There was good news at the IBRRC today. The Murres that we had been rehabilitating were going to be prepared for release tomorrow! In addition to their regular care and rehabilitation, they all had to be tagged with federal bands. This is a US Fish and Wildlife leg band that is used to identify and monitor the bird after release to its natural habitat.

Since the Murres are now able to eat solid food, they are fed night smelt. Most of the patients at the IBRRC are fed this type of fish because of its very low oil content. Sources of oil are eliminated in every area possible. Fish and vegetable oils are very hard to remove from feathers. That's why it's important to place cooking oils and fats in a sealed container in the garbage instead of pouring them down the kitchen drain.

Today I learned about a very specialized practice called imping. This involves grafting donor feathers onto the shaft of broken feathers of birds that would otherwise have no chance of survival (kind of like a hair transplant). This practice gives the birds a chance to survive in the wild until their natural molting process replaces the broken feathers. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well on diving birds because the glue that is used for grafting breaks down. Maybe someone will invent something that will hold in the water. It’s amazing what can be done when talented and dedicated people care.

Posted by Christy Buckley on Sep 30, 2006 | View Entry | Comments (1)

My second day at the IBRRC was busy. There were three new patients today, including two Mallard Ducks and a Western Gull. There was a female brown pelican in the intensive care unit that required a lot of care. She was severely emaciated with a broken wing. Megan, the rehabilitation assistant manager, alternated fluids with gavage (tube) feedings throughout the day.

The Murres that we cared for yesterday were doing much better today. One of the Murres was brought in two weeks ago with oil spots that caused her feathers to lose their waterproofing. She was then unable to feed because of the risk of freezing in the water. Also, since aquatic birds are not meant to spend so much time on land, she developed sores on her feet and hocks. She was washed with Dawn to remove the oil and the rehab supervisors bandaged her feet. This gave her a chance to work on her waterproofing by preening herself without hurting her feet. She was then put in a warm pool so she could work on wet spots on her feathers without getting too cold. Finally, she was transferred to the cold pool where birds normally preen intensively for several minutes (see video). Today, she was swimming in the cold pool and eating fish with the rest of the Murres. It was great to see that all the hard work and care paid off.

This Murre was th e victim of incidental oil. This occurs from oil that gets into the waterways from regular human activities, instead of a major oil spill. One way to help prevent this is to avoid topping off at the gas pump. This can cause gas to spill onto the ground. The residue can then end up in the ocean where these animals live.

Posted by Christy Buckley on Sep 30, 2006 | View Entry | Comments (0)

My adventure begins! I kicked off my expedition today at the International Bird Rescue and Research  Center in Solano County, California. The IBRRC rehabilitates aquatic birds that are the victims of oils spills, as well as birds with other injuries and illnesses. When I arrived at the IBRRC, the director of the center, Jay Holcomb, gave me a tour. It was much bigger than I expected. The center is equipped with outside cold and warm water pools for rehabilitating the birds, as well as an indoor hospital and washing facility.

After the tour, I jumped right into the daily activities. The day began with rounds. This was a meeting where the wildlife rehab supervisor, Michelle, debriefed everyone on all the “patients” in the facility. Today there were cormorants, pelicans, grebes, murres, egrets, and a heron. Throughout the day the patients were fed, bandaged, given medicine, and moved in and out of the therapeutic pools. It was amazing to see how the patients were evaluated and cared for based on their individual needs.

The day ended with an event that is the goal of every animal rescue. This was the release of a green heron who had been a patient at the IBRRC for about two weeks. He was brought in as a baby that fell out of his nest. He was rescued, rehabilitated and today, he was released!

Posted by Christy Buckley on Sep 29, 2006 | View Entry | Comments (1)

Hello Readers,

My name is Christy and I am the winner of the Dawn Difference Diaries Contest! I’m from Willistown, Pennsylvania and I have a Biology degree from Penn State University.

One of my favorite past experiences was as a Naturalist on Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, CA. I was involved in the identification and recording of the numbers and types of wildlife species on the wetlands area. Daily outings provided the opportunity to observe sea otters, harbor seals, and numerous waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. Also, I am an avid birder and have spent countless hours observing birds and other wildlife during photography expeditions. I also enjoy sailing, yoga, painting, playing guitar and snowboarding.

In the future, I would like to take a more hands on approach to wildlife rehabilitation. During this adventure, I hope to deepen and broaden my understanding of the issues surrounding this important field. Also, I believe that by participating in this program I will be contributing to the education of the public about the protection of the animals with whom we share this planet. I feel that education is one of the best ways to aid in minimizing the effects of human activities on wildlife. I am so excited to meet the individuals who really make a difference in this field and hopefully make a difference too!

Thanks!

Christy

Posted by Christy Buckley on Sep 25, 2006 | View Entry | Comments (6)