A few days ago I posted about a redtailed hawk that my hubby and I had rescued. http://eroticpen.blogspot.com/2009/10/it-was-good-day-but.html
I got the call yesterday ...
The poor thing's wing would never recover from the damage to it. They did an x-ray and it was dislocated, so they tried to relocate the wrist joint, but the damage around the area was too extensive.
They had gotten him rehydrated and he was eating, but he wasn't doing well in captivity. So they had to put him down.
I tell myself that it really was the best thing, that now he isn't suffering. And wild animals are meant to be wild, not live in cages just because it hurts us to have to do what's in their best interests.
So I cried, but I also felt good knowing that the hawk was put down in a safe, warm environment, and that it was humane. Letting him starve to death would have been cruel. So I am glad that we went a got him, and that we dealt with the inconvenience of missing a couple of classes to get him to the rehab center.
Showing posts with label nature center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature center. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
It was a good day, but ...
Around 1:30 pm today I got a call from the nature center I volunteer at. They needed a pick-up of an injured red-tailed hawk in my area, and it needed to be transported the hour or so up to KC.
So I called hubby, who had just gotten to the campus for class and let him know we had been called in to do a rescue. It was our first. A few months we had gotten a call about a Barred Owl, but another volunteer caught the call before we could get back to them.
So we gathered everything we needed, after letting professors know we wouldn't make it to our classes, and set off for a little town about 12 miles north of us. (I LUV my profs. Bio/Earth Sci rocks. No a one batted an eye at us needing to miss class to rescue an injured animal)
We collected the hawk and got it up to KC, and let me tell you, it felt good to do this. I am a raptor lover, I just think the birds of prey are cool. So to get to help one like this was an awe inspiring moment for me. It's one thing to cut up food and clean cages and all at the rehab center and something quite different to have one sitting in a pet carrier in the back seat giving you the evil eye while you are driving it to be cared for.
Unfortunately, it's leg was broke, and looks to be an older break. So it had been able to work around it. But it's wing also got damaged by a car and it looks to be an older bird. They are taking it for x-rays tomorrow to see if rehabbing it is a viable option.
We try very hard to save all of the animals we can. But when a wing is damaged so badly that it will never mend in such a way that the bird will fly again, and when it is an older bird and would not tolerate captivity (for such things as being an education animal) then it is more humane to put it down.
The poor thing was half starved, massively dehydrated, and pretty badly beat up. Collision with car will do that.
Supposed to get a call tomorrow, and I am crossing my fingers it will be good news. But I fear for the worst.
But even if it does have to be put down, it is a heck of a lot better than it starving to death.
The lady who found the bird did the right thing too. She called around and got it help, she kept it in an area away from domestic animals, and she didn't try to feed or water it. Sometimes, letting a wild animal go without for a few hours is a lot better than feeding it the wrong thing.
So all in all, it was a good day. But I worry about what tomorrow will bring ...
So I called hubby, who had just gotten to the campus for class and let him know we had been called in to do a rescue. It was our first. A few months we had gotten a call about a Barred Owl, but another volunteer caught the call before we could get back to them.
So we gathered everything we needed, after letting professors know we wouldn't make it to our classes, and set off for a little town about 12 miles north of us. (I LUV my profs. Bio/Earth Sci rocks. No a one batted an eye at us needing to miss class to rescue an injured animal)
We collected the hawk and got it up to KC, and let me tell you, it felt good to do this. I am a raptor lover, I just think the birds of prey are cool. So to get to help one like this was an awe inspiring moment for me. It's one thing to cut up food and clean cages and all at the rehab center and something quite different to have one sitting in a pet carrier in the back seat giving you the evil eye while you are driving it to be cared for.
Unfortunately, it's leg was broke, and looks to be an older break. So it had been able to work around it. But it's wing also got damaged by a car and it looks to be an older bird. They are taking it for x-rays tomorrow to see if rehabbing it is a viable option.
We try very hard to save all of the animals we can. But when a wing is damaged so badly that it will never mend in such a way that the bird will fly again, and when it is an older bird and would not tolerate captivity (for such things as being an education animal) then it is more humane to put it down.
The poor thing was half starved, massively dehydrated, and pretty badly beat up. Collision with car will do that.
Supposed to get a call tomorrow, and I am crossing my fingers it will be good news. But I fear for the worst.
But even if it does have to be put down, it is a heck of a lot better than it starving to death.
The lady who found the bird did the right thing too. She called around and got it help, she kept it in an area away from domestic animals, and she didn't try to feed or water it. Sometimes, letting a wild animal go without for a few hours is a lot better than feeding it the wrong thing.
So all in all, it was a good day. But I worry about what tomorrow will bring ...
Monday, April 20, 2009
These are a few ...
... of my favorite things.
-- OWLS --
They definitely top my list of favorite creatures. : )
Something about their faces, the character they express with just a look, is magestic to me.
My favorite owl is the BARN OWL. Their heart shaped face is so cute. : ) I hope to one day manage to see one, outside of a zoo or rehab setting.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/lifehistory
I also love SNOWY OWLS. But unlike the Barn Owls, I doubt I will ever get a chance to see one in the wild.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/lifehistory
Another type of owl that I like it the BARRED OWL.
Not only have I got to care for one in a wildlife rehab setting at the nature center I volunteer at, but I also saw one in the wild the other day. We were out hiking in my Ornithology class, and we startled one. He flew right over our heads, landed on a tree not to far away and sat there looking at us. With 16x magnification binoculars, I got a really good view of him.
He was GORGEOUS!!!
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/lifehistory
I'm sure you are wondering what prompted this post. : ) EARTH DAY is just a couple of days away, and I thought about what nature and the planet means to me, while sitting in my Astronomy class and listening about black holes and the ultimate fate of the universe.
One of the things I like the most about nature is the sheer diversity. I may not like every critter on the planet, but each is unique and has its place.
OWLS are just some that I find fascinating.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
A day at the zoo ...
As many know, I live in Missouri. Upper west end of Missouri. It has been COLD the last few weeks, so when yesterday had reasonably nice weather and I managed to have the day off of work, we decided to head up to Kansas City and visit the zoo. http://www.kansascityzoo.org/
One of the Christmas gifts my husband and I purchased for our daughter (and ourselves) was a membership, so that we could head out there any time we wanted and the weather permitted.
Yesterday was one of those days.
A large chunk of the zoo, the African exhibit, was of course closed due to the weather, but we were able to visit fairly up close with some of the animals, since there weren't large crowds.
One of the zoos two Sumatran tigers was very active, and we were treated to it sitting right up against the bars of its exhibit, watching birds fly around. It flicked its tail, and rumbled a few times, and I have to say even though it is the smallest of the tigers, this is no house cat. The sheer power and size of these animals, especially from less than 10 feet away is amazing.
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/Visit/Index.asp?IdS=000386-D80C290&Reference=407&~=
I am really looking forward to around March 1st when the African section opens back up. The zoo is also going to be adding a River Otter exhibit, a favorite of ours from other zoos. We are looking forward to that as well.
After we visited the zoo, we stopped by the Lakeseide Nature Center, which is located right by the zoo. http://www.lakesidenaturecenter.org/
They have several birds of prey there that have been injured and are no longer able to live in the wild. Many can't even fly anymore. The way they have their viewing area set up, it is possible to see these graceful animals fairly close up.
I am glad that we stopped and took a look. Many of the conservation centers/nature centers done by state conservation agencies or parks and rec have a lot of things that most people don't know about. Looking at Lakeside, I certainly wouldn't have thought it housed such an incredible display.
Michelle
One of the Christmas gifts my husband and I purchased for our daughter (and ourselves) was a membership, so that we could head out there any time we wanted and the weather permitted.
Yesterday was one of those days.
A large chunk of the zoo, the African exhibit, was of course closed due to the weather, but we were able to visit fairly up close with some of the animals, since there weren't large crowds.
One of the zoos two Sumatran tigers was very active, and we were treated to it sitting right up against the bars of its exhibit, watching birds fly around. It flicked its tail, and rumbled a few times, and I have to say even though it is the smallest of the tigers, this is no house cat. The sheer power and size of these animals, especially from less than 10 feet away is amazing.
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/Visit/Index.asp?IdS=000386-D80C290&Reference=407&~=
I am really looking forward to around March 1st when the African section opens back up. The zoo is also going to be adding a River Otter exhibit, a favorite of ours from other zoos. We are looking forward to that as well.
After we visited the zoo, we stopped by the Lakeseide Nature Center, which is located right by the zoo. http://www.lakesidenaturecenter.org/
They have several birds of prey there that have been injured and are no longer able to live in the wild. Many can't even fly anymore. The way they have their viewing area set up, it is possible to see these graceful animals fairly close up.
I am glad that we stopped and took a look. Many of the conservation centers/nature centers done by state conservation agencies or parks and rec have a lot of things that most people don't know about. Looking at Lakeside, I certainly wouldn't have thought it housed such an incredible display.
Michelle
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