us at 719-683-8152. Drop off with Phil in the Produce Department at King Soopers Woodmen and Academy, Thursday thru’ Sunday from 12:30 to 9 pm, or anytime at the facility. THANKS!! P.S. Baled hay without mold would be a good thing, too.
It’s a good thing EWRC wildlife rehabilitator Kris is petite and slender! Yesterday she found herself squashed under somebody’s back deck, trying to capture an injured coyote to take to the vet. It started with a phone call from a woman that saw the animal get hit by a car. She followed the slow-moving canine thru’ a residential area where a man let his dogs chase the coyote. The coyote slipped through a space in a fence, into somebody’s back yard. There Kris stopped and informed the woman that was as far as they could go without trespassing. Since the animal was somewhat contained in the yard, they went to a neighbor’s house and inquired as to whether they could find out where the homeowner was to gain permission to go into the yard. Fortunately the neighbor was able to help, they contacted the homeowner, obtained permission to go into the yard to get the injured animal. The coyote had gone under the deck, all the way to the back, where the clearance was about 1-2 feet and covered with snow and ice. Kris had to wriggle underneath the deck, becoming a frozen, muddy mess, and get the coyote out and into the kennel for the trip to the vet. Well, she accomplished this task and the animal was taken to a Denver area vet where it was determined the hip was shattered and not fixable.
This afternoon Cindy called from the Design Center in Colorado Springs. It seems one of the employees had found a raptor behind the store on the ground, eating something it had apparently caught, with falconry gear still on. This is a concern for us as a couple of years ago we had a call of a leashed bird tangled up in a tree and nobody around. Well, DOW volunteer Dan dropped what he was doing at the Sport Show to go and pick the bird up so we could safely contain it while trying to locate the owner. We didn’t know the owner/falconer was already there in the area of his bird. I called the Air Force Academy to see if they were missing a bird; they weren’t, but knew who to call to find out if anyone else was missing a bird. Dan showed up and the bird was able to keep just out of his reach, flying to an air conditioning unit on the next building. Dan located a ladder and was attempting to get to the rooftop when he heard a whistle, and that turned out to be the falconer. It seems the falconer had been out hunting his bird when the bird moved just out of sight. Knowing the bird was close by, the responsible, experienced falconer looked until he located the bird, which is when he and Dan spotted each other. All of this happened within less than an hour. Dan tells me the bird seemed to be playing a little bit, not quite ready to go home yet, and stayed just out of reach until the magpies showed up, at which time the falconer whistled and the bird flew right to him, apparently ready to go home. I’m glad this one turned out so well and I REALLY appreciate Dan’s dropping everything to help out, and going out there knowing that a bird that had just eaten would be almost impossible to coax.
Guess what came in the mail yesterday? Some very interesting observations from several of Mrs. Louis’ classes from last week when we visited almost 300 students at Jenkins Middle School. Educational Ambassadors Handsome, Nate, and Hootie came and we discussed raptor adaptations and what each of us can do to help if we find injured or orphaned wildlife. I’ve never seen so many students sit so still and so quietly for so long! We had a wonderful time and thank you all for the mail. Here is one of the classes’ comments:
Yesterday was a perfect day to release Betsey’s saw whet owl back to home in Rockrimmon. We’ve been waiting for quite some time for Ziggy to heal from his big accident with the window, then waiting for good weather. It was late afternoon and while driving through the neighborhood we spotted several deer foraging in residents’ yards and one stately buck relaxing on somebody’s lawn. Unfortunately Anita and Amanda couldn’t make it to the release due to being out of town, but Jeromy from the DOW was able to attend as well as a couple of Betsey’s friends. The release was good. The owl was gone so fast we didn’t even get a picture of him (you can see his earlier rehab picture by searching the blog.) However, we did have a tour of Coulton’s immaculately-maintained reptile collection and his healthy lizards. We watched while they changed colors a few times, which was cool. I admit I forgot what a couple of these guys are called but here they are and if you can refresh my memory please e-mail me through our web site!
Here Betsey prepares to give the bird his freedom…..
Coulton and his bearded dragon.
This one is a baby-I don’t recall what this lizard is called!
And this is an adult of the same type of lizard.
Finally, FINALLY it feels “spring-y” today! After several weeks/months of bitter cold, wind, blowing snow, and blizzards, today feels good. The sun is shining, the drifts are beginning to melt, and the extended weather forecast looks promising. So today was a good day to catch up on some releases that have been pending for several weeks. Today “Kenny” the junco went back home to Ken and Darcie in Manitou. April’s male kestrel went back home to April’s back yard in Colorado Springs. And today John G.’s kestrel is going back home to John’s back yard. Jim’s red-tailed hawk finally looks brighter and perkier. “Pearl” the female kestrel found on Pearl Harbor Day with a broken wing is outside today, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Betsey’s saw whet owl Ziggy is looking great and ready to go. A few more critters will be released this week as well, and here’s hoping spring is here to stay!!! And thank you again to all the volunteers involved in these birds’ success; Tom O’Toole, Diana Biggs, Dr. Eggleston and Cindy, Dr. Hancock, and Ken, April, Jim, Betsey, and all who stop and take the time to help an animal that deserves a second chance at life.
Sharon O’Toole photographs while DOW Transport Volunteer Tom O’Toole and the finder of the falcon, April, do a quick release!
(This is a youngster released back in summertime after he’d matured.)
Tammy called the other day after having noticed a brightly-colored bird in her yard for a couple of days, foraging beneath her bird feeder. She was concerned, as the bird didn’t appear able to fly. Tammy picked the bird up and that’s when she noticed the broken beak. She was able to bring the bird to the vet and she happily did so. Cindy noted the bird felt weighty and “like a beanbag” after having consumed so much seed! Dr. E. determined the beak would heal with time, then DOW Transport Volunteers Louise and John C. picked the bird up for transport to EWRC. John wondered if perhaps the beak had been deliberately trimmed, as sometimes occurs when people keep game birds, to reduce injuries sustained when the birds fight each other in captivity. The bird IS in overall good body condition, can fly, and we will allow time for the beak to heal before locating a newer and more appropriate site for him than suburban Colorado Springs!
