10 October 2022
Good Morning Everyone,
Monday was such a gorgeous day. So many people were out at the park having a picnic. The sun was glorious, as was the blue sky. Canada Geese started flying onto the pond around 1530. Some had been eating on the cricket fields earlier. Several Mallards and some Wood Ducks were still in the park. It is to get cold tonight, down to 0 C. Will everyone leave soon?
A male wood duck in transition. He will not normally begin migration until he has all of his new feathers.
I went to the park to clear my head. Lewis, as you will know, has some health issues – specifically, his immune system appears to be attacking his gums, causing them to swell up with intense inflammation. He was given painkillers but, ironically, taking them coincided with his inability to keep food down. I stopped the painkillers on Monday around noon. Lewis ate mushy tinned food this evening, and so far, he has kept it down – and then he didn’t. He was ‘starving’ at midnight, and I gave him soft, mushy food with broth. He couldn’t keep it down.
But, for a few moments, he managed to be his silly self. I brought in the herb pots from the garden for fear that frost would get them tonight. Lewis immediately curled up with the chives after I watered them.
When he and Missey were little, they had this habit of wanting to lay on the wet soil of the plant pots. One of their little idiosyncrasies. I never knew what was so attractive, and now, look, he is so big he can’t wrap around the pot anymore!
Missey spent the day watching the Dark-eyed Juncos out of the window. They were all over the garden.
We wait to see about Lewis and to see if he is HPI positive or negative. I will also have an ultrasound done to make sure there is no blockage that is causing his regurgitation. Thank you for your continued good wishes for our darling boy.
I am attaching the latest news from Birdlife Malta. It will show you the challenges that people face trying to protect the raptors that migrate over that country.
I did not spend a lot of time checking on the nests. The Bald Eagles are coming and going to their nests in the United States preparing for the upcoming breeding season.
V3 was guarding the nest while Gabby was trying it out!
Clive and Connie were on the Captiva Bald Eagle Nest. Their 2022 chick, Connick, remains in the care of the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey at Maitland, Florida. He will be released as soon as all of his feathers are grown in. I will let you know as soon as Audubon has provided release details.
Beautiful night at Superbeaks. Pepe and Muhlady have been diligent in getting their nest ready.
In Australia, we now have only one Peregrine Falcon family: Diamond and Xavier on the streaming cam. The two chicks are doing fantastic. Both are well fed – and always are ready for more prey. Xavier has had time feeding them but they are too big for him to brood. They are even getting too big for Diamond!
The feeding after 1430. Adorable…just adorable.
‘A’ adds: “At Orange, Xavier is doing his usual sterling job of keeping the scrape well provided with food. Diamond is doing a much better job now that the little one can fight with his sibling on a relatively equal basis for the food. Oh, but that little one is demanding. It NEVER stops begging for food unless its beak is full. I’m not even convinced he doesn’t squeak in his sleep as he dreams of food! I adore this chick. (Yes, I know I adore all of them, but this one is SUCH a personality. Xavier and Diamond certainly do produce some feisty eyases, do they not? Here is a feeding from this morning (Tuesday 10 October): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXfdZT5C64&list=TLPQMTAxMDIwMjOq7dYrqDV9Tw&index=4. See how well our little one is doing. And doesn’t Xavier look even more dashing and handsome than usual?”
Only a miracle could save an egg in Melbourne. F22 was on the eggs for a bit and was at the north end of the scrape. She looks ‘rugged and ragged’ according to ‘A’ – her feathers dishevelled. She also appears to have some pain but is looking a wee better.
The Sydney Sea Eagles will be branching soon. Branching is specifically flying from the nest to land on a branch. It is not walking up a branch. They are gorgeous eaglets. Lady and Dad have done a superb job. I hope – for once – that they get to train these two to hunt prey and help them with their flying! I know the odds are against this but – I would like to hope.
31 has been on that branch for some time.
We are awaiting the pip watch at Port Lincoln. Some think this will happen on the 12th so we are only a couple of days away. I want to see if this new Dad can pick up the pace with the fish and get at least 7 or 8 on that nest daily until those chicks are a month old. We might see another three fledge again like the year of Bazza, Falky, and Ervie. Wouldn’t that be something?
There are eggs at Turnby Island that will hatch in the next few days. Eggciting news for South Australia.
Lady Hawk has highlights for the Royal Cam family at Taiaroa Head. We will never forget you, beautiful Prince Manaaki. We wish you safe travels, prevailing winds and a tummy full of squid. And we wait for the day we will see you again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pwa0U4O0X8&list=TLPQMTAxMDIwMjOq7dYrqDV9Tw&index=3.
Another California Condor has fledged! The champagne bottles must be popping in Big Sur!
In the UK, the battle for licensing or revoking gaming licenses and the persecution of raptors continues.
It looks like the GHOs might want to claim that beautiful nest at Skidaway Island this year.
On the way to the park Monday afternoon, my mind was boggled at the sight of leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and bags and bags of leaves so everyone could have a pristine lawn. There needs to be a blitz in every community, in schools, in the local paper to get people to stop – stop with the toxins to make the lawn green, stop with cleaning up. It is the least we can do! It costs nothing to leave everything alone. Stop trying to be ‘House Beautiful’. Please spread the word and be an advocate for our birds.
Keep your eyes on Port Lincoln! I can’t wait – it has been too many months since there were little osplets to watch.
Thank you so much for being with me today. My report is short – I am exhausted worrying about Lewis and hopeful that calm will settle over us shortly.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A’, Birdlife Malta, NEFL-AEFR, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Sydney Sea Eagles, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Fran Solly, Lady Hawk, Ventana Wildlife Society, Wild Justice, Darlene Hawkins, and Healthy Yards.
Hi Mary Ann,
Lewis’ stomach may still be irritated from taking those pain meds. I just googled vomiting in cats; the following are excerpts from the site, “VCA animal hospitals”:
“Non-specific symptomatic treatment is often prescribed initially in mild cases of acute vomiting. Your veterinarian will usually advise you to feed your cat an easily digested, bland diet in small quantities given frequently. A veterinary prescription diet specifically formulated to be easy to digest is often recommended. Alternatively, a specific home-cooked diet may be recommended. It is important that your cat does not receive any other foods other than what your veterinarian advises during this period.
“Water should be freely available and is important to prevent dehydration. If your cat is improving, the quantity of food offered at any one time can gradually be increased back to a normal quantity and then your cat’s normal diet can be reintroduced gradually over several days. Acute vomiting is vomiting that has been present for no more than two to three days. Most cases will respond quickly to simple symptomatic treatment. The cause of such cases is often never established and may be due to relatively trivial factors such as eating spoiled food or plants. In a small number of cases of acute vomiting, usually because the vomiting is severe and leads to complications such as dehydration, or because a more serious underlying cause is suspected, further tests, specific treatment, and aggressive supportive care will be required.”
Oh, Mario, thank you so much for your care and concern and for helping look into what me causing Lewis to be unwell. It really touches my heart. I have given him a lot of broth from the chicken bones I cooked the other day and have mixed it with baby food, tinned cat food, etc. They always have water – love their fountain. I did take him off the pain meds and he did eat and keep the food down and then in the middle of the night it started up again. I had an on line consult with another vet today who asked that I get an ultrasound to see if there is an obstruction causing this also. He is not doing so well but I remain in hope that animals can be resilient and surprise us. — Thank you again. I am very touched. Good information.
Thank you Mary Ann for these updates and photos and links to read and watch. Lewis looked so cute there! Hope they can treat him and he will be ok. Prayers for him of course🙏❤️. The ducks upside down in the water is always so funny and cute!
A good laugh is like medicine !😂
Thanks Mary Ann! The 2 little ones at Diamond and Xavier’s are adorable!
I love the photo of them looking up at Xavier! This should be framed!💕💕
So sad for the other falcon family. I wish the Mom could be caught and treated but hopefully she will
Heal on her own. Prayers for her 🙏❤️. Port Lincoln and the sea eaglets seem good and looking forward to them hatching at Port Lincoln and branching at the nest of Lady and Dad! Looking forward to the eagles as they all get their nests ready too!
Have a good Tuesday and we wait and pray on the update for Lewis 🙏❤️
Linda
There was a time before the internet when the average person would not even hear of something like this. I doubt it would make the national news or the local news in Western Washington where I live.
Even though these men were convicted, it does not bring back these birds who lost their lives in a senseless act; birds minding their own business who posed no threat to people.
PRESS RELEASE
Four Oklahomans Ordered to Pay a Total of $68,000 for Killing Endangered Whooping Cranes
Friday, October 6, 2023
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma
Court Also Ordered Forfeiture of Firearms and Nationwide Loss of Hunting Privileges for Five Years
OKLAHOMA CITY – This week, four Oklahoman men were sentenced to pay restitution totaling $68,000 for unlawfully killing four endangered whooping cranes protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 22, 2023, JOSEPH M. ROMAN, 43, and JUSTIN M. WINE, 40, of Altus, CHANOD M. CAMPBELL, 32, of Gould, and BRIAN LEE GOLLIHARE JR., 35, of Hollis, were charged by information with taking a migratory bird for which there is no season. According to information presented in court, on or about November 5, 2021, the four defendants were hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in southwest Oklahoma when they killed four whooping cranes and attempted to hide the birds before leaving the scene.
Whooping cranes are a migratory bird and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the whooping crane is one of the rarest birds in North America and are highly endangered. An FWS report from May, 2023, estimates there are less than 600 total whooping cranes in the wild.
All four defendants pleaded guilty and, at sentencing hearings this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield Green ordered each defendant to pay $17,000 in restitution to the International Crane Foundation and pay a $750 fine. The defendants were also each ordered to forfeit their shotguns and will also lose their hunting privileges in all 50 states for the next five years.
“Each of us bears responsibility to protect endangered wildlife so that the species is preserved for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “My office stands with and commends the work done by our federal and state law enforcement partners, and we hope this case serves as a warning for those who would harm endangered species.”
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is committed to conducting criminal investigations with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for the protection of endangered species such as the whooping crane,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “The outcomes of this case are the result of vigorous investigative efforts by the Office of Law Enforcement and our ODWC partners to bring wildlife violators to justice.”
“This is a great example of state and federal agencies working closely together throughout the investigation. The outstanding ODWC Game Wardens were tireless in tracking down leads and in their collection of key evidence that led to this outcome,” said Nathan Erdman, Law Enforcement Chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Rest assured that those committing wildlife violations in Oklahoma will be caught thanks to thorough investigations like this along with tips from the public.”
This case is a result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case.
Updated October 6, 2023
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/four-oklahomans-ordered-pay-total-68000-killing-endangered-whooping-cranes
Thank you for sending this to me. I grew up in Oklahoma. They used to line the barbed wire fences with the bodies of the Red-tailed Hawks. It was horrible. You are right – the fines do not bring back the birds and in fact, they might not even get collected. I would hope it might offer some deterrence but I have not seen this in mean spirited individuals who like to hurt living things. So very sad.