Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

I want to share a string of emails from Carol, our Volunteer Coordinator, Hotline Coordinator and Rescue and Transport aid.  I couldn’t say it better than Carol, Tammy, Tony or any of the others involved in these series of interactions.
This is mostly for our new hotline volunteers:  This is a 3 step west side rescue.  It happens a lot!
We had an owl in Buckeye that was brought to an animal clinic who called us for help.  They were getting ready to x-ray it but didn’t know how to treat it…meds, fluids etc. and wanted some help.  The best action, of course, was to find a rescue person to go get it. Most vet clinics don’t know how to treat wild animals.  I took over the rescue call outs and using the mapping program plus the papers got (1) Margaret V. to go get it.  I also called (2) Arlene P. (on the relay sheet for rescues) to be sure she’d be home tonight.  Arlene is a med services volunteer who can stabilize and keep animals overnight. She’s in Glendale.  Margaret was to take the owl to Arlene.  Arlene was to call (3) Claudia K. who also lives out there (also on the relay sheet) and comes to Liberty Tuesday and Wednesday morning. She is to pick up the owl on her way into Liberty tomorrow morning.  FYI:  Arlene comes to Liberty on Thursday mornings so we have 3 days of transport for the west side.
Pretty cool, huh?  On a grander scale, we do this kind of thing to bring animals in from outlying areas of the state.
We don’t do a lot of relays for the east side of Phx. metro because we have more rescuers and Scottsdale is measurably closer!   However, if you look at that relay sheet you do see some names for the east side to call if you are looking for a “half way house”.  If you’re new, you might want to get me or a veteran hotliner to help out.
Carol

From Tammy G.
Carol,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK, YOU for taking over this call for me!!!
I’m impressed about how it all worked out, and I’m looking forward to being able to do this kind of work in the future (and removing some of your crazy workload!!!)
WOO HOO!! I LOVE THE HOTLINE!!!
Tammy
You are welcome. How did the rescue with your mom workout? Did she come alone to Liberty with the owl, did you come with her or what happened?
Carol
Hi again!,
As you can tell, I’m answering my e-mails…FINALLY!!
My AWESOME mom went in, took control, and picked-up the baby owl with NO PROBLEM!!!  She’s such a STUD!!! LOL!!
I met her along the way, and we went to Liberty together.  ”WHOO” it was dark when we got there, but I had a powerful flashlight!  She filled out the paperwork and book like she’d been doing it for years!! (Can you tell I’m impressed with her???!!!)  She placed a towel under the carrier and set the baby down to be looked at in the morning!  I peeked into the box, and he/she looked calm and comfortable!!! Oh he/she was SO CUTE!!!  Of course, during transport, we whispered, didn’t listen to the radio and had only outside air on for ventilation.  So the owl was pretty calm throughout!!
Overall, a thoroughly successful rescue!!  Of course, I hope the baby is doing well!!
This is SO FUN!!!
Tammy
Tony,
Your training paid off with this brand new rescuer!  This was a 9 pm call from AJ High School.  Baby owl.  Tammy’s mom came from Gold Canyon.  Tammy lives in Chandler.    The women were amazing. They also had to deal with the Ranger insisting on the owl staying there next to the playing field of the high school (not a safe place in the morning). The Ranger needed a little convincing, but we got the baby. I’m guessing that they didn’t get to Liberty till 10 o’clock at night.  Intrepid pair!
Carol
See what I mean.  They all totally rock, the animals were helped….the system works using an incredible cadre of volunteers.  Thanks to all of you.  And, to the others of you…get involved, add meaning to your lives and help others in need.  Volunteer now.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 1303.

Volunteer Holly Hicks said it all when I called for the intake total today: “It’s a madhouse here today!”  The orphans are raining down on us and we’re all struggling to stay on top of things. Good thing some animals are getting released. The fosters are all doing a great job and more are on the way. Stand back and take a look…!

Geese getting ready to go (photo by Allen Spencer)

“No standing in front of the white line”  (photo by Allen Spencer)

Mom checks out the new place (photo by Allen Spencer)

A beautiful new home (photo by Allen Spencer)

The family of Canada geese that has been residing in our waterfowl area for the past few weeks finally got the trip they (and WE!) had been hoping for –  a ride to their new home at a local lake. Allen and Sharon loaded them up and drove them out to the release site and after mom surveyed the new digs, they launched into the beautiful lake and seemed to enjoy the exquisite surroundings.

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A baby coyote made a brief appearance last week (photo by Alex Stofko)

An orphan coyote was rescued and brought to Liberty for a brief evaluation before being sent to our friends at SWWL for further rearing. Always cute, and always a challenge!

Toba and Joanie examine a black crowned night heron

This kestrel gets her foot checked

…and then gets some fluids

Not everything at the facility is an orphan – we still get in some older birds and animals that are injured and require some medical intervention. The black-crowned night heron above had a wing injury and the little kestrel had some foot issues which required some more treatment after the normal fluid administration.

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So tiny and helpless…

Rene feeds a humming bird

Jan feeds one of the tiny raven hatchlings

A clutch of larger baby ravens begging

The tiniest of baby animals are cared for by the careful hands of our Med Services and Orphan Care teams. From the smallest hummingbirds and ravens to the most helpless cottontails (and even some larger raven nestlings), all hungry mouths are fed on schedule with the proper diet in appropriate amounts. (If you’d like to help, contact Carol Suits at csuits@q.com for information!)

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Barn owl foster family

Part of Igor’s foster family

This year, Maggie is a foster mom…

Wyatt and Earp’s fosters

“Meet the Kestrels!”

With the great influx of orphaned raptors that occurs each year at this time, we are extremely fortunate that our foster parent program is so successful.  There is almost no way our volunteers could adequately care for the hundreds of baby owls, hawks, and falcons that we take in each spring. Our non-releasable foster parent birds are indispensable when it’s time to raise orphans, and they do it while providing the proper imprinting on the little ones so they can all be released down the road.

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Our friend Christie Van Cleve from Sierra Vista has a baby GHO that needs a ride up from Tucson.  Is anybody headed that way in the next day or so? CALL ME 602-317-9320

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Reunions and homecomings have filled the news lately.  We have a story of our own.  About the third week of April the bald eagle nest watchers at the Sycamore nest near the Verde River at  the Ft. McDowell Indian Community noticed that one of the two babies had fledged early…bailed out of the nest for an unknown reason and before it was really ready.  This often happens when the weather hits over 100.  You can see from the photos that the nest has no shade and the tree is in bad condition.  With no shade these dark feathered babies heat up quickly.  They are too big for the parent to shade anymore so they are left at the mercies of the weather.  To add to the problems the tree is deteriorating.  The bark falls away easily making it almost impossible for an early fledger to make it back into the nest…..a bad combination of factors!

The nest watchers observed the baby on the ground and realized that although it was begging, it wasn’t getting fed, had no access to water and was very vulnerable to predators.  They alerted Game and Fish and two biologists were sent out to assess the situation.  They gave her fluids and attempted to get her closer in the tree to the nest.  The bad condition of the tree made it difficult to climb to actually put her back in the nest.  It was decided to give the situation some more time.

Unfortunately she bailed again from that spot in the tree and was on the ground begging again.  The parents were still feeding the baby in the nest and not bringing food to the baby on the ground and to make matters worse, the nest watchers were going to be gone from their observation spot for four days.

By this time she hadn’t eaten in ten days and was too weak to attempt to climb the tree.  The mother was now flying overhead trying to coax her back into the tree and eventually into the nest.  The biologists consulted with Jan at Liberty, and it was decided that the risk of leaving her alone for four days, unattended and weak was surely a death knell so they decided to bring her in.  When they got her there it was no surprise to find her very thin and dehydrated.  They gave her fluids and some fish and brought her in to Liberty where she received more fluids and fish and was put with the other baby eagle currently in our care.  That is another endearing story in itself that will wait for another day.

At this point both babies were being fed a pound of fish a day.  The new baby girl began to revive and to thrive.    It was clear that soon she would be able to return to her family.  For the next 6 days she provided companionship for our broken winged baby and ate to her heart’s content.  She regained the fire in her eyes and the fight in her talons.  Perfect!

On the 6^th of May she was taken back to the nest site…a lot more alert, active, and alive than when she left.  She was taken as close to the nest as they could get her.  And, the miracle is that she somehow managed with her new found strength to get herself back into the nest.  Her sibling had fledged and after a short flight came back and joined her in the nest.  The parents began doing what parents do so well….feeding and tending their babes.

Since then, they are both taking short flights returning to the nest. In no time at all they will be able to move closer to the water for coolness and hydration as our temperatures reach the triple digits again.

This is yet another success for the Arizona Game and Fish Nest Watch Program and for Liberty Wildlife.  This reunion could never have occurred, and the ending would have been anything but happy were it not for this successful partnership.

Live long and prosper baby eagles!

This Week at Liberty

The intake total has jumped to 1108!

Posted by Terry Stevens

As usual this time of year, the intake window looks like the Free Beer booth at Spring Break.  Some times we think about putting in refreshments for those waiting in the line. The OC volunteers are working their shifts valiantly, as are the DC, Med Services, all the other volunteer groups just trying to keep up with the springtime onslaught. It seemed like “Eagle Central” in the past few weeks and if you read Megan’s H3 above, scroll down and see the supporting graphics.  It’s a busy time for Liberty Wildlife…

The OC staff is a dedicated team! (this is just one shift!)

The Orphan Care team is pulling together under their team leaders and is doing a great job under trying conditions of cramped space, sometimes thin coverage, and a growing crowd of hungry patients, but they are true stars in the Liberty constellation! If anyone wants to help out with a couple of hours, contact Carol Suits and enjoy the thrill of feeding a baby bird that will soon be singing a joyous song for all Arizona to hear!

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“Hello world… What am I doing here?”

“Everybody pile on Steve!!”

Some of our orphan creatures are of the “Awwww” variety, inspiring that low, soft response from all who see them. This little burrowing owl fledgling came in last week and I got this shot before he went out to meet his foster mom. Liberty Wildlife has a good record of successfully raising (and when necessary, relocating) orphaned BuOw’s in the area and this one will be no exception. The bunch of ground squirrels were having this rugby scrum last week and stood still for the nano-second it took to get this shot of them in the corner of their enclosure.

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Toba and Joanie check a screech owl

Looking for some TLC…

Not all the animals that arrive are babies or orphans.  This screech owl arrived with some unknown issues and was evaluated by Toba and Joanie last Tuesday.  Under observation, he will continue treatment for his symptoms and hopefully will be released in the near future.

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Sycamore baby upon arrival at Liberty on April 30 (photo by Liberty volunteer)

After rehab, about to go back to the nest (photo by Jen Ottinger)

One last meal before nest insertion (photo by Jen Ottinger)

It’s a long way up! (photo by Jen Ottinger)

Kurt carries the wayward baby back home (photo by Jen Ottinger)

Home at last! (photo by Jen Ottinger)

Back at flight school with sibling watching nearby (photo by Jen Ottinger)

OK, the story is perfectly told by Megan in H3 above. We’ll try to keep you advised of any later developments.

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Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Wishes for Wildlife 2013, the 20^th anniversary of our biggest fund raising event of the year is now a past event.  It was a lovely evening at the Montelucia and for all purposes, it was pretty glitch free.  That doesn’t come easily for those of you who have never had the pleasure of organizing and executing an event of this size.  And, trust me, it takes a village.

There are so many people to thank that it is hard to get started.  But certainly, all of the volunteers who worked for a year to gather items, plan a program, get decorations, refine the lists, create and print the collateral, man the web site, lay out the auction, man the auction, clean up after the auction, and make sure everything gets back in its place for the next time.

Then there are all of the donors, corporate table hosts, and individual table hosts.  People who make a contribution of items to auction, who donate their services to design, print, address, or who plan and execute the program.  Here I am going to step out on a limb and name a few standouts.  First I want to thank Christi Warner-Beyer, Wishes for Wildlife Executive Committee member and Michael Barnard, Artistic Director of The Phoenix Theatre for the cleverly planned program.  A great deal of effort went into making this a fun, entertaining and delightful way to stay mission driven in our program, using our educational ambassadors and their handlers to drive home the message of our education group.

I can’t let the opportunity to pass without expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful people from SRP’s audio visual department, Mark Kenger and the gang, who every year have kept me on a path with a smile, with incredible patience, and with technical expertise that is unparalleled.   They are the best!

I also want to praise Pat Kohfal , Esprit Décor, who has generously helped with matts for donated art, with framing and plaques for awardees and with serenity when I show up at the last minute with something that slipped from my radar until the last minute.  There is always a smile and a “yes, I can” attitude and I greatly appreciate that.

I need to also thank Char Hubble and Marc Reid who stepped up last year to take on the roles of Benefit Chairs.  They have met with us, provided ideas to make the event what it was, and we are forever in their debt.  None of this could have been done without the dedication from the heart from Peggy Cole (not enough that I can say here…another day!), Terry Stevens, Carol Suits, Jan Miller, and all of the Wildlife Guardians who each had major roles in the organization and program planning.  They each deserve more than they got….a pat on the back and the intrinsic reward of a job well done all to further the mission of Liberty Wildlife.

Let me not forget Nan and C.A. Howlett for their roles as our Honorary Chairs for this benefit.  C.A.’s eloquent words when asked by a friend why he supports this organization were made of gold.  He could be and is the perfect spokesman for Liberty Wildlife, and if I could hire him, I would.

And, lastly, my friend and advisor, Kathleen Lang, the recipient of this year’s Legacy Award for her creation of this event  twenty years ago and for the nearly 3 million dollars she has helped raise to allow us to assist thousands and thousands of animals and to educate hundreds of thousands of people about the beauty and benefits of wildlife.  To her lovely daughter, Kaitlin, who gracefully presented the award to her mother, I give my thanks in awe…what a lady!

To you, the supporters of this event, by helping, attending, donating….I am forever in your debt.  From the bottom of my heart….a huge THANK YOU!

If I have forgotten any one….my apologies….my thanks go to you also.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake number now stands at 899.

Time to breathe again, as the Wishes for Wildlife event for 2013 is now in the history books. A few cleanup items remain, but all-in-all it was a very nice event. Prior to that, last week saw a few more intakes (ok, maybe more than a FEW…) and a couple of notable happenings which I’ll present below. The real stars of the day were, as always, the great volunteers of Liberty Wildlife. And, as always, the work of the organization goes on at full tilt.  Read on…

Long distance traveler

As noted last week, R&T volunteer Joe Patrizi answered the call to drive to Lake Havasu to bring in this little fledgling GHO who was in the care of rehabber Pam Short. The little guy is doing OK but appears to have burns from an electrical accident sometime in his, as yet, short life. Hopefully the rapidity with which he arrived will help him make a successful recovery.  Thanks, Joey!

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Roomies

It seems like we’re becoming the  ”Baby bald eagle” capital of Arizona with the arrival of yet another little kid last week.  The two fledglings are now being housed together in an outside enclosure as they make progress in their healing process. Unfortunately, another call from AZGFD about a downed fledgling bald from the Riverside nest was not so good.  One chick was observed in the nest tree with a parent as I drove up to the site, but its sibling was dead on the side of the road, possibly from a car collision. Sad, but all too common as eagles and humans occupy a lot of the same territory…

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“Resistance is futile – your heart WILL be melted! We are ground squirrels!” (photo by Toba Robinson)

OK, no matter what is going on at any given time in the ICU, people are always oohing and ahhing over these little guys who, on a cuteness scale of one to ten are about a fifteen! Toba used my camera to grab this shot as the following rescue operation was taking place 10 feet away…

“I thought sure I could fit through here…”

Slow, careful sawing

The view from the bottom

The final cut – (NOT the Pink Floyd version…)

After 38 minutes of careful sawing and snipping – smiles all around

Last week, one of Nina’s neighbors noticed this little lizard stuck in an opening in an irrigation control box cover. Tammy, one of our star R&T volunteers, brought it up to Liberty and in the middle of the rest of the Tuesday “Vet Night” activities, I got a blade from a jigsaw. Holding the blades in my fingers in order to stay as careful as possible, I began sawing the hard resin cover to get the little animal free.  Tammy held both the lid and the lizard to keep him from getting cut and after 38 minutes for sawing and cutting with a variety of tools, the opening was made large enough for her to extricate the little reptile.  He(?) has since been released back into his own yard and now can tell his friends about his adventure.

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Volunteers having fun

Marc and Megan

A surprise appearance by mysterious artist, “El Diablo!” – who looks a lot like Robert Mesta (photo by Eden Baxter)

Wishes for Wildlife 2013, our 20th annual fundraiser, was held at the Montelucia Resort in Paradise valley last Saturday night. Everyone who was able to attend appeared to have a great time and from the early estimates, it was a productive night for the organization in terms of donations. Final results won’t be available for some time, but the silent and live auctions alone were record setting. And in the end, all of the attendees, including many volunteers, had a chance to clean up, dress up, and enjoy some time together for a good cause.  Thanks to all who participated!

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Liberty Volunteer Craig Fischer brought to my attention that last week was Points of Light’s Volunteer Appreciation Week.  Points of Light is the “world’s leading volunteer organization “whose mission is to connect people to their power to create positive change and address the critical needs of our community”.  They aim to empower people to take actions that change the world.

This made me think about the importance of volunteering at Liberty Wildlife.  It is empowering to the volunteers.  It allows so many people to create a positive change not only for the community but for the wildlife that is a huge part of that community.  Ultimately volunteering creates a positive change for each person who comes out in the hot or cold, who spends hours traveling to do educational programs, rescue and transport animals in need, or to spend time on the phone as a first line of assistance to people with wildlife issues.  These are the volunteers who are relatively public.  But, there are so many people who give of their time to help this organization….the unsung heroes that quietly go about doing their parts.

One of these greatly impactful groups is our Board of Directors.  They come to meetings, deal with issues concerning fiduciary responsibilities, policy, fund raising, and other ways to keep us safe and sound from an administrative point of view…all of this using the experiences they have from their “non-volunteer” lives.   I personally couldn’t survive without them.

Our Wildlife Guardians who spend a year putting on our main fund raiser of the year, Wishes for Wildlife.  (It isn’t too late for you to participate in this year’s May 4^thevent…..put together a table, come with a friend, take part in a fabulous evening with treasures to behold.  See attached invitation.)  They beg from their associates to bring in items for our incredible silent and live auction.  They attend to the plethora of details that it takes to put on a huge event.  They have been doing this for twenty years…bless their souls!

Our veterinarians perform surgeries, check out wounded eyes, pin broken bones and diagnose unusual maladies….all in the seclusion of their private surgical suites…no fanfare, no glory…just the satisfaction of knowing that they helped.  And, there is a myriad of other silent soldiers, too many to name, who volunteer to help our mission.  They have decided for all of their individual decisions to live a purposeful life beyond their careers and families.  They have chosen to volunteer, and we couldn’t survive without them.

So to all of you-and you know who you are-we are forever in your gratitude.  As one of our volunteers said so well, “Every day should be volunteer appreciation day!”  I totally agree, Craig….we should be a points of light volunteer winner!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total is now at 707.

Well, we’re getting more injured birds, more baby birds, more bunnies, more structures, and thank the heavens – more volunteers! AND, we’re getting stellar responses from some of our existing volunteers! This is a quick update in the week prior to Wishes for Wildlife 2013, so take a look and enjoy the action!! And thanks again to Joey Patrizi for his trip to Lake Havasu! (I know I can count on Carl, too, but I don’t want to abuse our senior R&T staff at the beginning of the season!)

Bunch O’goslings (and one duckling…)

“I think we’re getting out soon…”

Boy, those are some tiny feet!

The OC volunteer asked, “Why do starlings look so mean?”

The waterfowl area got a bunch of new residents last week as a whole clutch of goslings arrived.  They were soon joined by a lone ducking of the intermediate age we call a “teenage” duck. Then the bunnies…ahhh, the bunnies! It seems there is a never-ending supply of baby bunnies this time of year.  We all nearly OD’d on cuteness between the goslings, the bunnies, and then we added two baby hummingbirds… And one new OC volunteer asked about why the starling looked so mean.  The answer? It’s a starling! that’s just the way they look!

Pop go the grackles     (click here for a brief video)

OK, I HAD to put this in here.  There were six baby grackles in three little nests in a brooder last week, and when anyone tapped the brooder, they all popped up in unison to beg for food.  It was the cutest thing to watch (well, next to the bunnies and the goslings…) So click the above link and enjoy!

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Dr. Sorum X-rays the GHO

Fledgling GHO X-ray

Barry, Alex, and Sara all on hand to help

An injured fledgling GHO has been in our care for a short time, and with the help of Dr. Sorum and his portable X-ray machine, a pin was inserted into a small broken leg.  Now, with the help of the same crew and the same machine, the pin will be removed.  Hopefully, Liberty will someday be able to afford this technology that is such a great help in treating the injured animals that we see.

Baby eagle wing – before surgery

The same wing last week – showing remarkable healing!

Another example of how the ability to X-ray on the spot has contributed to our success rate.  Dr. Orr inserted the pin into the humerus which has healed extremely well – and the radius and ulna bones in the outer wing have also healed astonishingly well after being wrapped following the injury.  Again, having the fresh X-rays are an incalculable aid in rapid, effective treatment.

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Carol addresses some new recruits

Carol Suits is now holding orientations for new volunteers monthly and last Saturday, after she spoke, Tony taught a rescue class. (Following the rescue class, three volunteers – Sara, Eric, and Susan – stayed for several hours after class to help our new OC Coordinator Karen out in feeding babies – what dedication!!)

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New enclosures going up…

Joe Miller, with the help of Tim Coppage, have been busy assembling and erecting some new enclosures that were “prefabbed” by local Boy Scouts.  The structures are sturdy, cleanly built, and very easy (relatively speaking) to install. Chief, our little 4 year old bald eagle, is already living in one!

************ DON’T FORGET WISHES FOR WILDLIFE – next Saturday!!!**********

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

If you looked in the dictionary under compassionate and dedicated you would surely find a picture of a Liberty Wildlife volunteer….and particularly one like John G. who sent me the following e mail about his recent experience….it has got to make you smile!

 Megan

I listened to you tell the people in the ICU that the rescue/transport volunteer who was trying to get the goose and its babies back to the park should get the babies and start moving them and the parents would follow.  I was a bit dubious…

Today on the way into my office, I saw a Canada goose step into the right lane of Shea Blvd near 94th Street.  Crap!

It was hissing at the cars, like mine, that were going by.  As I went past I noticed two little yellow geese (goslings?) and another adult standing a few feet back in the bushes lining the sidewalk.

I realized what was happening.  They were trying to cross Shea.  Six lanes of zooming traffic stood between them and the cemetery across the street which has everything a goose family should ever want, a lake, trees, shade, grass…  But they were clearly about to get killed.

So, I turned into the strip mall parking lot on the side of the street and put on my badge (do those stop traffic?), grabbed my net, and headed over on foot.

There they were, trying again and again, only to get chased back by the next bunch of 45 MPH cars.

I didn’t know what I could do, and I certainly didn’t want to sit there and see them killed.

Fortunately, right then, two workers were walking from the nearby McDonalds towards me.  I believe they were maintenance workers, or in transportation because their grey work shirts had bright day-glow orange stripes on the front and back.

They quickly realized what was going on.  I said, “I’m with Liberty Wildlife, and I am trying to get these geese back across the street. Can you help me?”  They asked what they could do.  I said, “I will push the babies with this net, and you guys stop traffic, OK?”

So, I started pushing the little guys.  The curbs were taller than they were, so it took some maneuvering with the net to get them going the right way.  The parents were hissing and spreading their wings at me, but I ignored them, and kept moving the babies.

We went right into the street, and the two guys (thankfully) were able to wave their arms and stop the cars that were headed our way.  The babies had to be lifted up onto the median, and helped down on the other side of it.  Drivers were looking out their windows in disbelief to see three men, two adult geese, and two baby geese crossing the street like that.

Finally we got to the other side.  They stopped traffic heading west this time, and again, down one curb, across three lanes, and up the other curb.  As soon as we got to the cemetery, the geese took over – shooing their babies through the bushes and into the safe grass on the other side of the fence.

The three of us high-fived each other, and headed back to our respective lives.  The two men who helped were grinning from ear to ear.  Tonight they will be sharing the story of the geese they saved with their families.

Your method worked in real life!!!  Very cool!

Thank you John and your new friends for taking the time to care….and I wish I could take credit for thinking up this method….but it was told to me by those with experience in motivating geese to move!  But, I am so happy that it worked…..

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year now stands at 587.

It’s that time of year again… In the morning, when the lights go on in the Bird Room, the cacophony  begins as the baby birds begin to awaken and start begging for food! Of course we’re still getting in injured animals, but the main focus is on orphans of all species as the dedicated OC and Med Services teams begin the never-ending process of feeding and caring for all the orphan song birds, bunnies, and raptors that are inundating the facility – and the real crush hasn’t started yet!

Busy OC team

Just a few weeks ago, the shelves were empty, the brooders were cold, and the room was mostly deserted. What a difference the arrival of a couple hundred orphaned baby birds makes!  The wonderful staff of OC volunteers works like a well oiled machine in distributing food and care non-stop to the many helpless babies that descend on us each spring and summer.

About to greet the world

“HEY! It’s time to EAT!!”

While some arrivals have yet to see the light of day (like this hatching quail egg), others have emerged into the world and arrive hungry! Gapers like this present a target not even the newest volunteer could miss as they feed hundreds of babies each shift during the day. It’s a lot like painting the Golden Gate bridge: You start at one end and by the time you’ve finished, it’s time to start over again…

Kathy’s Crop Simulator training device

So not only is Kathy Hagerty a renowned artist, she is also an inventor!  She came up with this wonderful training aid for new baby bird feeders to give them a hands-on feel for what the birds’ crop feels like under different conditions. (The crop is a sort of “storage, pre-digestion” organ into which the food goes before it gets to the stomach. Some conditions of the crop indicate different problems requiring different treatments and each has it’s own “feel.”) THANK YOU, Kathy!

Mama Maggie and her growing GHO foster brood

A face only a mother – or a Liberty volunteer – could love (photo by Toba Robinson)

Magellan (or Maggie!) is now doing wonderfully as a foster mom, taking up some of the slack left by the loss of Hogan last year. Igor and his partner are also deeply into their roles as foster parents as the number of orphan GHOs seems to grow almost by the hour. (Not to be outdone, we also got in a newly arrived baby barn owl as well!)

Tiny wing wrap

Some babies need more than just food.  This little baby quail has a broken wing and got the tiniest wrap to keep the bones in place as they heal. Youth is an asset in this case, but doing such a delicate and small wrap is an art unto itself…

Volunteers tubing a baby cottontail

Somebody asked last week when the bunnies stop breeding.  the laughing reply was, hardly ever! And with the sad loss of Ruth, we are now doing bunny care in-house. Last week the Med Services team were practicing their skills at feeding and caring for baby cottontails of every age.

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Injured ladder back woodpecker

Injured bullock’s oriole

Two little migrants were among the many collision damaged birds we took in last week. As migratory birds pass through, they sometimes have a difficult time navigating in unfamiliar territory.  This sometimes leads to collisions with windows and other immovable objects. The lucky ones who survive sometimes find their way to out own intake window…

Dr. Wyman performs surgery on a HaHa’s foot (photo by Toba Robinson)

Waking up in the “recovery room” after surgery (photo by Toba Robinson)

Recently Dr. Wyman was on hand to perform surgery on the foot of one of our harris’ hawk patients. Assisted by the rest of the Vet Night crew, the operation appears to have been successful and was recorded by our own Toba Robinson. It’s great to have a talented and skillful veterinarian on our team when animals require this level of medical intervention.

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DON’T FORGET!!  Only 11 more days until Wishes for Wildlife 2013!!!

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

She was the real energizer bunny, The Bunny Lady, Ruth Scott.  Sadly we have had to say good bye to her.  After 88 years, the majority of them serving the human and animal communities, she quietly moved on to reap her due rewards.

Ruth was the bunny “go to” person for many of the rehabilitation groups in the valley.  She was dedicated to caring for small mammals, but she was particularly keen on the lagomorphs, and she knew how to help them, ready them for release, and move on to the next critter in need.  She trained a number of people to assist in this endeavor.  I am sure her consultations will be greatly missed by all of them.

We have marveled over the years at her energy, never complaining, always willing to take in the next bunny, squirrel, jack rabbit or other small mammal….even a rodent or two was deserving of her attention….to her all things had their place in the environment and she did what she could to respect that.  This was all part of her affinity for nature.

She was known for her compassion turning no one away who arrived at her door, needy critter in tow.  She was seemingly born to serve and when she could, she signed up to be a Navy Wave during the war, spending her time working with amputees wounded in the service of their country.

She will be greatly missed.  The loss of her energy and compassion will leave a huge void in this community.  I send my thoughts and gratitude to her family for sharing the treasures of Ruth with all of us.  An indomitable spirit like Ruth is irreplaceable.  Rest in peace, Bunny Lady.

This Week at Liberty

The intake total for the year now stands at 446.

Posted by Terry Stevens

This update is a little short this week, not because not much happened. On the contrary, it’s largely because so much is going on that it’s difficult to document all the activity.  Also, so much activity is not in the “photogenic” arena and is more behind-the-scenes type of frantic motion dealing with the upcoming Wishes for Wildlife gala and the effects of last week’s monster windstorm. Still, the work goes on and the animals continue to receive the best treatment as the volunteers and staff work tirelessly for all patients.

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Another baby bunny weighs in

The influx of orphan baby cottontails continues, underscoring the loss of our long time friend and rehabber, “Bunny Lady” Ruth Scott. For many years, Ruth has taken in untold numbers of these little rabbits who showed up at our window and at her home in Paradise Valley (see HHH above). I personally delivered many baby and injured bunnies and rabbits to Ruth over the past 24 years. Now, Liberty be handling most of these fuzzy little orphans in-house.

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Snickers enjoys the coolness of Pine Top

Last week several birds (and two volunteers!) made the trip up to the Pine Top – ShowLow area to do a day of presentations for a local school. The kids really seemed to enjoy the show, and the birds really seemed to enjoy being in the cool mountain air they experienced on the overnight outing.

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Injured javelina

I’m often asked if Liberty only provides care for birds. Obviously, the answer is “No” as any native Arizona animal that come to us gets expert care and treatment. Last week, I went down to the southeast valley to rescue this young javelina who was most likely the victim of a car collision. Presenting two broken legs, the little peccary was brought to Liberty for evaluation and then transferred to the clinic for further treatment and possible surgery.

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Igor and some fosters

The intake of injured and orphaned baby great horned owls increased last week as the windstorm wreaked havoc with the nesting bird population. Whenever the wind rises in the springtime, we expect to get more orphans of all species, and last week’s bluster was no exception. Luckily, our foster parents seem to thrive on new arrivals and Igor provided a good example of this effect.

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Dr. Orr and Jan examine the baby eagle’s wing

The wing appears to be healing well

The wing is finally unwrapped

The baby bald eagle is slowly getting better. After his recent surgery, the young wing appears to be healing well and last week, after a hands-on exam by Dr. Orr and Jan, his damaged wing was left unwrapped and he entered a new, larger cage – still inside Libby’s enclosure. As his feathers continue to grow, it’s hoped the wing joints will remain free and he will be able to use it as usual when it comes time to begin flight exercises.

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Frodo is still a star

After all the eagles, condors, and other flashy animals that have passed through our facility,  our own little Frodo is still one of the favorites. She spends her retirement in the ICU area, watching the activity, eating, and sleeping when she feels like it. She is, and always will be, one of our favorite birds!

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Hello yellow!  This is my favorite time of the year in the desert.  I say that with a bit of guilt for those of you with allergies….everything is starting to bloom….and in particular now it is the yellow blooming plants that are in their glory.  Who would have thought there could be so many subtle shades of this eye smacking delight?

The proud palo verde grabs a huge part of the vista.  There is no denying that.  But, if you can pull your eyes away from that you soon see the brittle bush, the desert marigolds and the creosote.  Each bloom varies in color just enough to make it stand out especially as they overlay each other on the desert floor.  Acacia’s catkins scream up the chart to a bolder gold in hue while the prickly pear cactus is a true yellow with a sweet lightness to it.  And snakeweed is just YELLOW.

Why all of the yellow?  Of course it is for the butterflies, the bees and me.  The butterflies and bees are serious pollinators so their busy behavior ultimately benefits plants and humans alike.  The butterflies are responding to the color, but it is believed that the bees see a UV pattern that the human eye/brain doesn’t register.  For me, it is just glorious to walk in my mostly xeriscaped neighborhood or to take a stolen hike into the preserve to see a bigger landscape.

Now, as the butterflies and bees seem to be declining in numbers it makes me wonder what will happen to the “yellow time”.  Will these plants have to adapt to a loss of their pollinators or will it be too late for them?  While scientists are learning that there are some plants that can adapt both scent and bloom shape in order to attract the kind of pollinator that benefits them best, it doesn’t seem possible for these old desert denizens to make the change in time…it is dependent on us to find an alternative to the pesticides and a remedy to the causes of the changes in global temperatures in order to save the bees, the butterflies, and the beauties of our home.

But for today enjoy it while you can….get outside before the winds come.  And, come they surely will. Like much of our natural world change is constant and the beauty is a fleeting joy.  The surety that you will be able to enjoy next year’s yellow time is safe for now…but I’m not sure for how long that will be the case.  If allergies aren’t your nemesis grab a view and embrace the beauty of the glorious time of yellow.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 325.

New orphans are arriving almost daily and the baby eagle is slowly improving.  The other hot topic this week was the departure of the two condors that have been in our care since January. Though the fight to get the word out as to the dangers of using lead ammunition goes on, this represents two more in the “success” column for Liberty and the Peregrine Fund’s Condor Recovery Program.

Holly and Alex treat a canada goose

Waterfowl are always facing challenges as they try to survive all the dangers with which they are presented each day. Recently, a canada goose arrived that had been attacked by a dog.  Alex and Holly were on duty to provide careful treatment for the seriously injured bird.  Dogs are wonderful companions but there IS a reason for leash laws in the metropolitan area.

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Hatchling RTH gets fed

“I don’t LIKE formula!”

As the Orphan Care area slowly fills with baby animals who are orphaned for various reasons, our volunteers weigh, assess, and feed them all on schedules concurrent with the needs of their individual species.  From mammals to birds, from lizards to lagomorphs, it’s BABY SEASON at Liberty!

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Are we really going?

The official vehicle arrives

Eddie gets ready to net the travelers…

“Wheeee! This is fun!”

Boxing two condors is an event (photo by Patricia Quinn-Ortiz)

Jan and Alex help in “boarding”

A moment to remember last week: The first time two California condors completed treatment together at Liberty!  Eddie Feltes from the Peregrine Fund drove down with travel carriers ready to take the now healthy birds back up to the Vermillion Cliffs. Once there, they will be acclimated to the climate once again, and allowed to slowly reintroduce themselves back into their territories north east of the Grand Canyon.

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This means you too, Grandpa! (photo by Craig Fischer)

The baby bald eagle has been spending time in the enclosure with Libby. Even our senior desert tortoise, Grandpa, had some curiosity about the goings-on behind the camo curtain!

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

It seems like if you watch closely you could see the baby eagle grow.  Every time I walk by the enclosure with the baby and Lady Liberty it appears to have increased in size exponentially from the last time I peeked.  Despite the horrid break in the wing, we are hopeful of a release back into the wild.  Lady Liberty will probably be as glad as the rest of us.  She started out her relationship with the baby as a donor of eagle blood to compensate for the huge loss from the injury.  She would drag her food to the side of the smaller cage so the baby could see “her” food….or for whatever reasoning that went on in her adult eagle brain….now peaceful coexistence reigns and all of us are hopeful.

There is another group of folks pulling for the baby…the Game and Fish Nest Watchers who dedicate their winter and springs to making sure nothing negative befalls the nestlings or interrupts the success of the breeding season for the pair at “their” nests.  These are the dedicated people that have been responsible in most part for the over 80 eagles that Liberty Wildlife has been fortunate to help over the last three decades.

Two of these nest watchers have come to the attention of Liberty Wildlife because of the amazing job that they do.  Jen Ottinger is a wildlife biologist from Denver, Colorado who has been a part of the nest watch program for the last ten years.  Leah Vader, an environmental educator from Gillette, Wyoming, is a five year veteran of the nest watch program.  They have both been on the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation along the Verde River for 4 seasons.  They also have provided coverage for the Rodeo Nest and were Goldfield nest watchers  a few years ago when a single mom cared for her nestling.

For many of you the concept of nest watching might sound glamorous and exotic.  You get to sit in the wild and observe natural history…..just like on tv.  Well here’s the reality show.  Their jobs are to help insure the safety and health of the nests and occupants.  They must educate the public and assess the impact on the eagles of various recreational activities offered on Ft. McDowell….and people aren’t always eager to stop their activities because of a nest.  It takes some real talent to turn a disappointment into a teachable moment….and these two rise to the occasion. In the past four seasons around 1500 people have come to the observation point for the rare opportunity to view the Sycamore Nest bald eagle parents and their chicks through spotting scopes and binoculars….a hike or fishing trip interrupted by nothing less than a chance in a life time.

Leah Vader (photo by Jen Ottinger)

Add to that a little dose of” clean the environment talk” about not dropping monofilament line, picking up your trash and the occasional “get the lead out” dialogue.  And, I dare not leave out the monitoring of aircraft flying too close to the nest, off-road vehicles that must be dealt with and straying hikers or kayakers.  All the while they are gathering data on the nesting behaviors, food gathering successes, and other pertinent natural history information that will add up eventually to help insure successful nesting seasons in the future.

Jen Ottinger (photo by Leah Vader)

So, it is not the amenities that keep these two going.  No, they camp out.  Early on they endure freezing winter temperatures, rain, hail, and wind storms.  Then they get to sit in 90+degree weather from dusk to dawn with nothing more than a pop up shade—air conditioning not included.  And, there are the insects, the stickers, cactus, pointy rocks, and the plethora of other challenges the out of doors supplies….No, it isn’t the amenities.  It is the idea that they are there to help eagles succeed in getting their babies to successfully fledge and migrate to bountiful lands where food is plentiful and fighting for territory is still in their future.  They are there to do what they have to do to insure that if something negative does indeed befall these young eagles someone will be there to bring them in to us.  They are there because occasionally nature needs a hand. Here are two women of a larger group with heart, with substance, and with fortitude who have dedicated the winter and spring of their years giving up the easy life to make a difference.

To our little baby eagle it is people like Jen and Leah and the other dedicated nest watchers, who have and will make a difference….will the eaglet be doomed to failure or to ultimate freedom?

We owe a huge thanks to all of the nest watchers like Jen and Leah….all leaving positive energy through their dedication.  The smiles on their faces as they hold precious cargo says it all!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 284.

The Baby Bird Shower was a hit last week and now the portals are open – and orphans of all species coming in! Speaking of babies, the baby bald eagle is doing fairly well, given the extent of the damage to his wing (see last week’s TW@L) While the focus is currently the arrival of orphans, we still always get injured yearlings and older animals who are still in treatment as they improve in our care. And amidst all this, preparations for Wishes for Wildlife 2013 are progressing apace. Mark your calendars!

“For baby birds”

A gift from “Dawn” for baby birds

Not all the donations at the Baby Bird Shower last week were in the cash column. One little girl, “Dawn,” bagged up some items she wanted the baby birds to have for making their nests a more comfortable place. Hair, string, and paper bits were included in the paper bag she decorated and gave to the volunteers working the event. If only everyone had a heart that big…

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“I want to eat NOW!”

Our first orphan non-raptor arrived last week.  This cute little mockingbird fledgeling is now getting care at the facility as he grows and develops at an astounding rate.

Another baby GHO gets weighed in…

The orphanage population grows

Almost daily, new baby GHOs show up. This isn’t really unusual and when each owlet attains an appropriate size, they are placed with two of our foster parents, Elvira and Igor. This assures they become imprinted on aggressive adults of their own species and will be able to survive well in the real world upon eventual release.

The other end of the food chain…

OK, we provide care for all species from apex predators, to the many prey species that abound in Arizona. This little baby antelope squirrel gets the same careful attention that all animals who find their way to our door will receive. This will hopefully keep the endless circle of life healthy and sustainable for all natives in our wonderful state.

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Baby bald is trying to heal

Dr. Orr and Jan check for progress

The little(!) baby bald eagle that had surgery a couple of weeks ago is slowly improving. Last week his wing was checked and assessed by Dr. Orr as he continues to grow at amazing rate. He spends his days out with Libby so he can see and hear a real adult bald eagle as his wing heals and grows. Will he fly someday?  We are all hopefully optimistic, so keep him in your best thoughts! More updates will follow as the weeks pass… (For more on the Nest Watch program that saved his life, read HHH above!)

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“I don’t feel so good…”

A good fit

Jan and Joanie check the splinted beak

“You’re doing so well!”

An adult GHO came in last week presenting some evidence of either a back or head injury, possibly from a window collision. He was responding slightly to initial treatment and exhibited some response in his feet and legs so we have hopes he will continue to improve. One of our cooper’s hawk patients got a new tail guard to protect his feathers as he continues to heal from his injury, and the great horned owl that had a broken beak (see TW@L March 11, 2013) is doing very well.  He is now eating on his own and is apparently in good spirits as he continues to improve. Next stop: an outside enclosure!

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An arboreal lion nest is found on a local power pole

A new educational animal?

The latest from our R&T team was this arboreal lion who made a nest on top of some power equipment. Not a frequent visitor to our state, this tree-dwelling jungle cat was rescued from this dangerous location and relocated to a more appropriate place. We’re not at liberty (high-five!) to say, but he may be joining our education team someday…

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Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

This is not going to be an easy read.  If you are a tender heart, you might want to stop now….except for the fact that you might learn something very important to safeguarding our native wildlife.

Just this past week Terry was dispatched to rescue an animal on the roof of a house.  The folks in the house could hear it but not really see it or get to it.  The beautiful great horned owl was trapped.  It had found itself entangled in a smoke diffuser surrounding a chimney and like owls and other birds who find themselves trapped in chimneys they are unable to open their wings enough to lift themselves out.  Several things can happen…starting with getting wings, legs, talons and other parts of the body snared in unforgiving places.

If the bird is lucky it can drop all the way down the chimney to the fireplace and escape into the house….not so good for a soot covered bird to fly around the house trying to find a way to escape from a bigger but still a deadly prison, but for the homeowner….soot throughout the house is definitely a mess to encounter.  And that is the good scenario.

Another not so good happening is that the poor bird gets held up by the damper and struggles, flapping wildly trying to get to the light above it or the light below it with no luck.  That wild flapping goes on relentlessly until the doomed bird dies from a lack of food and water or just plain stress… and it was a slow, but panicky death….horrid for the bird and horrific for a homeowner who can’t help liberate the dying bird….listening to it as its flutters slow, weaken and eventually stop forever.

The scene from Terry’s recent rescue is beyond horrific.  The people who called could hear a struggle.  They couldn’t exactly tell what was happening, but it seemed relentless.  When Terry arrived at the scene, he quickly assessed that the problem was the smoke diffuser on the chimney.  He laddered up to the roof and saw that the problem had resolved itself….all to the bad.  The great horned owl had found itself in what must have appeared to be a safe spot, but it was far from that and eventually led to its demise.  Its head had gotten trapped between the chimney and the edge of the diffuser…a sharp edge…and in its hopeless attempt to extricate itself led to near decapitation.  Enough said.

I tell you this episode, as sad as it is, because I want it to be a call to action.  If you have a chimney or chimneys, please, please, please cover all points that would allow a bird to enter.  If they get in they are more than likely never going to leave it unless someone rescues them before it is too late.  You can help by covering the chimney with screening, hardware cloth or even store purchased chimney guards.  Affix them to the chimney with some permanence so the wind won’t blow them off.

Assess your chimneys now. Save from the starving, save from the dehydration, save from the suffering, save from the death.  Do it now.  Save a life!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year now stands at 250.

The little eagle is doing as well as can be expected, considering the extent of the damage, Carol Baetzel gets to release an accipiter, Tim brings in some eggs from a dangerous nest, Liberty presents a first for falcons in Arizona.  All this and more this week!  Read on…

“All falcons, all the time” (photo by Eileen Kane – Desert Rivers Audubon)

The education team continues to bring knowledge and wildlife appreciation to the citizens of our state. Recently they did an “All Falcons” program for the Desert Rivers Audubon group.  This was, as far as we know, the first time that all of the falcon species found in Arizona (Aplomado, Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel, and Prairie) were brought together on display for one presentation! It was very well received, as we would expect! Thanks team!

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OK, another baby bunny…you can’t have too many pics of cute baby bunnies!

Yes, another bunny photo… Get ready, these little ones are so cute, you’ll probably see a lot of these over the next few months. So is anybody complaining?

Jan says you can go now…

Carol B gets ready to release a sharpie

“I am sooo outa here!”

This little sharp-shinned has been with us for almost nine months and finally is in shape fore release. After on last check-up from Jan, Carol Baetzel got the chance to let him go and did a great job on the launch. “Sparrows of Arizona – be afraid – be very afraid!”

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Joanie and Sharon treat a sharpie

“Willie one-toe” gets some TLC

One goes out, one comes in. Another little sharp-shinned is in treatment for a foot injury. Joanie and Sharon were working on his missing toes last week after Carol released the other one. Hopefully, this bird will also get to regain his freedom at some point down the road.

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Trouble on the reservation (photo by Tim Coppage)

A bad appropriation  (photo by Tim Coppage)

Our Maggie is going to be a mama… (photo by Tim Coppage)

A call came in last week about a nest on a piece of electrical equipment on a pole on one of the reservations near the east side. Tim went out and got to go up in a power company bucket truck (BTW, if anybody has one they could donate to us….?) and retrieved two eggs.  The nest was most likely a red-tail hawk nest from a previous year. It was obviously taken by a pair of GHO’s which is how it often happens. Since it could not be relocated, the eggs were removed and now our own new foster mom, Magellan – or Maggie –  is incubating them in her enclosure.

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The little eagle’s wing is pin bad shape

The humerus after Dr. Orr installed the pin

The little eagle recuperates during the day keeping Libby company

If you missed the arrival of this baby bald eagle last week, go back and check out the surgery pics (thanks, Cindy!) I obtained the X-rays that were taken with the use of Dr. Sorum’s portable digital machine and included them this week for illustration of the wing before and after the pin was installed. Now, the little bird is recuperating, inside at night and hanging out with her blood donor, Lady Liberty, during the day. With all the damage, hopes are high due to the young age of the patient.

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers

Go to your calendar right now.  Don’t do it in a minute or when you finish doing what you are doing (after you finish the blog of course!). You need to write in March 23^rd from 10-2 pm so you will be sure to remember to attend the 2^nd annual Liberty Wildlife Baby Shower for Orphan wildlife babies. The Baby Shower will be at Cactus Park again like last year (See the attached flyer for the details.)

If you are so inclined you might want to bring a shower present, and we have plenty of ideas.  You can check our “registry” for some of our regular needs by logging in to our store website, www.libertywildlife.net (It’s A Baby Bird Shower). Or if you would prefer you could bring paper towels, toilet paper, wild bird seed, dry cat food and dog food.  Maybe you would just like the simple plan and donate a monetary gift so we can apply it to the neediest spot or for that specialty item for the problem baby.

Perhaps you’d just like to see what happens at a baby shower for orphan wildlife….and yes, there will be games and crafty opportunities for the humans who attend including the famous piñata breaking for kids of all sizes at 11:00….a friendly muffin piñata will be whacked and goodies will fall!  If games aren’t your thing maybe you would just like to see the educational ambassadors that are there to show you what some of the babies grow up to be.  Handlers will be there with the likes of eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and who knows what else will be in attendance….maybe an interesting reptile or three.

Educational displays will highlight the work that Liberty Wildlife does 365 days a year.  Opportunities to volunteer will be explained to the interested attendees.  You will enjoy it, park attendees will be surprised at the addition to the park activities, and the success of Arizona’s native wildlife will be enhanced.

So, now is the time to mark your calendar. Join the fun and find out how you can be involved.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 219.

The condors have improved and are now housed together in R-1 and a couple more baby GHO’s showed up. A bit of excitement this week as late last Friday, a baby bald eagle from the Ladders nest was brought in. It’s an interesting story so check out the item with pics below! As always, there are rarely any truly dull moments at Liberty!

Joanie has a new friend (photo by Toba Robinson)

The golden is making some slow improvement and this week Joanie got the job of holding the big bird for his treatment. Eagles can be a handful and Ms. Boatwright was certainly up for the task!

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Two potential RTH’s are on the property

A power company nest move resulted in the arrival of two red-tail eggs that are now keeping warm in one of our incubators. No.s 1 and 2 are watched carefully for temperature changes and any movement indicating an imminent arrival of a new baby hawk!

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Speaking of new arrivals…

Ahh, it’s that time of year again! This hatchling GHO was brought to the window last week and is now in a brooder for observation, temperature control, and feeding.

Who doesn’t love a baby?

While just a few minutes earlier, I brought this aggressive little bundle in from 3/4 mile south of Liberty.  An early nest exit and an inappropriate landing area meant he needed to come here and Anita,  Cheyenne, and Kathy H checked him for injury before placing him with the other orphans.

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“Gimme a little sugar…!”

The male stretches in R-1 flight enclosure

“She’s getting real fine, my 409!” (with apologies to the Beach Boys!)

Can’t wait to get back into the sky!

The two condors are doing well.  Their crops have been closed and they’re both in the R-1 flight enclosure. We were told that they do better when they have some company and that appears to be the case. Feeding on donated still-borne calf meat, they can fly limited distances and get used to feeding themselves.  Next stop, freedom!

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Abducted baby faces a tough surgery  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

Dr.s Wyman and Sorum assist Dr. Orr  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

The baby gets a blood transfusion donated from our own Lady Libby  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

Dr. Wyman monitors a precious little heart  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

The surgery progresses  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

Dr. Orr pins the broken wing  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

Time will tell…  (photo by Cindy Ziegler)

Last Friday, the nest watchers at the Ladder nest saw something extremely unusual – and disturbing.  A golden eagle appraoched the bald eagle nest and plucked a little downey nestling out and flew off. the chick was eventually dropped and the stunned watchers called AZGFD who rescued the badly injured chick and brought it to Liberty. On Sunday Dr. Orr, assisted by Dr. Wyman and Dr. Sorum, performed surgery on the little bird to insert a pin into the broken wing. This followed a blood transfusion with blood donated by our own Lady Liberty! This procedure possibly was life-saving as the blood chemistry of the injured baby was not good. The little bird is doing as well as can be expected and the prognosis is still guarded, but as of this writing, he was standing and was being given food and medicine.  More next week…!

(Thanks to Cindy Ziegler for taking photos of the operation!)