While the marsh lands and tributaries that surround Long Island provide ample food and habitat for many avian species, habitat fragmentation has lead to numerous challenges for these and many other creatures.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Just the other day a concerned individual brought an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) into the wildlife hospital. This stunning bird had collided with a window at LaGuardia Airport. One might question, why would such a bird be at the airport! The western part of the Island has many beautiful habitats for shorebirds, marsh-birds and their predators. Taking a trip out to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will prove that while one is surrounded by planes and a bustling city, birds like the American Woodcock and several species of Sandpipers, Sparrows, and birds of prey, find suitable habitat in the marsh.
While the marsh lands and tributaries that surround Long Island provide ample food and habitat for many avian species, habitat fragmentation has lead to numerous challenges for these and many other creatures.
While the marsh lands and tributaries that surround Long Island provide ample food and habitat for many avian species, habitat fragmentation has lead to numerous challenges for these and many other creatures.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Merlin (Falco columbarius) Admitted to the Wildlife Hospital
On Saturday November 14, 2009 we received a call on our Wildlife Advisory Telephone regarding a large bird that had collided with the callers home. Nancy Stein, one of our volunteers quickly went to the birds aid containing it in a box in order to transport it to the Wildlife Clinic at Volunteers for Wildlife.
The injured raptor proved to be an adult female Merlin! Falco columbarius, the Merlin, is a small yet powerful falcon. They spend their summers in the northern most parts of America into Canada and Alaska. This particular bird is most likely migrating through New York to arrive at its winter range in the southern United States or even as far south as Columbia, Peru and Venezuela.
This impressive creature sustained an injury to her left wing rendering her temporarily unable to fly. At the hospital we administered a course of medication to help reduce her pain, and swelling. X-rays performed by Dr. Mehlrose at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island revealed no evidence of any fractured bones. Dr. Mehlrose's examination confirmed the damage to her soft tissue was the cause for her distress.
Prior to colliding with a home, this Merlin was doing well. Maintaining a high weight of 199 grams (an average for Merlin's is 190 grams), additionally she was well hydrated and full of energy.
She was released today 12/12/09 by Nancy Stein the same volunteer who rescued her! The satisfaction of releasing an injured and rehabilitated animal is enormous! Nancy reports that the Merlin flew off to a near by tree and seemed to look quite content.
Merlins tend to be found in open spaces and open woods. They capture smaller birds and insects while in flight using an intricate method of turns while in mid-air to bring down their prey. In addition to birds the Merlin will also consume some small mammals, lizards, and snakes. The relative proportions of their diet are about 80% birds, 15% insects and 5% mammals.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Faliconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: Falco columbarius
The injured raptor proved to be an adult female Merlin! Falco columbarius, the Merlin, is a small yet powerful falcon. They spend their summers in the northern most parts of America into Canada and Alaska. This particular bird is most likely migrating through New York to arrive at its winter range in the southern United States or even as far south as Columbia, Peru and Venezuela.
This impressive creature sustained an injury to her left wing rendering her temporarily unable to fly. At the hospital we administered a course of medication to help reduce her pain, and swelling. X-rays performed by Dr. Mehlrose at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island revealed no evidence of any fractured bones. Dr. Mehlrose's examination confirmed the damage to her soft tissue was the cause for her distress.
Prior to colliding with a home, this Merlin was doing well. Maintaining a high weight of 199 grams (an average for Merlin's is 190 grams), additionally she was well hydrated and full of energy.
She was released today 12/12/09 by Nancy Stein the same volunteer who rescued her! The satisfaction of releasing an injured and rehabilitated animal is enormous! Nancy reports that the Merlin flew off to a near by tree and seemed to look quite content.
Merlins tend to be found in open spaces and open woods. They capture smaller birds and insects while in flight using an intricate method of turns while in mid-air to bring down their prey. In addition to birds the Merlin will also consume some small mammals, lizards, and snakes. The relative proportions of their diet are about 80% birds, 15% insects and 5% mammals.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Give the Gift of Wildlife!
Do you have that person on your list to shop for that just seems to have everything? Instead of giving another material item this year, you can "adopt" one of Volunteers for Wildlife's permanent or rehabilitation animals in their name. Adoptions are a rewarding gift that will keep giving throughout the year. Recipients will receive a gift card, a certificate with their name, biography of the animals adopted, as well as a glossy photo of the animal. Their name will be featured in our newsletter in our Wildlife Sponsors section.
A Wildlife Sponsorship ranges in cost from $30-$150 depending on the length of sponsorship and species. Your sponsorship will go directly to the food, housing and medical care of a permanent Volunteers for Wildlife resident or rehabilitation patient of your choosing.
To view our permanents and download a copy of our sponsorship form, please visit our website and scroll to the bottom: http://www.volunteersforwildlife.org/about/permanent_animals/
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Happy Harvest
This afternoon, our two resident Virginia Opossums, Pierre and Minerva, got a very special treat. Leftover pumpkins from Halloween displays served as great enrichment and a nutritious snack! Below top photos: Pierre, our seven month old male opossum. Below bottom photos: Minerva, our year and a half old female opossum.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
A juvenile Double-crested Cormorant was admitted to the wildlife hospital after being hit by two automobiles. The good samaritan that brought the bird to us witnessed the traumatic event and quickly went to the birds aid. After examination, only minor abrasions to the birds facial skin and lores were noted. This young bird was aggressive and extremely alert. He was treated for mild dehydration and given a safe place to recover from his accident.
After several days in the hospital, the Double-crested Cormorant was ready to be released! Leslie Block, a Permanent Animal Care Volunteer, Rehabilitation Animal Care Volunteer, Wildlife Advisory Telephone Volunteer, and an officer of our board released the juvenile at Jones Beach State Park, where several other Cormorants have been sighted.
Phalacrocorax auritus are one of the true Cormorants species found in the order Pelecaniformes. The Double-crested Cormorant is one of two representative of the family Phalacrocoracidae found in our area (the other being the Great Cormorant P. carbo). This unique bird is a delightful and comical character found in many of Long Island's habitats including open waters such as ponds to the Atlantic Ocean. P. auritus finds its diet of mostly small fish by diving and hunting under water. Although a waterbird, this Cormorants feathers are not water-repellent. Much of the Double-crested Cormorants time is spent perched with its wings spread in order to dry out the wet feathers.
Phalacrocorax auritus are one of the true Cormorants species found in the order Pelecaniformes. The Double-crested Cormorant is one of two representative of the family Phalacrocoracidae found in our area (the other being the Great Cormorant P. carbo). This unique bird is a delightful and comical character found in many of Long Island's habitats including open waters such as ponds to the Atlantic Ocean. P. auritus finds its diet of mostly small fish by diving and hunting under water. Although a waterbird, this Cormorants feathers are not water-repellent. Much of the Double-crested Cormorants time is spent perched with its wings spread in order to dry out the wet feathers.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Pelecaniformes
- Family: Phalacrocoracidae
- Genes: Phalacrocorax
- Species: Auritus
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