Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Fall is my favorite time of year........

Boy there has been a lot of animals coming in........some, the most, in serious shape and a few, well, not so bad!
Connie has been sick, so I'd love to be able to give her some time off and just when I think that can happen, well, wrong again. I wish I could find some reliable people who really want to help animals and aren't caught up in the own daily soap opera's.

I'd love to find someone to help fundraise, whether by computer or in person....we need a real go-getter! Anyone interested?






Finally, Horizon, the Golden eagle that hit a semi (yes, she hit IT) last February was finally released. She has been through so much. Surgery to repair a major broken bone in her wing and the subsequent surgery to remove all of the pins to hold those bones together. Then, the removal of an eye. We were so hoping we could save her vision, but the damage to the eye was extensive, forcing the removal of the eye itself. Yet after all of that, she was released, back into the wild. She killed successfully here at our facility, showing she could still do what she needed to do to survive.
She caused injuries to both Connie and myself during her stay and I hold no bad feelings toward her for that, in fact, quite the opposite. I'm glad she had and still has the fight and will to be free. As rehabilitators, we don't want 'pets', we want wild creatures who despise us and want to get the hell away from us!



She flew away, during some spectacular Fall background shots. We hope she does well and has found her mate, once again.




Click on these release pictures to get the full effect
of these shots. They are breathtaking!














































We had a Magpie that came in, found in a car,
with nothing really wrong with it, other than it related people to food. I suspect this bird had some contact with people as a nestling or fledgling and learned not to be afraid of people.
He wasn't what I would call tame or even truly habituated, but just a little too comfortable with people for my liking. His feathers were pretty dull also. We watched him and fed him and when we were sure all was well, took him for a LONG drive, away from people and near other Magpies and let him go. I hope he chooses to stay where he's not at and not return to 'civilization'. What a hoot he was! I just love those members of the Corvid family.





Well, I'll get the pictures added and head to bed. Going to the vets tomorrow with a new patient and that's a long drive to and from.
Debbie


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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