Wednesday, April 30, 2014

International Migratory Bird Day 2014


Why do birds Matter?  Join World Bird Sanctuary Saturday May 10th to learn why at our International Migratory Bird Day celebration. 

This worldwide event celebrates our planet’s amazing migratory birds and “Why Birds Matter”.
 
Learn about the importance of pollinators such at the Ruby Throated Hummingbird, seed dispersers like the American Robin and rodent controllers such as the Red Tailed Hawk.

Schedule for the day:
9:00-1:00      World Bird Sanctuary’s volunteer field studies team will be on site to show visitors how song birds are trapped, measured, and banded as part of the Sanctuary’s ongoing migratory bird survey.  Take part and release a songbird back into the wild!  Shuttles to the site run every 30 minutes.

9:00            Naturalist led bird walk

10:00 & 12:00          Take in a seminar about feeding the birds by bird feed specialists       from the makers of Wild Delight Bird Seed.

Throughout the Day:
•     Learn how to draw birds
•     Make a paper bag vulture
•     View Ruby Throated Hummingbirds in action
•     Raptors on display

So, mark your calendars for May 10, 2014.
Admission and parking are free.


    

Monday, April 28, 2014

Mother's Day Brick


Now that Easter is behind us Mother’s Day is just around the corner. 

What can you give the first woman in your life that truly expresses your love and appreciation for all the things she has done for you?  Flowers?—they are pretty, but will wilt within a week.   Candy?—it’s yummy, but how often have you heard her say she’s on a diet or wants to lose a few pounds?  Besides, candy will also be gone within a short time. 
World Bird Sanctuary has the answer—the perfect Mother’s Day gift!  One that will express your feelings for your mom in your own words, will last indefinitely, and will be there to remind her of your love each and every time she visits WBS.  What is this perfect Mother’s Day gift?  It’s an inscribed brick, which will be installed in our amphitheater! 

Many of our supporters have already taken the opportunity to celebrate special occasions, express their feelings for loved ones, honor a special person in their life, or memorialize a loved one who has passed on. 

To order a brick for your special lady click here to use our easy on-line ordering system.  If you prefer not to order on-line you may call 636-225-4390 and tell the person who answers that you would like to buy a brick. 

A 4X8” brick can accommodate three lines of text.  An 8X8” brick can accommodate six lines of text.   Each line can be no more than 21 characters (including spaces and punctuation). 

Prices:
4X8 brick with three-line inscription - $125
8X8 brick with six-line inscription - $200
A Presentation Certificate as shown above is also available for a minimal cost - $7.50
Other options such as stock symbols are also available

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Gomer


It is with a sad heart that we must let our readers know that Gomer, the Military Macaw passed away yesterday. 

Gomer was 38 years old.  He came from Busch Gardens, Florida and for many years was used as a display and photo op bird at various programs WBS presents at zoos around the nation.  He was trained to say “hello” and “cracker”, could wave, and loved to give kisses on cue.  He could also pose with his wings up in the air in an “eagle” posture.  In 2006 he was trained to drop a plastic bottle into a recycle bin as part of his performance in World Bird Sanctuary education programs.

In recent years Gomer began to display a rather strange feather coloration for his species.  Even though this strange color was exhaustively investigated by our vets on many occasions, no answers were ever found.  For a time it was thought that his odd feather coloration might have to do with a sensitivity to his food, and his diet was changed—but to no avail. 

Recently he had been retired from performing and had been living in our Nature Center, greeting guests as they arrived. 

It was found that Gomer passed away because of liver and heart failure.  Gomer will be sorely missed by one and all.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Eagles of the World - The Vulturine Fish Eagle


Did you know that in addition to the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle (the two species indigenous to the U.S.) there are sixty-three other species of eagles (not including the sub-species)?  Callie Plakovic, the World Bird Sanctuary's Outreach Coordinator has embarked on a project to learn all she can about these amazing creatures, and will be sharing that information with our readers each month.

The Vulturine Fish Eagle (Gypohierax angolensis), commonly referred to as the Palm-Nut Vulture, is one of the few birds-of-prey that are known to incorporate fruit and vegetables as a staple in their diet. 

An adult Vulturine Fish Eagle (photo: the Wikimedia Files)

This species is identified by its beautiful, white plumage, black wings and tail feathers, and a reddish bare skin about the head, throat, and neck.  These raptors normally weigh anywhere between 3-4 pounds and are commonly mistaken for the African fish eagle and the Egyptian vulture, although it does not display a chestnut chest or white tail feathers, respectively. 

An adult Vulturine Fish Eagle in flight (photo: the Wikimedia files)

Male and female Vulturine Fish Eagles are almost identical with the exception that the female is just slightly larger than the male.  Juveniles are prominently brown with black wings until they gain their adult plumage at about three to four years old.

A juvenile Vulturine Fish Eagle feasting on its favorite food (photo:  the Wikimedia files)

This old world vulture, the smallest of the old world vultures, enjoys snacking on the husks of oil palm and raffia palm tree fruits and wild dates, which constitute 58 to 65 percent of the adult diet and up to 92 percent of the juvenile’s.  They often times are found hanging upside down below the fruit, where they pull the palm nut off the tree with their beaks and then hold it with their feet to eat.  Though, every so often they may also be found feeding on crabs, mollusks, locusts, fish, and on rare occasion even domestic poultry.  This hunter will seldom be found hunched over a carcass, unlike many African vultures.

These adaptive birds breed in forests and savannahs across Sub-Saharan Africa, staying within range of water and oil palm trees. 

A Vulturine Fish Eagle egg (photo: the Wikimedia files)

Breeding Vulturine Fish Eagles construct their nest high above the forest floor in tall trees.  They become strongly attached to their nesting site, remaining in its locality year round.  During their breeding cycle a single chocolate-brown egg is laid and incubated by both the male and female for a total period of four to six weeks.  Once the egg is hatched the chick will remain in the nest for around 85 to 90 days before fledging.


The Vulturine Fish Eagle is widespread across Africa, inhabiting areas from the Gambia River to Kenya and reaching as far south as northeast South Africa.  These birds are known to follow the fruit ripening of the oil palm tree, which is most common to coastal forests and mangrove swamps.  If you are looking to find a Vulturine Fish Eagle, follow the food and in return you may find one of these unique raptors.

Even though the World Bird Sanctuary does not have a Vulturine Fish Eagle we do have several other eagle species from around the world on display at our headquarters in Valley Park, Missouri.  Be sure to check these out when you visit.

Submitted by Callie Plakovik, World Bird Sanctuary Outreach Coordinator


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

A New Friend


For the last 6 months I have had the opportunity to help train a Golden Eagle that we call Zeus.  The process has been a learning experience for all that have been involved.

Zeus waiting for his new phase of training (photo by Mike Cerutti)

Coming up this summer Zeus will be going to the Milwaukee County Zoo with a coworker of mine, Leah Tyndall, and a team of 3 other World Bird Sanctuary staff.  This staff will have around 20 birds, and the whole team will be presenting educational programs or, for short, “Zoo Shows.”  With that being said, the date is approaching that Zeus will be on his way to Milwaukee.

Zeus was given to WBS by a local falconer and brought to us in August 2012 as a young bird with a very strong spirit.  It was decided from the beginning that Zeus would be trained to one day fly in our educational programs, and help us educate the public about Golden Eagles. 

With the end goal set, the team of trainers set out to teach this amazing bird.  There are many, many other behaviors to train before the ultimate goal is achieved, and many of these behaviors were trained from September 2012 to August 2013.  Let’s move to last September.  It was decided that when Leah and all of our other staff and volunteers returned from Zoo shows, we would kick the training into another gear to make sure Zeus would be ready to go to Milwaukee this season.
   
When this was all decided in September I was thrown into the mix because Zeus needed to learn to trust many trainers; not just one or two trainers.  I have worked at WBS for almost 3 years, and in that time I have handled and done several events with our two other Golden Eagles, but they had been with WBS for over ten years and were already well trained.

Zeus our young Golden Eagle is in the process of learning many new behaviors (photo by Gay Schroer)

Every day presents new hurdles for Zeus and the trainer, but because of what Zeus has already learned, these hurdles are small and easily jumped.  In looking back on his accomplishments, he has grown up and learned so many things. We now are able to walk with him while he is sitting on our eagle glove and calmly stand in front of small groups of people.  He stands on a scale, steps confidently from a perch to 8 different trainers’ gloves, and the list goes on and on and is always growing!

Zeus will be missed by many this summer while he’s in Milwaukee, but when he comes back he will be even closer in his training to moving toward the final goal of free flying in front of the public!

Submitted by Adam Triska, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Patches


We must sadly inform our readers that the World Bird Sanctuary’s loveable little “velveteen” rabbit, Patches, passed away on April 14, 2014.


Even though she was technically a Mini Rex rabbit, anyone who has ever stroked her soft fur will know why this breed is popularly know as the “Velveteen Rabbit”. 

Patches was whelped at the Ralston Purina farm in Grey Summit, Missouri in 2005.  She was part of their rabbit nutrition study program which monitored the health and growth rate of the animals when fed different foods.  As she matured she became one of their breeders as a continuing part of the program.  When Purina was purchased by another corporation, their rabbit nutrition program was phased out.  We were fortunate to acquire Patches and another rabbit for our Education Department.  Patches had already had several litters by the time she came to live at WBS.

Patches settled right in to her new job as official greeter for the youngsters who visited our Nature Center.  She also was an important part of the WBS education programs that traveled to elementary schools to teach youngsters the differences between birds, mammals and reptiles.  She was one of our “touchable” animals and was always patient and docile when little hands were feeling her soft fur.

Patches will be missed by staff and visitors alike--and especially by the children who make a beeline for her enclosure when entering the Nature Center.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

Friday, April 18, 2014

Birdlore: The Kingfisher - Halcyon Days

Kingfishers are in a group of birds found throughout all the continents of the world. 

As their name suggests, most Kingfishers eat fish and dive beak first for their primary prey into the rivers, lakes, or streams of their habitat.  The exception would be members of the Halcyonidae family, or Tree Kingfishers, which inhabit more woody habitats and prey mostly on invertebrates and small mammals.

Chadder, the Laughing Kookaburra, is a member of the Halcyonidae family. (photo by Jessica Bunke)
Along with their diverse range, Kingfishers also play many important roles in ancient human cultures.  Among the Native American tribes, the Kingfisher was a messenger, a sign of fertility and good luck, or a master hunter.  Or in one particular legend, a human was changed into the world’s first kingfisher as punishment for thievery.

The Legend of Halcyon and Halcyon Days
In the far past, Halcyon was another word used for those kingfishers that built their nests by the sea.  The term is derived from the name of the Greek goddess, Alcyone.  The Greek legend of Alcyone and Ceyx is most well-known in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a series of books about human transformations to animals from Greek and Roman myths.

Alcyone was a goddess and a daughter of Aeolus, the god in charge of the winds.  She married a mortal king, Ceyx, and the two shared a deep passionate love that even brought the attention of the gods.  At one point, Ceyx decided to make a fateful trip across the sea to consult an oracle of Apollo.  Alcyone pleaded with her husband not to make the journey, as she was terribly afraid of the seas.  Nonetheless, Ceyx left overseas for the oracle.
As it would happen, a terrifying storm overcame Ceyx’s ship, not far from the coast, and he drowned with his ship disappearing into the waves.  Ceyx died whispering his beloved wife’s name on his lips and praying to the gods that Alcyone would know his fate and return his body to her.

After being told in a dream by the god, Morpheus, about her husband’s fate, Alcyone fled down to the coast in grief and despair, where upon she found Ceyx’s lifeless body.  Unwilling to live on without Ceyx, Alcyone threw herself to the mercy of the waves.  Moved by her love and devotion, the gods took pity and saved her by changing her into a Halcyon bird (kingfisher).  As Alcyone embraced Ceyx in her new form, he was then transformed into another kingfisher so the two could now live and be together.

Sacred Kingfisher (wikipedia.org)
Halcyon Days
In the life to follow, Alcyone would still meet with misfortunate and grief. She made her nest near the shore where her beloved’s body came to rest; stormy waves would come and wash away her eggs every time.  Crying and pleading to the skies, Alcyone begged for a reprieve.

Finally, Zeus was touched by Alcyone’s plight.  Zeus commanded her father, Aeolus, to still the winds of the sea for 14 days in the middle of winter.  So, Alcyone, granted a reprieve, was able to keep her eggs safe until she was done incubating them every winter with calm clear days.

This two week period, surrounding the winter solstice, would become known as Halcyon Days and celebrated by Greeks for centuries in honor of Alcyone and Ceyx.  Halcyon Days is also an expression for a calm, serene, and reflective setting.

May your coming days be of Halcyon Days.

Be sure to visit the World Bird Sanctuary where you may see Chadder the Laughing Kookaburra once our St. Louis weather warms enough for him to be housed outside.  Chadder can be found  in his display enclosure down the walking trail behind the Kathryn G. Favre Wildlife Hospital.  If you're lucky you may hear his distinctive call.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird SanctuaryTrainer

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

American Heritage Girls MO 3368 Donate 8 Birdhouses to World Bird Sanctuary

 American Heritage Girls Troop Leader Carla Goad called ahead to make arrangements to deliver the handcrafted Birdhouses.  Carla Informed me that the American Heritage Girls are a Faith Based Scouting Program for Girls.

The girls in Carla's group are 4th - 6th grade, and were working on their "Nature and Wildlife" Badge.  The idea is to help wildlife and donate to a nonprofit organization.    The girls chose World Bird Sanctuary to donate their handcrafted birdhouses.  For many of the girls it was their first time using a hammer!  The girls built wooden birdhouses, assembled with nails.  They delivered the birdhouses in a red wagon.

The proud girl scouts with the birdhouses that they built and donated to World Bird Sanctuary.
    Carla's Group is from St. Charles, Missouri.  We were delighted to receive these lovingly crafted birdhouses to help our birds.  The American Heritage Girls told us we could sell the birdhouses to raise money for our Education Department.  By the time of this Blog, we have already sold half of the birdhouses.  The girls and their leaders and their siblings toured our Nature Center and had a wonderful time learning about our animals and wildlife.

 We are grateful to the American Heritage Girls MO 3368 troop for all of their hard work.  Their efforts help nesting birds and World Bird Sanctuary continue our mission of education.  We took some group photos on stage and Lisbeth Hodges brought out Slayer the Boa Constrictor for the girls to pet and to get a memorable photo.  

Submitted by Michael Zeloski, Director of Education.


Monday, April 14, 2014

Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Stacey Schaeffer

We have many volunteers at World Bird Sanctuary.  Many specialize in one area. For example the office, at the Visitor’s Center, the Library, or our “Tuesday Crew” maintenance group that work on Tuesdays.

One such specialized volunteer gets called in the middle of the night, early in the morning, and while she is on the beach on vacation.  This volunteer is our veterinarian, Dr. Stacey Schaeffer, from the St. Louis Hills Veterinary Clinic.  Dr. Stacey does rounds every week, treating sick and injured birds at our wildlife hospital, as well as seeing to any of our permanent residents that need attention.  In addition, with her husband Dr. Erik Siebel-Spath, and her father, Dr. Robert Schaeffer, they all will treat birds at their clinic for surgeries, acupuncture and other treatments.

Dr. Stacey Schaeffer, DVM and Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager,examine a Red-tailed Hawk with a toe injury.
At World Bird Sanctuary we consider ourselves very lucky to not only have a dedicated veterinarian working with us, but all the clinic staff, that bring a holistic approach to wildlife rehabilitation and the treatment of our birds.  Dr. Stacey prescribes western medicines and treatments, as well as herbal remedies, acupuncture and more, drawing on generations of experience and knowledge from her family-run practice.
Joe Hoffman, Dr. Shannon Broyles, DVM and Dr. Stacey Schaeffer, DVM
examine an injured Turkey Vulture during morning 'rounds'
 For example, Dr. Stacey has introduced herbs to birds at the wildlife hospital that can slow down, and in some cases stop internal bleeding, with minimal interference to the patient.  When 98% of all hospital cases are collision victims, and many of those have internal bleeding, this is an amazing addition to our arsenal of bird medications.  Under Dr. Stacey’s direction, we also use a balm made of Chinese herbs to help wounds heal more quickly.
Roger Holloway (WBS) and Dr. Schaeffer examine an emergency case - a Red-tailed Hawk shot with a bow arrow.  Dr. Schaeffer's quick response and expertise saved this hawk, which was eventually successfully returned to the wild. 
The most helpful thing that Dr. Stacey brings to save these beautiful birds is her compassion.  She always cares, 24/7.  She comes by it naturally – it runs in the family.  Dr. Stacey’s mother and father recently rescued a pelican while on vacation in Florida in February!  I just hope I don’t have to bother her when she’s on the beach on her vacation again this year.

Submitted by Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager


Saturday, April 12, 2014

World Bird Sanctuary is proud to be a host of STL250's Cakeway to the West!

As of 2014, St. Louis turned 250 years old. 

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of St. Louis, a project known as stl250’s Cakeway to the West has been in the works. Exactly 250 cakes standing four-feet-tall and weighing an approximate 250 pounds will be placed all around the St. Louis region. The locations of the cakes are of vast importance as it helps to celebrate some of the organizations, businesses and historic landmarks which have helped to shape the city of St. Louis in the past, present and the future.
Photo: http://www.stl250.org/cake.aspx
The World Bird Sanctuary is honored to be recognized as one of those locations hosting a cake. The cake has been delivered to the World Bird Sanctuary and it looks magnificent. Many thanks to St. Louis artist, Mark Swain for his beautiful decorative work.
Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager, with Tsavo the Bateleur Eagle, and  Rich Mallien, WBS Volunteer, with Magwire the Bald Eagle, next to our lovely cake
The location of the World Bird Sanctuary cake is at the flag pole located next to the Visitor's Information Center. Be sure to stop by and take a look at our beautiful cake.

While you are here don’t forget to take a tour of the World Bird Sanctuary and get to know one of the 250 places St. Louis recognizes as a place you’ve just got to visit. Bring your friends and family for a wonderful day of education and fun. Admission and parking are free!

Click here to find out more about Cakeway to the West and find other cake locations.

Submitted by Alisha Cole, Social Media Intern

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Birdlore: Albatross: The Lucky Charm?


Albatross, the great wanderer of the southern seas. 

This bird, often romanticized or cursed in literature, belongs to the Diomedeidae family.  They have the longest wingspan of any bird species at up to 12 feet.  These amazing birds can travel incredible distances in very short periods of time by utilizing a flying technique called dynamic soaring, which involves gliding on wind up-drafts above waves for more lift and maintaining flight with little to no effort.

A Wandering Albatross skimming over the ocean’s surface. (photo from the Wikimedia Files)
Albatrosses, because of their prolonged flying above the oceans, feed on organisms found on the ocean surface such as: fish, cephalopods (squid), krill, crabs, and more.  They will feast on carrion floating on the water surface as well.  They tend to hang around ships to take advantage of any fish waste left behind.

Perhaps largely due to the reliance on the wind for transportation for both Albatrosses and sailors, their frequent interactions would eventually lead to the Albatross becoming an integral part of maritime superstition. 

During the Age of the Sail, seamen were highly superstitious.  Life at sea was very dangerous and difficult.  Many behaviors or habits we wouldn’t give much thought to in this day and age would be taboo onboard a sailing ship as it was believed to bring bad luck (No whistling, women, red heads, or bananas on board; don’t set sail on certain days; don’t utter words like drowning, goodbye, good luck, or pig; no cutting/trimming hair, beards, and nails while at sea).

The Albatross is both a sign of good and bad luck.  The main belief is that the Albatross carries the souls of dead mariners.  Sighting one flying overhead was considered good luck as the sailors believed that the mariner soul the Albatross carried had come to protect them from harm or bring needed winds for the ship’s sails.  Some sailors believed an Albatross sighting would be a bad omen as it would mean someone was doomed to die in the near future.  Regardless of which way a sailor would view the Albatross, the shooting and killing of an Albatross was a promised curse to befall the entire crew. 

The poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, illustrates both sides of luck the Albatross represents.  Following are excerpts from that epic poem:

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

Translation: An old mariner pulls aside a young man going to a wedding to tell a story.

'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.

And now the STORM-BLAST came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.

The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!

At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The helmsman steered us through!

And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariner's hollo!

To help translate the above, the sailors sailed from the harbor in fine weather, then a terrible storm drove them south to be surrounded by ice fields.  An Albatross came and they offered the bird food.  The Albatross flew around until the ice split and the ship’s helmsmen steered them out.  A good wind caught their sails to continue their journey.

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'

'God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!—
Why look'st thou so?'—With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.

Translation:  A mysterious fog shrouds the ship.  They cannot see.  A sailor panics and shoots the Albatross.

And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work 'em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow!

The sailor realizes his woe.

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Translation:  The crew is now trapped on calm water with no breeze to carry them away.

Ah! well a-day! what evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.

Translation:  The sailor is made to wear the Albatross to display his shame by the rest of the crew.

The story continues on.  The cursed mariner is the sole survivor of a doomed ship and crew.  He lives the rest of his life in great pain and the only relief he may receive is by sharing his tale as he does with the young man that was on his way to a wedding.

Normally, I would share the whole story here, but you would still be reading the poem by the time my next bird lore blog came out.  So, the entirety of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner can be found here:  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173253.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Aspen


Aspen Obituary

I am sad this morning to tell our readers that Aspen, the World Bird Sanctuary’s sweet little Northern Saw Whet Owl, passed away during the night of 4/1/14.

Our beloved little Aspen, the Northern Saw Whet Owl (Photo by Gay Schroer)

It was noted during the day that she was not acting quite right, so she was taken to the wildlife rehab hospital to be given fluids and supportive care, but unfortunately she did not make it through the night. 

Aspen was brought to our Rehabilitation Hospital in 2007 after sustaining injuries due to a vehicle collision in the Hillsboro area.  She had severe injuries to her right shoulder and wing.  After approximately three months of intensive treatment she was again healthy, but unable to fully extend her injured right wing.  Because of this she was unreleasable.

It was decided that even though she could not be returned to the wild, she could be a spokesbird for her species at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Office of Wildlife Learning.  Aspen took up residency in the WBS Nature Center in spring of 2008, and has delighted visitors ever since—particularly the children, who related well to her small size.

Even though most people referred to Aspen as “she”, we do not really know the sex, since there are no visible differences between males and females of this species.

Aspen will be sorely missed by Staff and visitors alike.


Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird  Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Nigel, the White Pelican

Nigel, the White Pelican, was found on December 3 2013, in a field near Macon, MO. He then was brought to the MU Vet school raptor rehab, and transferred to the World Bird Sanctuary's wildlife hospital
Nigel in his evening quarters, in the Wildlife Hospital.
 Nigel had suffered a right wing injury, his left leg had an old fracture and he was very thin. It was touch and go for many weeks until he was able to gain some weight, but now he is on his way to recovery. Unfortunately he will not be able to recover 100% because the old leg break won’t let that leg fully function, so he will be placed at another facility to live out his days. 

Nigel in his physical therapy water tub
White Pelicans are found on inland bodies of water in North America. They are an aquatic species, preferring to be on the open water for most of the day, feeding on primarily fish. They are not a small bird by any standards, having the second largest average wingspan of any North American Bird and having one of the largest bills of any bird on Earth! They migrate for winter, following major rivers, from as far north as central Canada, to the Saint Louis area and all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.  
 
Scoop, an unreleaseable White Pelican that calls World Bird Sanctuary home
Most days Nigel can be found in the main room of the hospital standing around preening and eating fish. Nigel also receives acupuncture once a week at St. Louis Hills Veterinary Clinic, which is also helping to increase the range of motion in his leg.  He also receives physical therapy.  Nigel is put in a small pool so he can stretch and work on moving and using his left leg. He also enjoys snapping at and carrying on with the swan that is in rehab.  They aren't too sure of what to think of one another, but they do seem to enjoy having each other’s company.  

Submitted by Adam Triska, Supervisor

Friday, April 4, 2014

Birdy, It's Cold Outside

Recently I went to get my eyes checked and had a very enjoyable chat with my optometrist. She had recently visited World Bird Sanctuary, loved it and was curious as to how the birds were handling the cold weather. I realized that others might have the same question, so I decided to write my blog about our birds and the cold.
Peabody, the Tawny Owl, is native to Europe, where members of his species thrive in cold conditions.
Most of the birds that are on our display line in the winter are adapted for cold weather. They are either native to Missouri or even more extreme climates. Some species that are not native to Missouri can remain on our display line throughout the winter with additional wind protection or building shelters and providing them with heat lamps. Other species that are from warmer climates, such as the Brown Pelicans, move indoors for the winter and move back out once it warms up. Every now and then we need to bring birds indoors for the very cold spells, such as that week when we hit negative temperatures, but in general if a bird is out on our display line it is because it is adapted for the cold.

Ookpik the Snowy Owl - well-adpated to the cold.
How exactly are the birds adapted for the cold, you might ask. The short answer is feathers! Yes, those wonderful things that allow birds to fly also allow birds to live pretty much anywhere. Feathers have the highest insulation quality of any substance known to humans. You are probably familiar with this if you own a down comforter or jacket. You know that warm toasty feeling you have when bundled up? The temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the feather coat of a song bird can be one hundred degrees. Due to this amazing insulation birds from warmer climates tend to have more skin exposed to aid in heat exchange. Unfortunately that extra exposure means that in Missouri those particular birds are at risk of frostbite, hence why we need to move them indoors. The birds native to colder environments tend to have more feathers. For example Golden Eagles, which are found in the Northern Hemisphere have feathers all the way to the tops of their feet. These extra feathers keep their legs warm, as well as protecting them from the bites of their prey. Golden Eagles are members of the group of eagles called booted eagles, which also include Tawny Eagles. Snowy owls, native to the tundra not only have feathers on their feet, but also on the bottoms of their feet. Since Snowy owls are ground nesters, this helps to protect their feet from the snow and frozen ground. Even when it snows birds are not as affected as we are due to the feather’s structure. Feathers are made up of barbs and empty spaces between them called touch points. These suspend water away from the feather preventing it from soaking into the feather and the bird’s skin. Feathers are not the only “winterizing” on a bird of prey.

Golden Eagles are 'booted eagles' - an important factor in helping them to keep warm.
The scales on a bird’s feet also play an incredibly important role. These scales form in layers and depending on the species can be incredibly thick and act as built in snow boots causing ice to flake off rather than sticking to the bird and leading to frostbite. Bald eagles have these thick scales as well as feathers that stop before the tops of the feet, preventing feathers from freezing when they fish in icy water.

Bald Eagle feet have thick scales to help deal with the cold.
Birds, especially birds of prey, have a number of adaptations to help them keep warm. We make sure all of our birds are comfortable during these cold spells, whether that means keeping them indoors, or letting their natural adaptations take care of it. In fact during these cold spells, our birds probably feel even warmer than we feel!

Submitted by: Leah Tyndall, Trainer