Volunteer Jeff E. delivered a Cooper’s hawk chick to rehab.
This 3-pound feller came to rehab emaciated and extremely dehydrated, discovered down and unmoving in a construction site, probably yet another victim of loss of habitat….
…as are these downy woodpecker babies, whose tree was cut down while they were in nest.
The fox kits have matured and will be released in the next few weeks. Every single one of them, including Cher, survived and succeeded in rehab!
Bluebird with broken wing is on the mend.
Red-tailed hawk had his bell rung when he hit a window at Air Academy High School and has much improved. We anticipate his release this week!
Mallard ducklings are growing and doing very well.
Sherry, Terri, and Margot found the robin entangled in and dangling from string that they carefully removed. Robin was released a few days ago, right back home.
Grosbeak is doing well.
Great Horned Owl from Englewood is flying once again and will be released back home in September.
Ellicott resident Donna found this box turtle cruising the highway.
I’m guessing the unseasonably cold and wet weather has backed up baby bird season a little bit. This GHO youngster is our first one of this season, arriving nearly a month later than what is typical for us.
It seems a little late for Great Horned Owls this young to arrive to rehab, but sure enough, volunteer Cheryl Cable went out to Calhan yesterday to pick up a GHO youngster that Josh found wandering the street without a tree or adult in sight. The owl seems to be in decent condition and coughed up a pellet overnight. A red-tailed hawk arrived from Air Academy High School, via volunteers David and Marah Rawe. Apparently the hawk collided with a window at the school. He is dull and time will tell. Baby songbirds arriving daily to rehab as well.
Look at fox kit Cher! She survived her horrific ordeal, and is growing and doing well with the fine care she receives from Kris.
The kits have all grown to adult size, and have socialized properly to foxes, not people~ The kits are in outdoor prerelease, and are practicing hunting prey and doing what foxes do in the wild.
Trained volunteer Phil Cable lifts the snapping turtle up prior to release, demonstrating healthy shell and skin.
Although Rocky suffered a few missing claws, road rash, and shell lacerations he sustained no life-threatening injuries during his close encounter with a car at I-70 at 276 in Denver.
Ali’s and Eva’s magpies are doing well, growing and spending their days in an outdoor enclosure, very close to self-feeding. Eva’s magpie is catching up in size, and both have the beginnings of tail feathers. Oh, and they are very NOISY!!
Grackle and robin in rehab together.
Pam noticed a woodpecker in her back yard having problems for about a week, unable to get up off the ground. She called for help and we advised picking the bird up to bring to rehab. The woodpecker has a significant wing injury, and was very dehydrated and starved.
Donna H. found a blown-apart nest on the grass in her yard, having fallen about 30 feet out of a tree. It was a cold, rainy day and she picked up the nest with the 3 babies inside, and drove them to EWRC for care. The babies were very cold and lethargic, and finally on day 3 they were acting like normal healthy babies. They are all 3 doing well now, and getting ready to be moved outside for prerelease training.
The unseasonably cold and wet weather seems to have backed baby season up by just a little bit, but I think we’re catching up now! The baby birds and bunnies are arriving to rehab. Over the weekend rehabber Kris intook her first mallard ducklings of the season. Rocky the snapping turtle completed rehab, big THANK YOU to Lena Roeder, DVM, Shawna Pugmire, Jane Hlavaty, and Cheryl and Phil Cable for all of their help, and was released recently by Cheryl and Phil Cable! The fox kits, including Cher, have all done very well and are grown, outdoors in prerelease, and will be released in the next few weeks. The fawn calls are coming in and we just can’t stress enough that unless you see the dead mother deer, the best way you can help is to LEAVE THE FAWN ALONE! People new to our area seem very surprised to find fawns in yards, on porches, near businesses, etc. and just can’t resist the urge to pick these animals up, which almost always ends in a very bad way for the fawns. The fawns have no scent and the mother places them in places SHE thinks are best. Because her scent would draw predators to her fawn, she doesn’t stay with them but is nearby watching her baby, caring for her baby early in the morning and right around dusk, and will move the fawn when she’s ready, usually within a day or two. Please bring the dogs in, the kids in, and let that mother care for her baby!
Tucker W. prepares to install the brand new platforms and ladders he and Troop 77 built for the raptor flight.
Tucker had some serious help with his project from Troop 77, including dads and gals!
Tucker took on an ambitious project when he volunteered to complete his Eagle Scout project with us. With Troop 77 working together from beginning to end, Tucker’s work consisted of building new platforms and ladders for the raptor flight enclosure. Another part of the project consisted of doing some seriously-needed fire mitigation here, including hauling away several pickup loads of wooden materials and other various stuff. Saturday morning’s weather was sunny, warm, and a little breezy-perfect for a workday! The well-organized crew led by Tucker worked quickly and efficiently, and in no time the project was complete. The guys even took the time to mow the vegetation in the raptor flight enclosure, which was good because it was taller than the owls!
What a nice surprise from the students at Hanover schools! I wish there was room here for all of the beautiful pictures and nice letters we received from you!