Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Here a bat, there a bat, everywhere a bat, bat.....

Yes, migration is still taking place. Some species move sooner than others, while some don't migrate at all. And then there are the exceptions, like, yes, this species normally migrates, but in certain geographic areas, doesn't. Another one of those things that wildlife rehabilitators need to know.
It's been mildly busy around here. Just about every patient has been due to migratory issues in one way or the other.
I picked up an adult sparrow at a local nursing home that was completely covered in some sort of oil or grease. Poor thing was extremely thin and several feathers were missing. I suspect once he because soiled, since he could not fly, this made him an easy target for a predator and that's how he lost the feathers. I gave him his first Dawn bath, but he did not survive the night. I'm sure the toxins in the substance on his feathers had entered his body and that's why he was found and was easily caught and this also caused his death.
People, don't leave things laying around your yard or open garage that may harm something else. Besides being careless, it can contaminate indiscriminately.


We also got in a ring-neck dove that tangled with a cat. Boy he sure looked rough, but he's beginning to look much better. We treated him with antibiotics as well because of the cat. He has new feathers growing in, but he does have a broken right leg. With time and rest, we're hoping that he can be released.

We also had an Eared Grebe come in. This little guy had been migrating through Utah and apparently just became exhausted. He was found on someones porch in Moab, so we gave him some time to rest and sent him on his way.
They need water to take off, so we took him out to Desert Lake in Emery county and put him on the water. Those Grebe's are so cute!
The picture shows how interesting their feet are. They are in a group all to themselves. Their feet are referred to as 'lobed'. This, and the fact that their legs are set far to the back of their bodies makes them excellent divers and swimmers, but completely helpless on land. When found on land, people always call me telling me the 'duck' has broken legs. There are several species of Grebe's and they are all just wonderful! This little guy was in his winter plumage, so he doesn't look like the pictures in a lot of reference materials, unless they show the different plumage's.






We also have had two more bats come in. Both of them are Mexican Free-Tail bats. One is doing much better than the other. I don't have pictures of them for this posting, but I will for the next.
We're calling them, Bruce Wayne (I didn't name him) and Sid Vicious (what an attitude).




Last, but not least, we are looking for people to sponsor the newest Red-Tail hawk, Kachina. She will be with us for awhile and this will get expensive. If you're interested, click on the questions tab or go to the donate tab. For each $50 donation, I will send you and sponsorship certificate with her picture. This would also make a great gift for someone that loves animals/wildlife. I'll post a couple of pictures of her. She is the hawk that was found in Eagle Mountain, Utah, almost dead. She's doing great now!
Thanks everyone,
Debbie................
Mark your correspondence titled Kachina for the sponsorships.


Feathered brothers and sisters, you came to us broken and as you bled…….we saw you desperate, dehydrated, desiccated, diseased, distressed, emaciated, famished, frayed, frightened, helpless, hungry, ragged, ravenous, shaken, shocked, shot, sickly, stressed, stunned, tattered, thirsty, traumatized, torn, weary and wounded. Defiantly, you stood us off with your last breath as we tried to tend to you. We saw you come in as cute, naked, fuzzy, cuddly youth, as mischievous, defiant adolescents, as fierce, regal rulers of the sky and as cunning, maimed elders whose time on earth was almost done. You endeared yourselves to us, bit us, charmed us, footed us, delighted us, hissed at us, talked to us, mantled at us, and graced us with your presence.

Some of you mended and were able to go on your way, never looking back. Some of you were injured in ways that prevented you from going, so you stayed with us to teach us…….And we came to love you. Others were too far gone, and you went home - where you fly free from pain with the Great One. All of you have touched us, and we are changed because of you.

used with permission by Arlene Powers


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