I promised I'd write up the volunteering report today, didn't I?
It was mostly dull, as usual in midwinter. one of the other volunteers and I that have been there long enough to quality for senior volunteer training got some pre-training, general stuff about how to read the med/tubing charts, prepare the meds/tubings, and document it in the computer system afterwards. we helped (well, watched while the rehabber did the work) treat a white pigeon, a belted kingfisher, and a couple of bald eagles.
close eagle encounter
kingfishers do not deal well with being in enclosed spaces, and we tried to be very unthreatening as the poor thing was literally flying into the walls, but there's not much we could do to destress it other than give it the medication and food as efficiently as possible and then leave it alone.
we didn't have to handle the eagles, just leave them some fresh medicated food and take out any uneaten food items. the other volunteer handled the juvenile male--
close eagle encounter
who doesn't get much more excited than walking up and making "skrerk" noises with his mouth open, so he's easy. the other is an adult female and I have to admit I was pretty damn intimidated by her flying around, occasionally grabbing onto the walls, and hissing at me. the rehabber helped distract the eagle as we looked for leftover food (there wasn't any), then I put the medicated food on a perch and the eagle POUNCED ON IT, knocking the food and tray onto the ground.
close eagle encounter
I retrieved the tray while the rehabber grabbed the rat (this bald eagle will only eat rats. won't eat any kind of fish, or quail; just--rats. THE MAJESTIC RAT EAGLE, EVERYONE) and tossed it back onto the perch, and we exited hastily. EAGLES ARE REALLY BIG. so that was exciting. XD
other than that... washed dishes, cleaned stuff, tidied the nursery in preparation for the coming squirrel avalanche.
and so--the Critter Report!
Critter Report (mostly good)
the quartet of bear cubs have been woken up from hibernation and did a lot of hilarious gronking during the morning. we also have a new fifth bear cub, a female who was found eating garbage and dealing with resultant digestive illness, but aside from being malnourished seems otherwise fine. she's been put in an enclosure next to the other four, with a very strong grate between them; hopes are to integrate her into the bear pack next week.
Critter Report (mostly good)
we still have the otter, she's doing great; got her broken tooth removed, is completely recovered from that, and is due to be released next week.
we also still have the saw whet owl, whose prognosis is still guarded but positive. oh, and we now have a red-tailed hawk, which I was hoping to watch as it got its exam and radiographs, but that was scheduled after my shift was over. they didn't know exactly what was wrong with it, hence the need for the exam.
Critter Report (mostly good)
and we have a barn owl, who was brought in unresponsive and expected to die overnight, and now three days later is scheduled for release next week. apparently he was just weak/dehydrated, and may have had a muscle injury in one of his wings, but it's cleared up completely and he's fit and feisty now! I didn't get to see him either. XD
and... that's about it for the critter roundup!