Odd Birds in Rehab

The Wildlife Hospital at World Bird Sanctuary has been very odd lately.  

Most of the birds we admit are usually birds of prey, but recently swans, pelicans and great blue herons are filling up our clinic cages. 

 Trumpeter Swan and his mate - victims of a poacher

Unfortunately, the pair of trumpeter swans that were shot by a poacher in December did not survive. Even with a tremendous investment on our part, both monetarily and emotionally, we were unable to save them.  This is one of the pitfalls of working in animal rehab.  However, each time we are able to release one of our patients back into the wild we are reminded why we do what we do.  

 Osprey recently admitted to the hospital

Even the birds of prey that we are receiving are ones that we don’t see that often.  A number of Bald Eagles have made it in to the hospital, including one that was caught in a trap and died from a gangrenous infection where the trap had severed the toe.  We’ve even admitted an Osprey, which was in a fight with a Bald Eagle.  He is eating well and looks set for release in the next 6-8 weeks.

I am glad that we are here for them – at World Bird Sanctuary we are all odd birds!

Submitted by Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager, World Bird Sanctuary