……..and miles to go before we sleep…..this could have been our mantra on last Tuesday…here’s why.

Our Rescue and Transport team is pretty amazing….no qualms about it.  It seems that it was raining injured animals in every corner of the state on last Tuesday.  The day started with Terry driving 83 miles round trip to east Mesa to pick up a great horned owl, a probable electric shock victim.  No sooner than that trip was accomplished did he go west to Harquahala Valley to pick up an orphaned baby barn owl.  For him the day was a 261 mile trek not counting his regular travel to Scottsdale from the east valley.

Next on the agenda was Carol who volunteered to drive to Tucson for 231 miles round trip to meet Christie, a rehabber from Sierra Vista who drove 160 miles round trip to rendezvous with her in Tucson with a zone tailed hawk with a broken wing….a total of 391 miles to the southern part of the state.

As I was arriving at Liberty, Nathanial was leaving to go north to Wikiup, 206 miles, to pick up a golden eagle found on the side of the road possibly hit by a car.  If you total it up that is 858 miles north south east and west of Liberty Wildlife.  I don’t know any other wildlife organization in the state that can make that claim.  Liberty Wildlife Rescue and Transport team rocks!

And each of those treks were started by the compassionate private citizen who took the time to stop, check out the situation, and make a call to get help.  All situations like these take some time and effort…. very few people can stand to see an animal suffering and do nothing about it.  For that I am thankful.  The others…I don’t want to know about.

The hotline volunteer who retrieves the call must take over and locate a rescue/transport volunteer who is available to make the commitment of time, energy and skill to fetch the animal. Then the medical services, daily care and orphan care volunteers take over after the animal makes it to the facility.  It is all about team work and being committed to something beyond you.

Here’s the kicker, for the most part all of these people came to us with no experience, no wildlife skills, no educational classes…clean slates that a little bit of training has turned into rock star volunteers who can be very proud of themselves at the end of a shift.  We couldn’t function as well as we do without them.

And, the best part is that there is always room for more.  Our numbers of patients increase every year so the demand for caretakers increases with that number.  If you or someone you know is looking for a way to add depth to your day to day routine, go to our web site,www.libertywildlife.org and sign up to volunteer or call 480-998-5550 and leave a message.  Someone will get back to you with instructions on how to get involved in volunteering at Liberty Wildlife.  There is a creature out there who needs your help.

Get involved.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for this year now stands at 1026.

OK, we’ve passed the century mark for the first time this year – and we’ve really only begun to get into the busiest part of the year. The Hotline volunteers are doing a tremendous job trying to keep up with the volume of incoming calls, the R&T people are racking up the miles (see H3 above), and the Orphan Care volunteers are doing endless service in their area. Thank goodness we have some great foster parents to help out.  Let’s take a look…

Some of the busy OC crew caring for babies...

"Pale Quail"

The wonderful OC volunteers are now busy from dawn to dusk, trying to keep up with the onslaught of incessant gaping, tubing, and (thank goodness!) self-feeding baby birds. The shifts begin when the sun comes up and ends when it gets dark. The little “dilute” quail was unique enough to make TW@L this week. set apart from his darker brothers and sisters.

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Another tiny baby bunny

Coyote pup (Photo by Kurt Licence)

"Boy is THAT good!"

…And, as we always like to point out, “It’s not just for birds!”, we got in a little coyote pup last week along with some more baby bunnies and a tiny round tailed ground squirrel. Mammal babies are treated with techniques appropriate for their species, but with the same care and love as the avian babies.

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Susie feeds a baby raven

Laura and Amy feed an injured GHO fledgling

Electrical injury GHO (photo by public)

Some of the other orphans and injured youngsters filled out the week’s intakes.  Baby ravens from a nest removal, and collision injury GHO and the electrical injury from east Mesa (see H3 above) all added to the intake totals for the year.

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Harquahala Valley baby

Barn owl fosters

Someone had dropped this little barn owl nestling at the fire station in Harquahala Valley (about 90 miles west of Phoenix)  The firemen took great care of him in a large dog kennel until I got there to pick him up.  He was in good shape and immediately joined the rest of the orphans in with our BO foster parents.  Then there are the GHO’s…

Hogan and Wyatt have 17

Sedona and Igor's18

Igor actually allowed me to take a family photo!

As usual, the GHO fosters come in faster than almost all the others. Between Wyatt and Hogan, and Sedona and Igor, we have (or had as of last week) 35 orphans with foresters, and that doesn’t include any injured babies still in the ICU! (That’s Sedona on the top shelf in the middle)

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Zone tail from Sierra Vista

Christy van Cleve was the southern terminus for the 850+mile Tuesday.  She drove from Sierra Vista to Tucson and transferred this Zone-tail to Carol who brought the bird the rest of the way. An injured wing is still under observation but most likely will be X-rayed this week.

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Jan holds an injured Golden

Laura gives meds while Jan holds

A handsome eagle

The last bird of the four max-mileage rescues was this golden eagle from north of Wikiup.  Almost certainly a victim of an automobile collision, the bird was still alongside the highway when Nathaniel arrived and met the Wildlife Manager from AG&F who was standing guard over the injured bird. His injuries are extensive but he has spirit and now he is in the best hands possible.  Keep a good thought for this beautiful bird!

All things must come to an end and this year’s Wishes for Wildlife is proof of the truth.  I wish all of you could have been there for this most lovely event.  Our benefit chairs this year, lovingly dubbed the Flight Crew, which consisted of Jamie Lendrum, Melissa Leonesio, and Pam Overton-Risoleo with Kathleen Lang acting as the Wind beneath Their Wings pulled off a true coups.

The location was the Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley.  The setting for the outdoor silent auction and cocktail portion of the event couldn’t have been lovelier.  Release of the rehabilitated great horned owl was timed so that its return to the wild was silhouetted against the biggest full moon of the year….a treat for the entire neighborhood to appreciate from balconies, sidewalks and pathways.  And, as she flew to freedom I am pretty sure I could see a smile on her face!  There certainly were lots of smiles from the audience.

The guests entered the ballroom for dinner and were awed by the decorations provided by Avant Garde’s William McArdle.  Dramatic arrangements of peacock tail feathers could take your breath away and individual table decoration were lovely flowers with short peacock tail feathers included.  The smell of the room was accented by these lovely arrangements.

Then there was the dinner. I won’t go into it in details but will let the comments speak to the cuisine.  Across the board it was said to be the best event food most people had tasted ….all was scrumptious from  the first course through the passed desserts…yumola!

Our Emcee, Robin Sewell, did her normal job of wowing the audience with both her beauty and her vast experience throughout the state of Arizona.  Our Honorary Chair, Richard Adkerson of Freeport McMoRan boldly released the great horned owl and later entertained us with his remarks about the importance of the work that Liberty Wildlife provides, especially their support of our educational efforts.

The inaugural Liberty Wildlife Legacy Award was presented to Melanie and Rob Walton for their global and local conservation efforts.  The award will be given to individuals, organizations, or corporations who have shown exceptional efforts toward leaving the planet a better place for generations to come.  The Waltons have provided funding through their foundation for projects including efforts to alleviate issues resulting from the oil spills in the gulf, to preserving rivers and promoting tourism in areas even as close to us as the Verde river and to promote global sustainability in resources, in sustainable fishing maintaining a balance between fishing and the fishermen and the communities they live in.  They have participated in hands on experiences like assisting in tagging sea turtles and shining the light on wildlife preserves to better the conditions of both the people and the wildlife on which they depend.  They truly appear to seek the balance…..and thus the awarding of the Liberty Wildlife Legacy Award, 2012 to this dedicated couple!

Our heartfelt thanks go to all of you who made this lovely event possible….too many to name here, but you know who you are….. attendees and planners, worker-bees, staff and volunteers.  Thank you all!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 857.

Now that the Wishes for Wildlife event has transpired, maybe we can breathe a bit easier for a while…or NOT! The intake window is nearly always busy as are the R&T people.  Kurt is getting a “baptism of fire” by being hired during the busiest time of the year, and the only opportunity for respite is that the Education season is drawing to a close. Let’s see what happened in the past week – or two…

Good luck, Missi, and thank you!

After years of service as Daily Care Coordinator, Missi Hughes has left her position to better administrate her own enterprises. Last Tuesday was her last day and Claudia arranged a wonderful spread for the most-of-the-day event to allow folks to say their “thank yous” for her dedication and hard work. Kurt Licence has stepped into the job and is now learning the ropes. Missi will now be volunteering on specific days so she is not leaving, just changing her title. Thanks, Missi, and good luck!

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A fine evening for for attendeesJoe and Aurora are always a big hit

Joe and Aurora are always a big hit

Paperless bidding at W4W

Dr. Wyman, Kurt, and Alex have a good time

The 19th annual “Wishes for Wildlife” event took place last Saturday night and it was a “hoot, howl, and hollering” success! A new venue, new premiums, and a new way of conducting the silent auction (paper free!) all seemed to go off without any large glitches – not bad for such a large event. A lucky GHO got released and a pleasant evening was had by all in attendance. OK, now the planning for next year’s event begins…

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Stevie and Acoma do an APS Arbor Day show

Even though I said the Education  season is winding down it’s going ouot with a bang.  Last week Stevie and I went to Flagstaff for two Arbor Day presentations for some forestry people at APS. The birds traveled well, and the kids all seemed to enjoy their avian visitors.

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A new volunteer gets some tips

With the increased activity that occurs in the spring, we always have to get new volunteers on board to help with the essential work of Liberty. All new volunteers get trained for their jobs and this week, Sara was training Whitney, a new Daily Care person. Good luck to all new volunteers and thanks for caring!

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Jan and Sara examine a GHO

Ring neck duck takes a bath (Photo by Toba Robinson)

A roadrunner gets an embarrassing bath (Photo by Toba Robinson)

Even if it appears we are doing nothing but raising babies right now, we are still getting adults in for treatment. A new GHO here, a wayward ringneck duck there, maybe a roadrunner - everything that requires some help will find it at the facility.

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Igor may hate men but he's a good daddy

Juvenile cataract GHO

The foster parent program is moving along with the populations in with each set of adult fosters growing by the day. Sedona and Igor are taking care of several fledgling GHOs including this little guy with juvenile cataracts who may or may not join the Education team down the road. Igor, who allegedly hates men and hats(!) is showing he is a devoted father to the little owls in his care. Nano-seconds after I took this picture, he was on the ground and had me running out of the door!

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New orphan arrives

A gentleman and his wife brought this little guy to me last week after he fell from his nest. We’re not certain as to his ID (common with raptors who are only days old.) but we think it might be a cooper’s or a sharp-shinned.  In any case, he seems healthy and is doing fine.  As he grows into his first year plumage and fills out, we’ll confirm what he is and report back!

Posted by Terry Stevens

Wildlife fundraiser on Saturday, HHH and TW@L will be on hold until next Monday.

But in the meantime, here’s a small video I shot in the Orphan Care area last week starring our own Susie Vaught feeding some of the local baby birds that found their way to us for help…

http://youtu.be/_QFv_56QYtI

We’ll be back on schedule in one week!!

Thanks to all of you who took the time to participate in our week long Grassroots Groupon celebrating Earth Day fundraising campaign.  There have been so many wonderful things about this adventure in raising money for us.  The enthusiasm of the Groupon gang was heartwarming.   The jumping on board by the staff and volunteers at Liberty Wildlife to get things started was encouraging, and the response of the public, you, was overwhelming.  We met our goals and beyond, and that will insure that our babies and orphans this year will have the best possible care.

The whole adventure made me keenly aware of the power of the many.  It didn’t take a lot of money, but it did take a lot of people….people who care.  Sure someone could come in and supply the total sum, and that would be greatly appreciated.  But, the list of donors revealed some pretty interesting information.

There were many names that I recognized.  People that know us already, people who have brought animals in for our care, people with whom we have a history.  To each of you I say thank you again for your wonderful and continuing support.  It means everything to us,

The other interesting thing was the number of people who are just learning about us.  They learned about us from Groupon.  They learned about us from e mails forwarded by friends of Liberty who believed in the power of many.  And, they learned about us through our social media outlets.  If you can start the “Arab spring” through social media, just think what we could do through the power of many doing just a little bit.

Now the question is, “How can we maintain this energy?”  Of course, I want to spread the word about the benefits and beauty of wildlife to everyone and anyone who will listen.  I love seeing how people who are newly educated step up to the plate.  It is possible to do miraculous things.

The power of many is here to stay.  If you donated $10 (or more), if you donate your time to volunteering, if you spread the word to your friends and contacts you are exploiting the power of the many.  There is no telling what we can and will do next.

Thanks to all of you for renewing my spirit!

And, one more important thing….please welcome Kurt Licence to Liberty Wildlife as our new Daily Care Coordinator starting on Tuesday, April 24^th.  We will be celebrating Melissa’s new adventure with a pot-luck at Liberty on May 1^st, her last working day.  Come and join us in wishing her a happy new working life and say hello to Kurt.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year now stands at 565.

“Baby Bird Season” is fully upon us! The wonderful volunteers in OC, plus the staff in Med Service, are now caring for orphan baby birds and mammals non-stop. This in addition to the treatment of juvenile and adult animals that continue to arrive in normal numbers.  The Hotline and R&T volunteers are also running at full speed (if anyone wants to help out with a Hotline shift, call Carol!)  Hang on, it will only increase as the season progresses!

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Getting ready for a busy baby season

Last week, Sharon was preparing the equipment that will be used in identifying the babies this season.  The colorful display of tags and leg bands of all sizes was a happy reminder of all the beautiful babies that will pass through Liberty this year on their way to a healthy life in the Arizona skies.

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A little Anna's gets a healthy meal

A few new baby quail

Not all the orphans we take in are hawks and owls.  All native birds get help when they need it, from the hummers, verdin, doves, and quail to the eagles and condors. Temperature control and food are the primary ingredients to a healthy environment for new young birds.

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A long time in a box

Tiny traveler

Karen cleans a baby

A long first day is finally over

Early last week, somebody in northern Arizona moved some hay and discovered four tiny baby barn owls among the bales.  They were taken in a small box to a facility in Kingman and the next day, Liberty friend Gray Bower drove from Prescott to pick them up. By then, there were only three and Wednesday afternoon, I drove them from Prescott to Liberty.  After being separated from their  parents while just a couple days old, their long scary trip was finally over. They were fed, hydrated, and cleaned and placed in a brooder were they could finally rest. Two survived the night, but are now with some foster parent barn owls and seem to be doing well at this point. Hopefully, life for them will improve…

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Baby HaHa

A nestling harris’ hawk also came to us for help.  As soon as the bird is strong enough, it will be placed with our foster parents for rehab and proper imprinting. Right now, Sequoia is raising some smaller orphan HaHa’s.

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Laura feeds a baby bunny

It's not mamma's, but it's good!

OK, it’s no big surprise that we are still getting baby cotton tails in. Bunnies tend to breed almost all year here in sunny Arizona, and people routinely find tiny babies or have their cats deliver them to their front porch. Yes, we work both extreme ends of the food chain…

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Now THAT feels good!

Treatment for the non-baby birds also continues through the rush of the orphans. This peregrine seems quite content to have his feet soaked in tri-cide by Lesley on Thursday. This fairly new treatment is working very well at managing the previously difficult to control infection.

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Sedona and her foster kids

Hogan's crew

Our two foster mom GHOs, Sedona and Hogan, are both doing service above and beyond the normal call of motherhood.  Sedona (along with her partner Igor) is happily caring for 9 nestlings while our star Hogan (and her helper Wyatt) have 12 of their own. This will continue as the orphans flow through the facility for the next few months.

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Beyond cute...

Beyond the three that came down from Kingman, at least three others came in by themselves and joined the squad of kids in the care of our BO fosters. Not known for being the most photogenic of youngsters, a couple of them, including this little ball of down, were beyond cute as they were weighed and examined prior to insertion into the foster environment.

Is my brother coming out soon?

Also in the running for “cutest baby of the week” was this little RTH and his yet-to-hatch sibling, both retrieved from a nest relocation on a power pole. Nina and Stevie brought them down after the parents got impatient waiting for the linemen to finish working on the power equipment and abandoned the nest.

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A thank you from some kids who care

Almost all of the letters from kids we get are directed to the Education team as they have most of the contact with the public, especially the kids.  But recently John, one of our extraordinary volunteers, made such an impression on the family who called about an injured owl they had found that they took the time to write to us about it.  The Hot Line and the R&T volunteers don’t get nearly enough recognition for what they contribute to the success of the Liberty Wildlife operation.  Nice going guys!

Listen up everyone.  I realize that the IRS is in direct competition to us today, but here’s a great opportunity for you to help…even if just a little bit.  It takes only a few minutes of your time, and it goes one hundred percent to a truly great cause…..Liberty Wildlife’s Orphan Care Program.

Let me take you back a bit….remember when you found that baby bird, all featherless, eyes closed to the world, having just fought its way out of an egg or that little bunny adrift from its mom….And, now it finds itself slowly cooking on the hot pavement…no fault of its own, trying desperately to find safety and cover.  Then you happen along and being the kind, compassionate person that you are you go into panic mode trying to decide what to do.  You can’t just turn your head and walk away…no way.  What do you do?  You cradle the baby in a tissue box, a plastic butter container or an old straw cowboy hat that has blown into your yard (time to get rid of that anyway…).  You rush to the phone and call the Liberty Wildlife Hotline.  They have always been there to help you in the past……and yes, they are still there, still answering the calls of the wild, still willing to help you and the orphan out.

OK, keep  remembering that incident that has happened many times.  In your case your cat might have been the culprit, or your plate glass window or the utility poles behind your house or a lawn mower run amok….whatever it was that made you need our help….we were there to assist you.

Now it is your turn to assist us.  Groupon, the Deal of the Day, has a truly generous offer.  They are honoring organizations during Earth Week and Liberty Wildlife has been selected to participate in this Grassroots Campaign.

It is so easy for you to pay back or perhaps even pay forward if you haven’t needed us yet (you probably will).  Starting Monday morning and going all week long, you can go to your computer, log into http://www.groupon.com/deals/grs-liberty-wildlife and generously give to our orphan care program.  You can take a little more time to read about us if you don’t know us already.  Learn about our shopping list full of mealworms, crickets, mice, rats, dog and cat food and our need of brooders and medical supplies….all so that you can confidently bring your inadvertent orphans to us.

We would greatly thank you and so would the thousands of babies that we care for and release every year.  Make this campaign as amazingly successful as the boldness of Groupon to present this opportunity to ALL of you for us.  Watch as the tipping point is surpassed by your generosity.  I intend to participate first thing….join me right now and then forward this to your friends far and wide. You don’t have to be local to participate!

And, one more thing….it is time for you to send in your reservations for seats or even a table at this year’s Wishes for Wildlife.   It will be splendid.  Held May 5^th at the Montelucia in Paradise Valley, the auction will offer many, many items and opportunities, a store will allow you to purchase outright and our new electronic bidding will make vying for prizes downright fun….the food and program will be memorable…trust me! More to come………….

This Week at Liberty

Post by Terry Stevens

The intake total for this year now stands at 446.

Lots of times I have to work to get enough photos to populate TW@L, but this week I had to work to cull the available shots. A lot of things took place (WNV inoculations, cute babies arriving, eagle banding, etc.) and thanks to some help in the photo department, they were all covered.  Let’s get started…

The annual WNV prevention day (Photo by Susie Vaught)

Each year, we inoculate all of our permanent resident birds against West Nile Virus. The injections are accomplished in an assembly line type operation so no bird is missed. The serum is not cheap but fortunately we have a supplier (Meriel) who donates enough for our use. This hopefully will keep all of our education birds free from possible infection from the disease.

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Carol orients new volunteers

In preparing for the onslaught that is spring and “baby bird season” Carol Suits is recruiting a host of new volunteers for OC, Rescue and Transport, and the Hotline.  Last Saturday an orientation for all new volunteers, plus a training class for R&T newbies and a session to train Hotliners were all accomplished under threatening skies. Welcome all new volunteers!

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Feeding baby roadrunner

The first minute of life - Welcome to the world! (Photo by Lesley Guenther)

All dried off and clean. (Photo by Susie Vaught)

In addition to several orphan GHO’s who seem to arrive daily, we are currently caring for a baby road runner and another baby RTH who emerged from the last egg we had in one of our incubators. All current babies appear to be doing fine so far, and the care continues…

Bobcat kitten (Photo by Susie Vaught)

Jan feeds the kitty (Photo by Susie Vaught)

People are always surprised to learn Liberty doesn’t just provide care for birds. Any native Arizona animal that requires assistance will receive it, including this tiny baby bobcat that was separated from it’s mother. After a day of triage and stabilization, the kitten was transferred to SWW for continuing care and disposition.

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A touching note from a young boy (Photo by Susie Vaught)

For those who lament the condition of the youth of today, take heart. This note from a young boy was left on a box containing a small injured bird. He wanted to make sure his “rescue” got the best care possible and even suggested a name for the bird. As long as the kids show they care about others in general and wildlife in particular, there is hope for the future. Thank you, Jacob, for caring.

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Nest tree

The ascent begins

Mom watches closely from above

Joe's wire structure is revealed (Photo by Joe Miller)

Intruder alert!

Playing "Twister" in the nest

Hoods and booties are in place

Precious cargo descends

The chicks are the centers of attention (Photo by Joe Miller)

One chick takes a short nap (Photo by Joe Miller)

What're YOU lookin' at?

Jan helps Tuck with the chicks

Joe and one of the chicks he helped to save

Going back home

Kyle places one of the chicks back in the nest

Mom and dad patrol overhead - and then return to their kids

Two years ago, the eagles at a nest on a reservation north of town hatched three chicks.  Within a few weeks, the volunteers for the Nest Watch program realized the little birds were in trouble and they were captured and brought to Liberty for evaluation and treatment.  It was found they were all suffering from a toxin from a rare form of tick that inhabited the tree in which the nest was located. Sadly, all three chicks died. The tree was treated to eliminate the ticks and last year, again three chicks hatched.  Once again, difficulties arose and the three babies were brought to Liberty. The ticks had returned. One of the birds recovered, two did not.  The decision was made to destroy the tree altogether and build a new platform nest in a neighboring tree.  Joe Miller, along with agents of AG&F constructed a nest of sticks and wire and installed it in the new tree – and then waited. The parents returned this spring, accepted the new nest, and again laid three eggs, two of which hatched and produced healthy, tick-free chicks! Last week, the two little(?) birds were banded in the nest by Kyle and Tuck from AG&F, with the help of Joe, Jan, and some local tribal officials. It looks like the tick invasion has been ended.  Nice work, Joe!

Here’s a way many of you can become involved in a scientific study without leaving your neighborhood.  An old friend of Liberty Wildlife, Philip Tarrant, stopped by to see us the other day while checking out a nest of Harris’ Hawks that live next door to us.  He sent the following description of the program he is working with at ASU.  Read the following description of the program and see how you might be able to get involved.

The Central Arizona Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research Project (CAP LTER), based at Arizona State University, studies the effects of urbanization on the arid Sonoran Desert. As part of this project CAP LTER is conducting a nest site study of the various birds of prey (raptors) that choose to nest in and around the Phoenix metropolitan area. In order to locate as many of these nest sites as possible we need the assistance of colleagues and community members.

We are interested in understanding which species are choosing to nest in this area, their spatial distribution, the structures they choose for nest sites, and the physical characteristics of these nest structures. I should stress that this survey is purely observational and will not result in any disturbance to the nesting birds.

If, now that the breeding season is underway you notice nesting raptors in your area, please e-mail (or phone 480-727-7860) the following information to phoenixraptors@asu.edu:

Description of the nest location (directions, cross streets, GPS coordinates)
Nest structure (cactus, tree, cliffs, building, etc.)
Bird species (if known)
Any additional information that may help us locate the nest site in order to survey the location

Please pass on this request to any other friends or colleagues who might be interested in assisting this initiative.

Thank you for your support.

Philip Tarrant | (480)727-7860
Director, Information Technology Services | CAP LTER Information Manager
Global Institute of Sustainability | Arizona State University
http://sustainability.asu.edu

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 372.

The orphaned raptors and other birds are showing up even as we write this.  A red tail got some cool surgery done to his wing, and another one got released.  Plus, we took in a golden eagle last weekend.  Let’s see what happened…

Young thrasher gets a meal

OC: It’s not just for raptors!  We have several smaller cages and enclosures set up in the “Neo-natal” care wing, mostly for all the passerines (perching birds) who need assistance.  They are all fed the proper food for their species – like this little curved-bill thrasher who is an insect eater. Crickets, meal worms, crumble – all the special diets are fed to the babies who don’t eat mice and rodents.

Laura prepares to hand another orphan to Hogan

Sedona and her foster baby

RTH hatchlings

But still, the raptor babies certainly take up a large portion of our time – and budget! The orphan baby GHO’s are coming in regularly as they always do, and as soon as it’s appropriate they are handed to our foster moms, Hogan or Sedona. (Sedona finally allowed me a glimpse of hear latest charge, peeking out from beneath warm, protective feathers.) We also had some of the RTH eggs that arrived a few weeks ago hatch in the incubator! The two little hawks are doing well, even though they lack the skill to clean their faces between meals as yet…

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Fractured humerus

Perfect alignment and a pin to hold it in place

And speaking of red-tails, a beautiful hawk arrived last week with a broken humerus (upper-wing bone).  Dr. Orr saw that the break was mid-shaft and the ends were viable, so she took the bird in for X-rays and immediately performed surgery to install a metal pin to hold the bones in perfect alignment while mending.  A lucky bird – it is recuperating now and hopefully will make a full recovery.

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Megan gives instructions

A perfect release!

Real freedom at last!

And still more red-tail news… Last January we got a first-year bird from a falconer who had tethered his bird to a ground perch.  The bird broke it’s leg and her owner decided not to get the bird medical help from a vet, instead leaving the hawk for us. The leg was treated and healed well, so last week, the healthy bird got her first real taste of freedom as it was released in an appropriate spot near Phoenix!

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Injured golden

Last weekend, we got word that a golden eagle was coming in from up north.  Dr.Orr’s daughter Christine (also an accomplished vet!) brought the bird down to Liberty from the Flagstaff area on Saturday and treatment began.  It appears he may have been involved in an automobile collision, but doesn’t exhibit any overt trauma. He does, however, have an elevated level of lead in his blood, not an uncommon problem among eagles since they tend to use scavenging to supplement their normal food intake. And just like the condors, ingesting fragments of lead bullets is a potentially lethal problem. As we find out more on the bird’s condition and prognosis, we’ll keep you up-to-date!

A bit of a review is in order.  First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to comment on last week’s Hoots, Howls, and Hollers.  It was an interesting dialogue.

I would also like to take a moment to congratulate Melissa Hughes for a very successful Born 2B Wild motorcycle run.  It was planned to coincide with Bike Week which added to the fun and festivities.  The Education Team stepped up to help educate the folks, local and out of state, to the beauty and benefits of our native wildlife.  One gentleman was so excited to see Aurora, a bald eagle, when he arrived at the event that he drove home 15 miles to grab his camera.  He also took the time to send the photo and thank us for what we do…how cool is that?  Thanks greatly to all of you who helped make the event such a big success, especially Missi!  And, congratulations also go to Mr. Peter Harris of Dewey, AZ, the lucky winner of the Harley Davidson benefit raffle.

On Saturday and Sunday classes were held at Liberty Wildlife to orient and begin the training of new Orphan Care volunteers.  The enthusiastic group we given “classes” on identifying species, food choices, cleaning, moving the orphans through the process often from egg to release.  They learned how to greet the public, ask the right questions, assuage any guilt, and how to do the ever present PAPERWORK!

We still have needs for a few more volunteers to fill the total of 49 slots.  The shifts and days left open are varied and could probably fit into your schedule if you are interested.  This is a very rewarding area in which to volunteer and training will be provided if you weren’t able to join the fun this weekend. For more information call 480-998-5550 and leave a message on the volunteer line.  The starting date is coming soon and will go until September.

As I watch the trees swaying in the wind from my office window, I fear for the babies who might be wafted from their nests….too early to survive on their own.  As I left Liberty a little while ago a gentleman was delivering two baby hummingbirds that he found in his driveway….blown by the wind while the parents were out, no doubt, gathering food for them.

In case you were wondering what to do if you find a baby bird here are some tips …more tips will follow in the next blog.  Thanks to OC Coordinator Susie Vaught for this information. 
I found a baby bird on the ground, what do I do?

• Put it back! If you can see the nest and are able to safely put the baby back, do so quickly, then LEAVE the area. Most birds do not have a good sense of smell; they will NOT reject the baby just because you have touched it. You may check discreetly after a couple hours, from a distance, to ensure the parents are caring for the baby.
• If the baby is fully feathered and fluttering about, it may be a fledgling, meaning it has left the nest on purpose and is learning how to fly. Even though you may not see the parents, they are nearby, and will care for the baby after you leave. Do not assume it is an orphan! If it is in danger from another animal (cat or dog) placing it in a nearby tree may solve the problem. If you still think it will be in danger, call the Liberty Wildlife Hotline (480) 998-5550 for instructions.

I found an entire nest on the ground, with baby birds in it, what do I do?

If you can reattach the nest to a branch or other high safe place in the tree where it was, you may do so with wire or pantyhose. If the nest has broken apart, you may place the pieces and the babies in an empty berry basket, margarine or other container (cut holes in the bottom for drainage) and then attach it back in the tree. Be sure not to place the nest in full sun.

If you still think the babies will be in danger, call the Liberty Wildlife Hotline (480) 998 5550 for instructions.

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 315.

We’re starting to set up the Orphan Care operation and the baby birds are beginning to arrive. Last weekend several new OC volunteers were trained in the fine art of baby bird care. Along with this, the usual array of injured birds are also still arriving both from the public at the window and being brought in by Rescue volunteers. The pace is picking up…

An injured TV makes the journey from Sierra Vista

Jan and Tony assess the damage

"I'd really rather be someplace else...!"

Our friend Christy Van Cleve sent us yet another bird last week, transported up from the Tucson area by a volunteer from the early days of Liberty Wildlife. Donna P. went down and picked up a turkey vulture who had a broken wing and brought it in last Tuesday.  Unlike many birds who make the journey, this one has a good chance of being successfully released with the proper care so speed was of the essence. Thanks, Donna

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Hungry poor-will

Fill 'er up!

Some of the most interesting birds we get in now and then are poor-wills and nighthawks. Members of the caprimulgid (latin for “Goat sucker”) family, they are one of the most ancient species of birds.  Many times they are found on the ground where they spend most of the day and where people mistakenly think they are injured. The most intriguing part of their structure is their large beaks which, when opened, gives them the name “frog mouth.” This little bird got a head injury after colliding with a window, an occupational hazard for birds that fly around lights at night.

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Toba, Sharon, and Joanie work on a peregrine foot

Bumblefoot healing well

A beautiful peregrine falcon arrived recently and displays one of the more common problems of falcons – bumblefoot.  This is an infection of the foot that, when it becomes systemic, can be life threatening.  A very effective treatment for this was discovered not long ago and is used on birds at Liberty with this presentation.  This little patient is responding very well!

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An OC brooder begins to fill up

Gapers are easy! (Sometimes!)

Fledgling hummer gets fed

New OC volunteers get an intro - outside (Photo by Carol Suits)

Susie demonstrates proper technique (Photo by Carol Suits)

Nothing beats hands on training in feeding baby birds (Photo by Carol Suits)

Paperwork is also important (Photo by Carol Suits)

And, as I pointed out earlier, Baby Bird Season is fast upon us!  The orphans are arriving and soon the OC center will be open for 2012.  To prepare for this, a clutch of new OC volunteers showed up last weekend for training and got some expert instruction from our resident OC Coordinator, Susie Vaught. This included all facets of the job including hands-on training in feeding, general care, and record keeping.  The OC team ROCKS!!!

(I’d like to thank everyone who commented on last week’s TW@L.  We set a record for the most comments on a single post.  Let’s keep the dialog going!  We love to hear from you!!)

Condor 246 was brought to us over five weeks ago from the Vermilion Cliffs.  An eleven year old masculine beauty all full of spit and vinegar…and LEAD!  He never fathered a baby condor or even had a mate….he was always hospitalized during the bonding season being chelated for exposure to lead.  He got gypped.

When he arrived we all commented about his spirit.  He had fire in his eyes, strength in his bite and luster in his feathers…and A CROP THAT DIDN’T FUNCTION.  Without going into the technical reasons for this, just know that the crop is a critical step to the absorption of nutrition…..nutrition necessary to maintain the spit and vinegar, the fire in the eyes, the strength in the bite, the luster in the feathers.

246 shortly after he arrived

In the beginning there was a palpable throbbing from his enclosure …I could feel it before I reached the door.  He was inside, waiting for a morsel to feed his hungers, to strengthen his body, to stop the ebbing spirit from seeping slowly from his being.

He was chelated with four rounds of calcium EDTA with the hopes of curtailing the destruction of red blood cells and negating the malfunctioning of calcium in the body.  We surgically removed necrotic tissues and treated him with antibiotics and anti-fungal medicines.  He was tube fed and given solid foods ever hopeful that the crop would begin to function.  The staff, doctors, and volunteers worked seven days a week for weeks.  But the throbbing energy began to disappear.  We watched as the lead stole his spirit, his will to live.

The last afternoon of 246’s life I found it almost impossible to look into the cage.  The pulsating energy was gone.  He stood lifelessly in the middle of his enclosure.  He had shrunken in stature. His head hung down almost touching the ground.  His eyes were dull, his feathers had lost their luster, he had given up.  Sometime in the early morning his spirit slipped out of the enclosure to go wherever the condor soul goes….hopefully surfing the spiritual thermals.

He will not silhouette the blue skies of the Grand Canyon. He will not find a mate. He will not teach a baby condor how to ride the winds.  He will not be a sky king.

What a hideous waste.  The culprit is lead.  It is toxic to every living thing. Lead bullets should be removed from the environment…..no ifs, ands, or buts.  Lead ammunition takes out the animal it was “meant” for.  But then if that animal is left to die in the environment….not even harvested but left to litter the wilds or if its entrails are carelessly dumped, it kills again and again.  It could be an eagle, a hawk, a coyote, a condor….collateral deaths by a bullet that keeps on killing….Lead…just get rid of it.

If I sound disgusted, it is because I am.  Are we not capable of better things?  Is the continuance of these senseless deaths what our legacy will be?  I sincerely hope not.  The solution is a no brainer.

Condor 246 not only got gypped…..he suffered a slow and agonizing death.  Shameful!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total is currently at 283.

One of our three big fund raising events took place last weekend and by all measures, it was a large success. Not only did it raise substantial funds for our operation, but it provided a great venue for our Education staff to shine as well. Plus, with the temperatures heading north, the orphans are now coming in at an increasing pace adding to the steady rate of adult and yearling arrivals.  Let’s take a look…

The 2012 Born 2 B Wild run starts

Holly and Carolee register riders

The Ed Team at work

Carol and Alex work the raffle board

Apollo is a star

Heddy is always a hit

The 5th annual Born 2 B Wild bike run was held last Saturday in perfect weather conditions.  Missy planned the event which began in Carefree, progressed through Fountain Hills and Scottsdale and ended at Chester’s in Mesa. The Ed team had birds at most of the stops and everyone had a wonderful day, culminating in the drawing for the Harley Soft-tail. It was easily the biggest and best run in 5 years!

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Southern yellow bat is rescued (Photo by Rebecca Moffat)

A southern yellow bat was rescued near the Phoenix Zoo last Friday. It was rescued and transported by Rebecca Moffat, our own resident bat expert, for ultimate rehabilitation and care.  This type of bat (one of nearly four thousand species!) lives by itself in foliage such as fan palms, eating insects and keeping the environment healthy in the process.

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Dr. Wyman and Joanie examine a GHO (photo by Jan Miller)

Even as the big events unfold, the day-to-day intakes and treatment go on at the facility. Birds come in, are evaluated, and then get treated. The Med Services staff, assisted by Dr. Wyman on Tuesdays, do these yeoman tasks on the never-ending parade of hawks, owls, eagles, and other animals that arrive at our window through the year.

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A phoebe nest, complete with phoebes!! (Photo by Susie Vaught)

Sharon holds an orphan GHO (Photo by Jan Miller)

Future predator (Photo by Jan Miller)

Hogan prepares to feed some of her fosters

OK, his "horns" will grow...

Big bro taking care of little bro

Very sleepy babies, safe and snug!

Alright, you knew it was coming…the parade of baby owl pictures begins! Our foster mom  GHOs (Hogan and Sedona) will raise extremely large broods over a season, sometime caring for 16 foster owlets or more at a time. Hogan is now feeding and protecting seven while Sedona is brooding one (I couldn’t get a picture because she was sitting on the infant and Igor was guarding the enclosure!) But stay tuned and I’ll keep the baby pics coming over the next few months!

Saturday’s Baby Shower for Liberty Wildlife was a huge success.  If you missed it, put a reminder on your calendar to make it to next year’s event….and based on the wonderful response there will be one next year!

Perhaps it was because it was St. Patrick’s Day, but the “green” was particularly present…. Generous donors chipped in enough cash that will enable us to buy a new brooder…and that is such a good thing.  But they also brought dog food, bird seed, paper towels and other necessities of the Orphan Care season….a bonanza.

There were so many endearing things about the day.  I loved it that the park was bustling with parents and their children, swinging, picnicking, walking dogs, playing soccer.  There was a dog “club” busily socializing and training their dogs, and the weather was perfect….not too hot, not too cold.  The fates were with us as Sunday made a turn that while welcomed would have put a damper on things outside.

The Education Team was there in force and wowed the park goers with their educational Ambassadors.  It isn’t too often that you head to the park and are greeted by eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons….huge eyes and great smiles let us know how thrilled the onlookers were…kids of all ages!.

Delegates from the Orphan Care group also showed up to talk about the displays and to help with the projects.  Each youngster could take away a pinecone bird seed feeder made by their own hands, plastic Easter eggs filled with all kinds of treasures and the riches left by the whacking of the piñatas.  There were some really happy faces.

Thanks to all of you in the public who joined us for our first baby shower to help us launch the orphan care season.  Thanks to those of you in particular who went to the trouble to “shower shop” for our babies, thanks to those of you who signed up to volunteer in the Orphan Care and Daily Care department, and thanks to those of you from Liberty Wildlife who once again rose to the occasion to do what you all do best…help to “nurture the nature of Arizona”. And a special thanks to Susie Vaught who made it all happen and who will head up our Orphan Care group!

I can’t end this blog without the reminder that our Born 2B Wild motorcycle rally is March 24^th and that is this coming weekend.  Riders saddle up and onlookers find your spots for what looks like a very fun ride.  For more information about this event go to www.borntobwild.org.  See you there!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 237.

The intakes were still a bit slow but with all the bad weather, this looks like it might be a big week. The condor had a second surgery and is still in our care, battling a myriad of problems but he is a fighter so we need to get him out and into the gene pool ASAP. Another bird came up from Sierra Vista and the last thing we did before the temperature dropped and the rain/snow/hail started was the Baby Bird Shower…

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Number 246 in the new dedicated condor enclosure

Each year we have been getting in condors, we have to play “musical enclosures” since they require so much space and special attention.  Recently, the Ahwatukee Woodworkers Club fabricated the panels from which were assembled a new “room” specially designed for the big birds.  These volunteer wood workers donate their time and skills to many worthwhile causes and we were fortunate enough to have them on our team for the new housing for the California condors as they fight to regain their health.

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Small part, big benefit!

And while we’re speaking of donations helping us out, when we did our major spring cleaning/remodeling a couple weeks ago, Naomi was able to secure several multi-socket power strips from Gina, at LeGrand US.  These long power receptacles alleviate the need for multiple extension cords which generate lots of tangles that get in the way and also present chewing targets for rodents. The beautiful metal strips provide lots of receptacles where we need them and will be a big improvement for the ICU and the Orphan Care center.  Thanks Gina, LeGrand US, and Naomi!

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"Elliot's Angels" (photo by Kathy Sciosia)

Donna J displays the zone-tail

Elliot poses with Kathy S

John does a great job explaining the adaptations of a turkey vulture

Kathy H on stage with Acoma

Joe and Aurora impress the crowd

The Baby Bird Shower went off last Saturday and was all we hoped it could be!  Susie Vaught planned and executed the event with the help of several volunteers and the weather held off until the activity was over. Lots of people attended (est. 400) and from those, we signed up 17 volunteers for Orphan Care and collected over $650 in donations. Training the new volunteers will begin shortly.

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Toba and Joanie remove an old wrap

A ring-necked duck waddles in the waterfowl enclosure

A red-naped sapsucker comes in

Wally administers some meds

The every-day work of the group continues as the season progresses with the Tuesday “Vet-night” team and the rest continuing to administer to the injured animals in our care – the GHO from Sierra Vista who got his toe caught in a leg-hold trap, an RTH with a wing problem, an injured red-naped sapsucker, a wayward ring-necked duck – all get the care they need, most surviving to release, some not… but the work and the care never stop.

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Baby GHO gets a few mice

The infant GHO is still in the brooder, being fed by disguised volunteers using surrogate hand puppets until they are old enough to be placed with a foster parent of the appropriate species. The full fury of Baby Bird Season is at hand!

Three things leap out to me to cover this week in Hoots, Howls and Hollers.

For the past few months we have had the pleasure of working with Sergio Ribeiro, Jr. from Brazil.  Sergio is a Work and Travel Participant and a Greenheart Club Member.  Sergio’s experience in Scottsdale starts with working at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. Included in this travel experience is an opportunity to volunteer.  In his own words, “…when I received the Greenheart Club invitation to do volunteer work in the USA during my Work and Travel program, I didn’t think twice.  So I did research on the internet looking for volunteer work in the city where I would be living of Scottsdale, Arizona.  I found some nice places, but one in particular caught my attention most, and that was Liberty Wildlife.  I love animals and I just love the idea of helping and saving them.  So that’s what I have been doing since the end of December.”

It appears that working with the animals was a wonderful experience for him, but also “I have met so many nice people here that have embraced me on their team.  I’m so thankful for the opportunity.  While I haven’t changed the world, I feel that I am moving in the right direction.  I’m pretty sure that the birds of Arizona think the same way.”

It seems that not only were the birds lucky to have such a dedicated spirit pitch in to help, but all of the other volunteers involved learned a lot from working with Sergio.  And so the arms of Liberty stretch a little bit farther….how cool!  Our heartfelt thanks go to Sergio for choosing us.

Also, here’s a reminder about two great events coming up.  The Baby Bird Shower is the Saturday, March 17^th at Cactus Park in Scottsdale….the northeast corner of Cactus and Scottsdale Road.  We will have a lot of family fun so bring them all for piñatas, prizes, and to se educational ambassadors of the feathered and scaled kind.  There will be plenty of information, opportunities to donate to our orphan care program, and a chance to see how you can get involved in the upcoming busy season…It is free so you won’t want to miss the fun.  Donations will be accepted, however!

And towards the end of this month is another opportunity for you to learn about Liberty Wildlife and to have a blast at our Born 2B Wild motorcycle rally.  Our educational Ambassadors and their handlers will be at Chester’s Harley Davidson’s Backstage Bash Kick Off on the 23^rd of the month and again on the 24^th, the day of the big ride.  Also on the 24^th you will find our educators at American Legion Post 58 in Fountain Hills.  If you want to join this group fun and need more information check out our dedicated web site www.borntobwild.org or call 480-998-0230.

Thanks to all of you for your participation in our activities…it is all about the wildlife!

This Week at Liberty

Posted by Terry Stevens

The intake total for the year is now at 210.

A quick update this week as we approach two big projects – the Baby Bird Shower this Saturday, and the Born 2B Wild motorcycle run on the 25th. We’re mostly recovered from the Great Spring Cleaning, and we’re deep into the busiest part of the education season. The intake rate is still a little slow, but we all know it’s just the calm before the storm. Take a breath and enjoy the relaxation that comes from a slow period – before all heck breaks loose!

Sign on Frodo's enclosure

Igor has issues...

Seen in increasing numbers these days

No...fish?!?

OK, periodically I notice tags and signs around the facility that have to be unique to Liberty Wildlife and our application. We use small laminated tags on enclosures to alert the volunteers of special considerations as to certain birds and their special needs – such as the tag “Speak softly to me” on our little old Frodo’s enclosure, or Igor’s tag warning about his dislike for men…and hats! The escape artist tag is self explanatory, but the sign advising people to not flush fish down the toilet has to be a one-of-a-kind!

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The R7 rebuild is coming along

The rebuild of R-7 is progressing nicely as Art designs and builds a structure that will be more functional and physically stable than the old one.

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A great egret takes it easy

A pair of goslings await placement

Lots of cottontails arriving

The waterfowl area is currently still holding the white pelican and this pretty great egret, along with two baby goslings who are waiting to be placed as non-natives. We’re also getting in a growing contingent of baby cottontail bunnies who don’t seem to have a special breeding season!

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A surrogate mom does the trick

Feeding a baby GHO is involved, and Shannon gets her turn at feeding the little guy

The newly hatched baby GHO is now at the stage where he needs to be fed and is still too small for regular foster care.  In order to prevent imprinting on humans, the feeders must wear  disruptive costumes and use puppets to keep the little owl from seeing humans bring him food.  Pretty soon, he’ll be transferred to foster parents like Hogan or Igor to learn what he really is meant to be.

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Another small arrival

A hungry little mouth

A real nestling - in a real nest!

Yet another baby humming bird arrived last week, tucked nest and all into a paper egg carton. Requiring special care, Andrea was ready to feed the tiny bird with some coaching from Ria.

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DON’T FORGET!!!!  This Saturday (3/17) is the Baby Bird Shower and Next Saturday (3/24) is the Born 2 B Wild bike run!!!  For details, go to    and…

www.borntobwild.org