1st Annual Bird Day at Fairchild

The Miami Science Museum's Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center participated in Fairchild Tropical Garden's first annual bird day. There was a full line up of speakers and bird walks including other exhibitors and vendors. Visitors were very enthusiastic about the presence of the birds and asked very thoughtful and intelligent questions about our resident raptors.

Mr. Pepe, our red shouldered hawk is always a favorite of mine to take to events such as this one. The admiration by the bird enthusiasts was very well received by him. He is an outstanding educational ambassador and sits quietly while people take his picture and inspect him closely. Sadly, it is because he was raised by humans that he makes such an outstanding educational bird. He is not without fault however, and cannot be housed with other birds because of his dangerous aggression towards his own kind. He is also unpredictable with the wildlife staff at times because of his hormonal urges. Clearly, this bird belongs in the wild but cannot be released because of these behavioral issues.
Screech-o is an eastern screech owl. Also an imprint, he is unable to be released because of his behavioral inadequacies. He is also prone to show unhealthy aggression towards other screech owls. He is one of our most popular educational birds and the foundation of any good bird of prey program. He gives us a chance to show children and adults that birds come in all sizes and small doesn't always mean baby.

Out With the Old, In With the New

Well, here it is, the last one from the migration season 2008-2009. This cooper's hawk became an extended case for us due to a highly contagious protozoan infection which resulted in a lengthy stay in isolation in a small hospital cage. Due to the high strung personality of this type of hawk, she broke most of her flight feathers, rendering her unreleasable. It is a challenge to manage these types of cases because the longer they stay in captivity, the greater the odds that they will sustain even more injuries that may render them unreleasable. This extended stay in captivity that results in a release is an especially big reason to celebrate. Those that know and work with cooper's hawks can appreciate this on a deeply personal level. So while the reader

may shrug and say oh, another cooper's hawk release, we celebrate each victory as each one of these feisty warriors is truly a challenge and a beauty to behold!

The 2009-2010 migration finally brought us our first peregrine. He sustained a fracture to his left wing and has a really good prognosis. We will remove his bandage this weekend and allow him to move the wing a bit so as not to cause any stiffness or retraction of tendons. We are considering ourselves extremely fortunate as he is quite calm and we anticipate that we should see him out of our center sometime in November.

The weather has been quite hot this year averaging in the upper 80s to low 90s every day. Too hot for fall, and too hot I think for migrating birds. The turkey vultures have arrived but the rest are slow to come south, or maybe just avoided us altogether?

Bird Profile- Brother the Peregrine

Since we are in anticipation of the impending yearly fall migration, I thought I'd share a photo of our resident peregrine falcon Brother who resides at the Miami Science Museum's Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center. As evidenced by the photo above, Brother suffers from a prior injury to his left wing rendering him unable to be released back into the wild.

Every year peregrine falcons make the annual journey from their spring/summer homes in the Arctic tundra of Canada down into South America. These amazing migratory routes bring them straight down through the heart of downtown Miami. While it may seem strange, peregrines are frequently seen in the heart of many downtown areas of Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, and multiple other locales across the country.

An interesting blog to follow can be found here http://frgroup.frg.org/2009/09/2009-southern-cross-peregrine-migration.html. The Southern Cross peregrine project actively monitors migrating falcons every year giving enthusiasts such as myself a day by day snapshot into how much ground these birds cover in a day and what I find most interesting: how some birds will follow the same routes year after year which follow one route down and another back, completing a full circle almost.

Brother was one of those typical first year falcons that did not complete his journey as many first year fledglings do not. It is an estimate that 75% of our peregrine patients are 1st year raptors. The migration is a perilous journey and one can only imagine how many near misses and perils are faced by the time these birds make it to Miami.

Hopefully this year will be a good one and we will return them all back to their journey. In the meantime, I sit with Brother and we both look up awaiting their arrival.

Spectacular Bald Eagle Release

We were thrilled to successfully release an American Bald Eagle Tuesday Sept 22, 2009. This i

s only the second one that I have treated since my employ for the past 6 years at the Miami

Science Museum. It is a first year juvenile and missing the trademark white head feathers of the adult bird. They will grow in at around its 4th-5th year.

This bird was sighted on a golf course eating what seemed to be a duck early in the morning a week before. Later that day, the finder Daniela Ruiz reported seeing it in the lake struggling. By the time Florida Fish and Wildlife officer Miranda arrived, it was floating motionless in the water.

Our director, Greta Mealey received the bird that night and administered emergency care. The next morning, the bird was alive, alert, and to say the least, very feisty. We believe that it was perhaps exhausted, waterlogged and perhaps a little hypothermic after its struggle to get out of the water. It may have encountered a toxin or some sort of trauma. It was most definitely in shock and would have died without the intervention of all parties involved.

The bird stayed with us for a week as the blood values were a little questionable and we wanted to make sure that it was as healthy as possible. In addition, it was eating well and seemed to be

calm and unstressed once introduced to our flight enclosure. Periodically we administered more fluids and monitored the weight. Finally this eagle was ready to spread its wings once again.

I don't think I need to point out the smiles on every one's faces. We were all very excited.

The day of release was a special event and the finder and officer were both in attendance as well as some media, family members of the finder, and a couple of friends and associates from the Museum. Brian Mealey, of the Institute of Wildlife Sciences placed a federal band on the eagle's leg and it was placed on the ground about 100 feet from the place first seen. See for yourself, as words cannot describe this. What a great time to post a video!

Some Stories Never Get Old

This posting is a bit late as I have been having some problems with posting pictures. I couldn't bear telling this story without the pictures. I am also happy to share this behind the scenes photo that shows how we hold birds (not more than 30 minutes) in preparation for release.

The hood keeps the bird, a cooper's hawk calm by keeping the vision dark. Hawks are very visual, so taking away sight goes a long way towards preventing them from intense stress or hurting themselves or their feathers which would jeopardize the release. Coincidentally, this bird remained with us for a very long time because of feather damage incurred while quarantined because of an infectious disease. Cooper's hawks are very high strung birds and will frequently fling themselves around their enclosure in a frantic attempt to escape. We were thrilled that we

were able to nurture this bird back to health and then provide a safe enclosure in which

the bird could grow feathers again and regain strength which allowed for her release. The towel restrains movement and prevents the panic response that sometimes ensues when a bird is left hooded in a cage. They remain quite calm and able to breathe.

When we schedule a public release, we like to have the bird ready ahead of time in case of any unforeseen circumstances. We also transport birds in this manner sometimes as well. Rolling a towel around them and securing the velcro band helps to restrict their activity. When unable to move, most animals tend to calm down (notice I said most). I like to explain the rationale behind our restraint of the birds because people tend to react very violently when they see an image like this, but when learning the rationale, they understand and become very intrigued how this actually works. Same principle works with cattle, horses, and other animals that would respond in panic situations.

So I happily said a little prayer and we sent this cooper's hawk on her way, just in time for the fall migration. The honor of release went to Justin, our herpetologist who has yet to release a bird. He was, understandably so, very excited about his first release. Way to go Justin! And way to go Cooper!

Beautiful People and No Deeds Too Small

This blog entry really was a gift to me as it sort of materialized instantly in my head as I curiously peered at the guy who had stopped in the middle of the road to save a turtle from sure death on the horrifically brutal roads of South Florida. I couldn't help but smile as I watched him in my rear view mirror as the turtle fought to get away from him as the guy struggled awkwardly to pick it up (I think he was a little scared). It occurred to me that the flip side of the story I wrote about last was the numerous people that every day, take time out of their busy lives just to help animals.

The latest individual named Matt was one who had found a duck shortly after it had been hit by a car. It was bleeding from the mouth and nose and appeared to have a leg injury. He was frantic as I spoke to him on the phone and I told him yes, bring it right away. He hung up the phone and was on our doorstep quick enough that I am sure he broke all speed limits and perhaps a couple of other traffic laws to get there. We treated the duck with emergency medication and fluid and

kept our fingers crossed, there were no other injuries. This man called not only later that day, but the next, and the next checking up on his duck. I am happy to report that the duck not only made it, but had no serious injuries that prevented it from being transferred to the duck specialist, who now fields all the calls from Matt! So he was infinitely grateful for the life of the duck. He had brought another bird to us in the past that unfortunately did not make it, and thankfully he didn't give up trying to help these animals, or else that duck might have died on the side of the road as many animals do. There are so many of these stories, not just in my world, but from other rescuers as well. There is a legion of peregrine falcon fans in Duluth MN that await the spring nesting season eagerly every year. I joined their webgroup to keep up with the drama, but was absolutely amazed at the dedication of these people in not only reporting the goings on of the peregrine family, but coming together to report finding young birds on the ground or in distress. Seems that the whole community has become wildlife rescuers!

Homeless people are frequent rescuers, which by the way always touches my heart when someone who has nothing will do everything they can to help an animal in distress. People bring them on the train, on bikes, and even on motorcycles if they need to.

Then there are the others who offer invaluable support for our operation. Whenever in need all we have to do is say the word and they are there. This is by no means a comprehensive list but a few of the very special people who contribute their time and services to us.

Dr. Lorraine Karpinski has brought such a great depth to our rehabilitation's veterinary services at the Miami Science Museum's bird of prey center. She not only consults with us on all cases that involve injuries to the eye, but also performs surgery to restore sight to birds that would otherwise have no life otherwise. We are proud that she is an important part of our team that gives of her valuable skills and time.

This is Tatiana, one of our longest volunteers. It takes dedicated people like her to get us through those crazy days when nothing seems to go right to have someone who is ready to lend that extra hand to try and make it just a little bit easier. Possibly, more important, these individuals share their enthusiasm and curiosity, keeping the job fresh and reminding us every day why we wanted to do this for a living, despite all the ups and downs. They become over time, invaluable, and inevitably our friends.

Sometimes friends come from the strangest places. Jeff from Miami Animal Removal showed up at our door on Christmas Eve 3 years ago (I think) bringing with him an injured broadwing hawk. Jeff was one of those individuals that I liked right away as he has a very calm, very pleasant demeanor. Over the years Jeff passes through our doors regularly, sometimes bringing animals he has rescued on his job, sometimes bringing animals that we have asked him to rescue. Other times, he plays wildlife taxi, ferrying raccoons down to a meeting place for the raccoon rehabilitator close to his home. Jeff is always available to help us for difficult rescues or in a crisis. I like to think of him as the ace up my sleeve!

And last, but certainly not least, the members of the Venom One unit of the Miami Dade Fire Rescue. The have become a huge part of our operation, a huge safety net if you will. They have logged several hundred miles picking up injured wildlife and transporting to our location. They also support us in our special events such as snake day.

Unfortunately we are in danger of losing their services as the Mayor and commissioners of Miami Dade County see fit to cut the county budget and to sacrifice services such as these. Meanwhile the mayor gives double digit percentage raises to his inner circle much to the bewilderment and anger of the taxpayers. To lose the Venom One Unit would be a tragic and critical loss to the community and most certainly to the rehabilitation program at our facility.

In closing, there are too many others, some which can be named, Nelson, Gisella, and others that cannot but their faces and memories are forever burned in my mind. As long as there is an animal in need of help, there will be someone to care, gives me hope to carry on my journey and make a little difference in my corner of the world.

The Evil Men Do- When Compassion Goes Too Far

All over the country (and world) people in their everyday lives stop for just a moment to notice some unfortunate incident affecting some poor animal causing it to suffer and possibly die. It is in the course of my business as a wildlife rehabilitator that I come into contact with these caring individuals on a daily basis. Usually these individuals have simply found these animals and brought them to us right away for care. Other times they may have fed something inappropriate overnight or for a couple of days and it is something that the animal can overcome with proper diet and medical care. In extreme cases, people keep animals for a week, or two, or four and the results can be catastrophic for the animal. What comes immediately to mind is baby animals that have been raised by humans and are so acclimated to their human caregivers that socialization with other animals may be difficult or impossible, resulting in either a permanently captive animal or euthanasia if dangerous due to lack of fear of humans. Other circumstances may involve an injured animal that is kept too long and allowed to heal improperly, or a baby animal that is fed the wrong diet for too long and is in the throes of death when brought to us.

The delay of a couple days will always bring the reminder from me of the importance of immediate care and bringing the animal in right away. Those who keep the animal longer or bring it in dying will get a harsher explanation from me as to the serious consequences of their actions. They will often get confused or angry when I tell them what they've done might cost the animal its life , but more often they will get upset and begin to cry when they realize the seriousness of their mistake. I have been criticized by others for this approach of what I see as "tough love," as not rewarding them emotionally for "doing the right thing." But I believe that by sugar coating the reality of the situation, you do no justice for the animal that will end up paying with its life and this person may walk away believing they did such a great job that why not do it again? So red-eyed and sniffling the individual usually walks away armed with the knowledge that will prevent them from making this mistake again and they will more than likely share this story with someone in the future, possibly preventing them from making this mistake.

So now since you have a little background info of my perspective on "good intentions gone bad," you may understand my outrage a little more deeply at what I am about to share with you. On Saturday, I caught an episode of Animal Planet's "Untamed and Uncut," a reality based show that shocks and horrifies viewers with actual violent footage of animal "accidents" from around the world. It's not my favorite show, but I keep the TV on as background when I am doing this or that around the house. They got my attention when they announced the next story would show how the rescue of a great horned owl in Arkansas played out. I stopped to watch the story unfold as a family found a great horned owl that had been captured in a steel trap and suffered a mangled and broken leg as a result of this heartless trapping method. The family, videotaping their every move, showed how they were able to secure the owl and pry the trap off. They then proceeded to debate whether or not they should put it out of its misery. They proclaimed rather triumphantly that they intended to "help" this bird and proceeded to cut its leg off with wire cutters. They were satisfied that they had done a good thing since the bird made no protest or show of pain. They then poured hydrogen peroxide and alcohol over the remaining stump as a precaution. What came next, I could not believe. They simply let it go!

Horrified. Shocked. Appalled. Saddened. All of these emotions hit me at once and are still swirling around in my head as I think of this poor bird flying off, dehydrated, in probable shock, and likely infected by the bacteria of a wound that was not fresh by the looks of it. The proud amputator proclaimed that now the bird had to work twice as hard to feed himself now that he only had one of his weapons. The guy even knew that! Wonder if he knew that if the bird survived the infection of his wound and debilitated state that he was likely to get an infection in the other foot as one legged birds are known to do?

So given my position stated in the beginning, I'm sure that you, the reader can imagine what type of conversation I would love to have with these people. That conversation is so important so these people won't go around bragging about this deed and what a wonderful thing they did. One can only hope that at some point, someone pointed out to them, uh maybe you should have taken it to a vet first? Yes, I hope they second guessed their decision at some point.

My deeper anger is directed at Animal Planet. I wrote them first letting them know how irresponsible the airing of this story was. That it was first and foremost, ILLEGAL. Rehabilitators like myself are not allowed to release birds with one leg and must be considered carefully on a case by case basis to keep them in captivity because of the propensity of the other foot becoming lame. It is for the same reason that horses with 3 legs are not typically saved. The other thing that Animal Planet is guilty of is glorifying an act that was clearly the wrong decision. Some producer felt that the wow factor was more important and spinning it this way was acceptable programming. It was in my opinion a morally reprehensible decision to air this story, and it was my suggestion to Animal Planet that they will examine these stories a little more closely before airing them.

I am really not that surprised, but I feel that enough is enough and I hope that people will speak out and let them know that they do not approve of this sort of irresponsible programming that ignores not only the law, but the codes of common sense that an animal that has just lost an entire limb needs medical attention by a trained professional, something that should be inherently obvious. Here's the web address if you have a quick moment to let Animal Planet know that you do not approve of this sort of irresponsible content: http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations. The show is called "Uncut and Untamed" and aired Saturday August 29th.

Meanwhile I commend and applaud all of you that do take the time out of your busy lives to help animals. Don't stop trying, but just remember that like us, they need the care of a trained professional. You took the time to care, now take that extra step to find them the help they need.

Last Rites of Summer

Well we've almost made it through another hot, sticky South Florida Summer. Pictured above are 3 members of the Miami Dade Venom One Response Unit as they made a huge splash at the Miami Science Museum's 10th annual Snake Day. They treated our visitors to not only close encounters with some of the largest python species on earth, but also to some educational presentations and a highly entertaining venomous snake demonstration.

This stunning snake is a gaboon viper, one of the worlds heaviest venomous snakes from Africa. It belongs to the Everglades Outpost, a wildlife sanctuary in Homestead just outside of the Everglades. They were kind enough to bring 4 venomous snakes to display.

There were also plenty of contestants vying for the bragging rights of best in show, largest, and people's pick. Here's just a few that struck my fancy.

The last of the orphaned wildlife is still trickling in but will stop soon enough as the migration of North American birds will trickle down South inevitably getting in trouble by the the time they reach Miami. Some familiar faces you have seen before will soon reappear. In the meantime, some parting shots of some end of summer memories.

Gotta love those animal people! They don't mind sharing a cool slice of watermelon with a hungry tortoise. This was Justin's first summer in Miami. He survived, but knows the real meaning of hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk!

I spent my first summer with children since the days of my first paid job back in the summer of 1999 as a summer camp instructor at Zoo Atlanta. Can't say I've really missed it, but it wasn't that bad! Here I am showing campers at the Museum how to dissect a dead quail. Never fear, these specimens didn't go to waste. The kids were allowed to watch the feeding of their subject material to the raptors.

This is what dreams are made of, that is if you are an oppossum! We thought this little guy had escaped from our care, but fortunately, he found this enclosure more comforting that the one we provided for him! Happy end of summer! May all of your fall wishes come true!

The Beat and the Heat Goes on

The summer heat has been intense this year. I can't say I remember it being so unbearable in years past, but I'm sure it has and I'm sure I will probably say the same thing next year. My friend Vered has been adjusting to life without her center, but let's just say she has had something to keep her mind occupied! The above picture is one snapshot of this afternoon I spent with her while she fed these two adorable baby ostriches. Because of her expertise with animal nutrition, a local facility has enlisted her support. These chicks were developing bone problems due to too much protein in their diets. Vered must feed them several times a day and they eat up to 2 whole heads of romaine lettuce per day in addition to other grains and food items. What a treat it always is for me to see something I've never seen before and be privileged to be so close to such an adorable baby of the largest bird on earth!

Speaking of different animals, here's a great shot my husband took of some prairie dogs we saw on our recent trip to Denver Colorado towards the end of July. Their burrows were smack dab in the middle of the median of road to the airport. Luckily for them, as prairie dogs are regularly killed in the thousands because of their burrowing habit which causes a hazard for herds of grazing cattle and horses. While it certainly must be a heartbreak to lose an animal this way, it is also hard to think about these cute little critters being mass exterminated just because of their "home building" ways.

Overall, though, the Rocky Mountains afford some breathtaking views quite different from the Florida landscape. This cool mountain stream was just begging to be rafted.

We found a great little museum up in the Rockies at the site of Buffalo Bill's grave. It played homage to not only Buffalo Bill, but the Native American tribes of the plains. Pictured above is the exhibit displaying a portrait of Sitting Bull and some of his personal items including a beautiful ceremonial war bonnet. There is a website that is devoted to the life history of Buffalo Bill and the exhibits at this museum at www.buffalobill.org

Well that's about all for now cowboys and cowgirls, back to the soupy heat of South Florida. Happy trails to you.....until we meet again.

Summertime Blues

It's not yet the middle of the summer and I'm already looking forward to the end. Although there has been a break in the number of birds admitted at the Center, the working conditions have become almost unbearable. I hear from folks all over the country that this year has seen an explosion of mosquito populations. That's pretty much always a given in South Florida, but they are much fiercer and numerous this year. Maybe it's the heat. The heat has been absolutely unbearable this year as we've reached record levels for week long durations at least twice that I can remember. Again it's a given that it's hot in South Florida, but when you work outside, 5 more degrees make it miserable.

All of these minor inconveniences aside, a rather catastrophic event tops my reasons for wishing the summer away, the closure of one the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in South Florida. The Folke Peterson Wildlife Center is closing its doors due to lack of funding. Given the state of our economy and all of the other closures, why should we care about just one more? Given that thousands of people are out of work and major companies such as GM and Chrysler are in danger of disappearing forever, why does this stand out as particularly tragic?

For starters, Folke Peterson has treated approximately 5,000 animals per year. These animals range from squirrels, blue jays, ducks, herons, pelicans, hawks, owls, eagles, deer, and foxes. Faced with the closure of this center, citizens are now faced with driving to other wildlife centers that may be up to 50 miles away. Likewise, those that are unable or unwilling to drive will not have the option of Folke Peterson staff members picking up the animals. So how many of these animals will die a long suffering death in the street or be cared for improperly by well meaning citizens and either die or become permanently maimed? Half? One third? That's still 1-2 thousand animals a year. The faces of these animals that are not saved are the most heartbreaking consequences of the failure of our economy as it has affected those who would be able to donate funds to this facility. As the financially well off scramble to secure their uncertain futures, somewhere an animal with a simple injury that would be treated at Folke Peterson Wildlife is placed back in the wild to slowly starve to death or be devoured by a feral cat.

For humanity, why should this matter? These animals don't belong to us, and their survival doesn't affect ours. I have considered this matter many times, why do people rescue animals? In part, I believe that in many cases people feel helpless in their everyday lives or existence. They go about their business and everyday lives with little control over the greater scheme of the stock market, international conflicts, safety of their children when they go off to school, etc etc, you get the picture. When presented with an injured or orphaned animal, they are presented with an opportunity to do something greater, to change the world for THIS animal. For a moment, especially in these dark times, people are given a reason to hope, to see that there are moments in life when you CAN make a difference. Sadly without the help of Folke Peterson Wildlife Center, the light of hope will never exist for many of these animals and people who would help them. Depressing? Yes it is, but it is reality.

The effects of this closure are also far reaching in the South Florida community. There are those of us (myself included) that depend on the expertise and facilities that Folke Peterson Wildlife Center possess to assist with difficult cases or the overflow of wildlife. Likewise we have assisted them in times of overflow and in difficult cases. This was initially why Folke Peterson Widlife Center was created, to assist local rehabilitators and as a teaching facility. It has grown to what it is from that initial vision, and in 5 short years, that dream is now disappearing.

For myself, this is heartbreaking and feels a lot like a small knife in my heart and brings a lump to my throat when I think of the lights being turned out and the doors locked forever on this wonderful place of sanctuary and healing. For the people who have poured their hearts and souls into this place it is an unbearable sadness that I'm sure dwarfs mine by miles in comparison. They have stood by loyally to the very end, watching animals leave to their new homes and answering the phone only to tell people that they cannot help them with their injured wildlife. I know that this must be the hardest part for them is to go against what is infinitely ingrained in their personas, to help. As time ticks away, they still wait for that miracle that will save their precious center. There may be one.....I hope and pray that someone out there can still help.

Yes I can't wait for this summer to be over.

Some uncommon babies at the Center

This time of year we never know what will come to our center. The first chimney swifts were admitted that I've seen in my 5 1/2 years at the Miami Science Museum. These strange birds behave a lot like bats rather than birds, even clinging to the towel as seen in the above photo before they were transferred to Pelican Harbor Seabird station. These birds are appropriately named because they have adapted over the years to nest in chimneys because of the loss of habitat with the destruction of forests. They are seasonal migrants and only seen in most of North America during the spring/summer months.

This close up of the baby swift shows how birds develop. These birds are normally hatched naked but the feathers develop as little pin like growths all over their bodies. They are appropriately called "pin feathers" and indicate that the baby is unable to care for itself. I highly encourage you to read more at this great website I found at www.chimneyswifts.org

Likewise, this little bird pictured here is a loggerhead shrike. Although it may look very much like a blue jay or mockingbird, it behaves a lot like a raptor minus the talons. You can see the slight curve to the beak which is used for severing the spinal cord of its prey. It is mostly an insect eater, but will hunt mice, small birds, and lizards. Perhaps the most distinctive trait of this bird is the habit of wedging the prey on a thorn, or spike in a medieval fashion while ripping it apart. For more reading go to http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/logshrike.htm You never know what unusual patient may be around the corner next!

Back Where They Belong

This beautiful little hawk is a young cooper's hawk that had fallen from the nest tree during the start of the rainy season here in South Florida. Her sibling arrived at the Miami Science Museum just two days before. We were unable to return them to the nest immediately due to ongoing storms which put not only the birds, but the humans at risk. We nervously waited a week but when we arrived, we not only found both parents, but another sibling still in the nest tree. Remaining baby in tree.

All renesting photos courtesy of Richard Williams, the concerned resident who brought both birds to our center.Parent in nearby tree
I prepare the youngster for the last leg of her trip home.

Once again Jeff Fobb is there to assist and he has positioned himself in the nest tree.

I climb up to make the hand off to Jeff. The young hawk is hooded to keep her calm.
Fortunately it was a success, but.....part of the story is missing in these photos. Would have been a great shot for a few laughs had Richard gotten the prelude to why I'm holding this young hawk who is now wet. Can't blame him though, we were all sort of in shock as the bird flew around from branches and towards the lake. She made a desperate attempt to grab at a palm tree that we all knew was a doomed effort, and fluttered into the lake, quite gently if I may say so! What happened next got me hauling my butt off the ladder rather quickly. A big black male muscovy duck made a beeline for our young friend and she desperately began to swim for the shore. As the duck gained ground I sprinted towards the lake, tossing my cell phone in the grass and heading straight into the lake with shoes, socks and all other clothing intact. Thankfully the lake was shallow, the hawk was within arms reach, and the only wet clothing I had to endure were the socks. The bird was safe.

On the third try of placing the bird in a tree farther away from the lake, the young hawk dried out a bit before flying about 10 feet across to the tree containing her siblings, and we all breathed in relief as she settled on a branch next to her other sibling and one of her parents. Too bad no one caught the more glamorous side of this story on film, but hopefully you got the gist of it and clapped just as we did at the happy ending to this story.

Taking a break, visiting animals in Georgia

What an amazing visit I had back to my original home town, Atlanta Georgia. When I left 9 years ago, I wasn't an animal rehabilitator and barely had started my journey with birds of prey. So what a treat to visit and learn about animals with which I had no hands on experience.


This rather unique face came slowly waddling over to me at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell Georgia. Trust me, these animals are not usually so friendly, and I do NOT recommend trying this on your own. Because the director and I had previously communicated, I was privledged to receive a personal up close view of this amazing creature. This animal was orphaned as an infant when a trapper, ignorant of beaver natural behavior, mistakenly believed this animal's older sibling was the newborn baby. He almost died along with his brother from the time elapsed before discovered. I learned that beavers have a very close knit family structure and live together in what is called a "lodge." He has been in captivity for around 13 years and recently alone when his brother sadly died of organ failure.

This cute little guy is one of the most critically endangered freshwater turtles in the eastern United States. The bog turtle unfortunately suffers from overcollection for the black market pet trade as well as for the fragmentation of habitat which has reduced the overall variety of genetic variation. This individual is part of a breeding program to help re-establish the wild population through captive breeding. There is some great information at http://www.fish.state.pa.us/education/catalog/ab/bogturtle/bogturtl.htm

The next day was one I would not soon forget! I was again honored to get a behind the scenes visit at the Georgia Aquarium courtesy of our head veterinary consultant Dr. Gregory Bossart. I was thrilled (to say the least) to come this close to a beautiful beluga whale while it was in a training/enrichment session. Training is very important for marine mammals as they are exceedingly intelligent creatures and need varied mental stimulation and social interaction. It increases the trust and bond between the animals and handlers. Another added benefit is that medical procedures are performed with less stress when the animals are trained to present body parts for examinations and injections.

Lastly, it's no wonder that I love animals so much, considering that animals have always been a part of my life and my family too! Here's my mom's latest, Izzy, a two year old bundle of energy called a yorkshire terrier.