Volunteers for Wildlife

Happy Weekend Everybody!

2012-02-12T10:45:00.000-05:00

We’ve had a busy last couple of days at our hospital. After a thorough check-up with a veterinarian that specializes in avian medicine, our Lesser Scaup was deemed healthy and ready for release. Although he had a steel pellet lodged in his side from this past duck-hunting season, our vet ensured us that the pellet would not interfere with his flight, and that many birds live with pellets in their bodies for their whole lives. We decided not to wait another day to release our Scaup, who has been in the custody of various animal hospitals since mid-January.

When we release any animal, we make sure that there are other animals of the same species in the area. This is especially important with birds which need to join a flock. We took a short trip to a pond in Oyster Bay where we discovered many male and female Lesser Scaup, as well as Buffleheads, Canada Geese, Mallards, and Mute Swans. This was the perfect spot for our Scaup! We went straight back to our hospital and released our little guy right away. He was very excited to go and quickly integrated himself with some other Scaup buddies.

We also released an Eastern Grey Squirrel that had been with us since September. We admit many orphaned baby squirrels every year, which we must raise on our own and then release once they are old enough. In order for our squirrels to properly acclimate to the wild, we release squirrels in places where we can provide food and shelter for them for as long as they need it. This is called “soft releasing” and is a common technique used by wildlife rehabilitators. Since I released the squirrel in my yard, I had a squirrel nestbox set up in a tree and a plethora of food ready for her for the next couple of weeks. Many squirrels move on to another home after only a couple of days, and some take much longer than that. When they decide to leave really depends on the squirrel!

Other events of note include a program we did on Sunday, February 5th about the winter adaptations of mammals. Our program featured our permanent Virginia Opossum siblings Martin and Millie, as well as Wyatt, our permanent Eastern Grey Squirrel. The program was followed by a fun and educational hike through Bailey Arboretum with Dan Kreisberg.

Here comes February!

2012-02-02T09:17:00.014-05:00

Happy February and Groundhog Day!

As many of you may have seen, our resident Great horned Owl, Marcus, was featured on the cover of Explore LI in Tuesday's Newsday. Many people have seen the story and come by the arboretum to meet our resident wildlife. The photos for this shoot were taken several weeks ago by LI photographer Heather Walsh . As always, our resident animals were captivating and photogenic.

Things have started to pick up a bit in the hospital and we know spring is not far around the corner! In the last few days we admitted another Mourning Dove and a Lesser Scaup. The Mourning Dove was another unfortunate victim of a car collision. He was in rough shape on arrival but is improving slowly. The Scaup came to us from a local veterinarian on the South Shore. This little duck was shot with a pellet. We have a follow up appointment with our veterinarian tomorrow but so far he is eating and swimming well. In addition to the lodged pellet, he also is missing some of the webbing from his feet. For many diving ducks, they rely on their webbed feet to help them catch live fish. Luckily for this scaup, his species consumes slower moving food like clams, crustaceans and insects in addition to aquatic plants and seeds. As long as he can overcome the injuries from the pellet shot, we think he'll have a good chance back in the wild. Here he is in the tub:

Yesterday, we visited one of our favorite elementary schools on the South Shore with our owls, hawk and falcon. We love going to this school as the teachers and students are so enthusiastic and excited to see the birds! We will be returning tomorrow for the final two of the five programs. Here is Addie, our Clinic Assistant, handling Solomon (Barred Owl) for one of our programs!

Lastly,on Sunday at 1pm, we'll be participating in our first Nature Adventure at the Arboretum! Come on down to meet our Virginia Opossums and Eastern Grey Squirrels and learn about the wonderful adaptations of our local mammals! Following our program, a nature hike with Bailey Arboretum's naturalist will take place at 2 pm. We hope to see you there!

January Thaw

2012-01-25T13:11:00.007-05:00

This past Saturday, we woke up to snow blanketing the ground! On Sunday, we had a busy day with a new volunteer orientation and a visit from a local reporter writing a story on our new home. We filled many open volunteer shifts through this orientation and we will be working to get our new volunteers well trained prior to spring's baby season!

Now, the weather appears to have done a total 180! The snow has all melted and we are enjoying 50 degree temperatures and sunny skies! With the nice weather this week so far, our permanent resident animals have had lots of enrichment time outside of their enclosures. Below is Wyatt, our resident Eastern Grey Squirrel, on a morning romp in the yard:

Also enjoying some time outside her enclosure was Millie, our Virginia Opossum. Millie is pictured here sitting atop our brand new fence.

Here's another picture of the fence. It fits in so well with the feel of our new home!

On the rehabilitation side of things, we continue to provide care to three Eastern Grey Squirrels, a Herring Gull and a Mourning Dove at our hospital. The squirrels are progressing along nicely and two moved to outdoor cages in preparation for their release soon. The third squirrel won't be too far behind them!

New Year, New Home!

2012-01-18T17:16:00.010-05:00

Happy 2012!

We're back on our blog after a long hiatus for our construction and move to Bailey Arboretum!

We open up this brand new year in a brand new home with beautiful surroundings. Thus far, January has been fairly quiet with animal patients, likely due to the warm temperatures we've been experiencing. We have taken full advantage of this "off-season" by completing some very important projects before the fast approaching spring baby season! These projects include shelf installation, building indoor aviaries, an outdoor turtle garden and enclosures for ducklings and juvenile squirrels.

Now that the holidays are behind us, many schools and organizations are scheduling education visits with our engaging resident wildlife. Last week, we headed out to the Daly School in Port Washington to teach some very enthusiastic students about our resident owls. During the program, the students had the great treat of hearing our male Great Horned Owl (a Port Washington native himself) hooting in both of our hour long programs!

Today, we conducted two "Living with Wildlife on Long Island" programs at PS-33 in Queens Village. About 190 third graders learned about the fascinating tree climbing abilities of squirrels and unique pouches of North America's only marsupial, the Virginia Opossum, from our Education Volunteer Alice.

To add to the excitement of our week, installation just started on our new split rail fence surrounding the aviaries of our resident birds of prey. This fence is the first step in building an interpretive nature trail through our permanent raptor aviaries. The fence should be fully installed by the weekend. Come spring time, the area will have plantings and interesting signs to adorn the trail as well!

We look forward to keeping you posted on the latest happenings in our hospital!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

New Aviaries are on their way!!

2011-06-28T10:51:00.007-04:00

As you saw in our previous post, templates were laid for aviary foundations to be poured. I am happy to report that work has finally begun!

One of the fifteen foot foundations being detailed.

These will be our two 20 foot aviaries.

A wider view of several aviaries in progress.

The foundations are just about done and the next step is constructing the framework of our brand new aviaries. Keep us bookmarked for more updates and photos of our exciting move!

New Photos on our Move

2011-05-20T13:02:00.007-04:00

The big question on everybody's minds these days is "Are you over at the new place yet?"

While we wish that answer was yes, we aren't over there yet. Building discoveries, permit applications, etc., always take much longer than one can anticipate, but we're happy to report that things are moving along there. I was over there on Wednesday and took some photos of the progress that has been made on the building.
Here we go!:

Above is our new door to the Admissions area :)

This will be the Admissions area, with the back room being our Exam Room

This will be our Recovery area; several aviaries will be built in this room,
allowing young birds to practice flying before heading to outdoor aviaries. It also serves as aviaries for adult birds as they progress through their recuperation.

This is where we will have some office space set up, and a small area for storage.

This is the outside aviary where our permanent education raptor enclosures will be.

Keep checking back for new pictures and developments as we continue building our new home!

Ring-billed Gull Release!

2011-04-10T19:33:00.003-04:00

On February 18^th, we received a Ring-billed Gull from Eileen, a fellow wildlife rehabilitator. This gull had been found at a Brooklyn train station and was unable to fly. Eileen gave the gull a physical exam upon admission and noticed that the left wing was hanging lower than the right, which indicated a fracture of the humerus. The humerus is the bone that connects the shoulder and the elbow. Humeral fractures are quite common but they can be tricky- the ability for us to treat a fracture depends on where the fracture happened. Because it can be difficult to tell where a fracture is on the bone, wildlife rehabilitators tend to work closely with referring veterinarians that have X-ray equipment. With an X-ray, one can tell with more accuracy where the fracture is and thus how best to undergo treatment. Thankfully, Eileen was able to obtain an X-ray from her referring veterinarian. What they saw in the X-ray was good news! The fracture was on the middle of the bone, so there was a good chance that the gull’s wing would heal enough so that it would be able to fly again.

After the gull was transferred to us, we began immediate treatment. We wrapped the wing so that it would hang in its natural position, and used another wrap to secure it to the body so that the wing was immobilized. This type of wrap is useful for preventing unnecessary movements of the wing (which could cause further injury), very much like an arm cast does in humans. After the wrap was on for about four days, we took it off and gave the wing physical therapy by slowly extending it and allowing it to snap back into its original position. We then gave the gull a bath so he could further exercise his wing, and then re-wrapped it for a few more days. After two weeks of doing that, we saw that the wing sat in a more natural position so we opted to keep the wrap off. This gull was well on his way to recovery!

As the weather became nicer, we put him in a large aviary outside to get some exercise. By this time, we were well into the month of March. The gull had shown a little bit of flight, but not too much. Finally, on March 29^th, a volunteer mentioned that she had watched the gull fly and hover several feet in the air. The next day, as I was weighing the gull, he flew out of my hands and around our nursery, just reaching the ceiling! He was almost ready to go. Over the next two days, we noticed him flying wonderfully around his outdoor aviary. On April 2^nd, a lovely spring day, he was released with full flight after a long recovery at Sunken Meadow beach.

Photo credit: http://chrissiatkisson.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

Running into an Owl!

2011-01-14T12:57:00.012-05:00

On December 19th, 2010, we received a call regarding an injured Eastern Screech Owl. The adult female grey phase Eastern Screech Owl was found in the road by Patrick of Northport while he was on his Sunday morning run! After finding the owl, Patrick ran home to get a box. He returned with box in hand and carefully placed the screech owl into the box and began to search for help. Luckily, he was put in touch with us and the owl was brought to our hospital soon after.

When the owl arrived, she was very cool and in shock. She was warmed up and examined. Her hefty weight of .180 kilograms indicated she was likely a female and a well-fed one at that! Unfortunately, she was pretty banged up from her ordeal (presumably an automobile collision.)
The owl was unable to stand upright. Examination of her eyes revealed vision loss in her right eye. Blood could be seen in the eye and her right eye showed no response to movement or light. Fortunately, her left eye appeared unharmed. In addition to her eye damage, the owl had a severe injury to her shoulder. The position of her wing at a harsh upward angle along with severe swelling in the shoulder region indicated a probable fracture of the coracoid. The coracoid is a bone in the chest cavity that helps to stablize the wing to the sternum to allow flight. Fractures of the coracoid will usually ground the bird temporarily, if not forever. Coracoid fractures are made even trickier to treat due to the bone's proximity to bird's internal organs.

We rehydrated the owl and started her on medication for the swelling. We stabilized her wing with a wrap that secured the wing in its natural position to the body. She was then set up to calm down from her stressful day. For several days following her initial trauma, the owl remained in critical condition. She had to be fed via feeding tube and after a few days she graduated to small rodent pieces. By the fourth day, she was able to perch on the soft towel in her cage. We continued to work with the wing over the course of the next ten days. The swelling subsided and she began to hold her wing in the correct position! Gradually, her damaged eye became more responsive as well. In early January, we were able to move her to a larger aviary to practice flight and to test her vision and hunting abilities. Luckily, the owl did better than we could have imagined!

On January 13th, almost a month after her ordeal, the owl was ready for release! She was released at the Makamah Preserve in Northport in the early afternoon to give her time to get her bearings before nightfall. The two volunteers who released her reported that she flew beautifully up to a tree branch.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

2010-11-08T11:45:00.003-05:00

On October 29th, a pint sized little bird was brought to our hospital after his unfortunate encounter with a glass window in Huntington. The Golden-crowned Kinglet, weighing only 6 grams, was very alert but unable to stand on his small legs. Surprisingly, despite his inability to support his weight, his tiny yet powerful wings still allowed him to get around a bit. We set our patient up in a small mesh cage with some food to rest from his ordeal.

The next morning we came in to find the kinglet's food bowl was empty. He had eaten all of his food overnight although he was still not able to use his legs to perch or grip. A couple days later, the kinglet became harder and harder to catch from his enclosure. His flight was much improved and he started to slowly regain the use of his legs. On Wednesday, November 4th, we determined the kinglet had fully recovered from his ordeal and was ready for release. However a storm was coming through the following day so we decided to hold on his release until Friday. Early Friday afternoon the clouds parted, the rain moved out of the region and the Golden-crowned Kinglet returned to freedom.

Golden-crowned Kinglets spend their summers north of Long Island and make their way down to Long Island as they migrate south in the fall. They can be identified by their beautiful yellow or golden spot on the top of their head.

Fall Migration and Window Collisions - by Eileen Hagerman

2010-10-10T13:58:00.010-04:00

This is the time of year in which we receive many telephone calls about small birds that have collided into people's windows. They are often confused with being a baby bird, but we can rule that out at this point, as "baby season" is over.

Often with window collisions, there is no visible injury: the bird is stunned and can often recover quickly. Other times, it can take longer. You may notice the bird appears puffed up or hunched over; in other cases, it looks like the bird has a broken neck (head is cocked upside down). It is actually not a broken neck, but a head injury where the symptoms are known as torticollisis, or "stargazing".(see photo below of Red-tailed Hawk). In any case, the bird can be gently placed into a cardboard box (such as a shoebox) with one or two small holes poked in the box for ventilation. Put the box in a dark, quiet place such a garage or a bathroom and allow it some time to recover. If after an hour or two the bird is still incapacitated, contact us or another rehabilitator for further assistance. Do not try to feed the bird, or give it water: a dark, quiet place, and some time are all it needs at this point.

Why does this happen? There are several reasons:

Vision: While it is fairly easy for most birds to avoid building and large objects, they can have difficulty perceiving transparent obstacles, such as windows and other panes of glass. Furthermore, when plants are displayed inside on a windowsill, this makes it look as if a safe flyway exists.

Migration (which is happening now): Adult birds, often mistaken as baby birds, are often found colliding into windows each fall. These birds are birds that have migrated back to our area. Tired after travelling perhaps a thousand miles, they are often confused by windows and/or lighted buildings. New York City is a major flyway for migrating birds, and in an attempt to reduce collisions at this time of year, NYC has instituted a "L ights Out" program to reduce the number of collisions.

Territory: While this situation usually happens in the spring, it is still worth mentioning.
Sometimes birds intentionally crash into windows (and side view mirrors of cars, glass doors, etc); this is usually territorial. There is either a nest nearby or the bird is seeing its reflection and defending its territory. Try to put something up to block his reflection, and they usually move onto something else.

What can you do to help? There are several steps you can take:
-Have bird feeders either far back in the yard, or within a few feet of the window. This leaves less room for the birds to fly; window strikes will occur at a slower speed and the bird is less likely to be hurt.
-Avoid placing plants on your windowsill, as this can be confusing to birds.
-Reduce window reflections by having screens or shades covering the window. Blinds are also helpful, as they can be moved to reduce reflections while still allowing you to see outside.
-Purchase items that help prevent window collisions>
*Collidescape: A thin transparent film that attached to the window. Visit this website for a demonstration on how it works.

Below are a few photos of birds that have come into our hospital after colliding with a window:

Top photo: This is a Red-tailed Hawk that collided through a picture window last Christmas Eve.
She shattered the window and took off half of her beak
(visible in the photo).
Unfortunately, after 4 months, due to damage
done to the bony core of her beak, structurally her
beak would not grow back and we had to make the
difficult decision to put her to sleep.

Second photo: Palm Warbler that collided into a window. This bird was released.

This is an example of "stargazing" - see how this bird is holding
his head cocked sideways?
This is a very young Red-tailed Hawk that came into our facility
after suffering head trauma. His recovery took a long time, and
at a crucial age developmentally, he became very accustomed to
people, growing up around them. He is one of our permanent
Education Animals (Baby) and can be seen any day in our outside aviary,
where he lives with his female friend, Lucky Lady.

2010-09-30T16:56:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago, we received a call from someone whose cat had caught a Mourning Dove, rendering it unable to fly. Even without an obvious injury, any animal that has been caught by a cat needs to be admitted for antibiotics, as cats have a bacteria in their saliva that can get into the bloodstream of their prey.

(See this PDF for more information)

When the bird arrived, I immediately noticed a tremendous amount of swelling in this little fledgling's left wing. After administering a dose of pain medication, I was even more concerned to see that this little guy had also suffered a crop tear. (The crop is the part of a bird where they store food, prior to digestion). However, it seemed that this injury was on its way to healing, which made me curious as to when this happened. I spoke further with the donor, and it turned out the cat had caught the bird about 4 days before. Since the crop was almost healed, and learning that the injury was almost a week old, I cleaned the area up and set the bird up for cage rest, but was still very guarded for this little patient.

Over the course of the next week, he grew stronger and feistier. Mourning doves are amazing birds; I have seen them overcome some very horrific injuries (hawk attacks, cat attacks, being hit by cars). For such a small bird, they certainly can overcome, so each day I grew more hopeful for this little guy.

On Monday, we came in to a bird that refused to be caged any longer. After giving him a few days in an outside aviary to strengthen his muscles, I am thrilled to say that he was released yesterday:

I wish I could have gotten a photo of him flying away, as he did so beautifully, but he was one wild bird that flew 60 feet into the air to the highest point, where no one or nothing could get him. The above photo is one I took inside the aviary, before he was released.

I couldn't have asked for a better moment.

The Tale of a Hobbly Heron

2010-08-19T11:46:00.013-04:00

On July 13th, 2010 we received a call on our Wildlife Advisory Telephone regarding a young heron that appeared to have an injured leg. The young heron was brought to our hospital later that day. The heron turned out to be a nestling Green Heron!

As the caller described, the young bird did appear to have a leg injury. We observed for a moment as he stumbled across the floor, holding the leg straight behind him. Surprisingly, no fractures or dislocations were palpated on examination. We decided x-rays were in order and sent the heron for a quick visit with one of our wonderful cooperating veterinarians to determine the cause of the injury. Luckily, the veterinarian confirmed there were no fractures to the bird's thin legs. She suggested it was possible that it may be a congenital defect or infection but luckily for the heron, he did have sensation in his foot and leg and was able to grip. But, only time would tell if he would recover enough use of the leg to function in the wild.

We put the heron on a course of treatment including an antibiotic and homeopathy. Little by little, he gained more function in his leg and began to use it for short periods of time. After ten days of force feeding, the vivacious little heron began to eat small fish pieces on his own and was grasping branches for short periods of time. We began to offer him live killy fish and he quickly began cathing them one by one. After several days outside in a transitional aviary where he was able to test his flight and grip well onto branches, the Green Heron was ready for release!

On August 8th, accompanied by several staff members, the Heron was brought to the pond at Lloyd Harbor Village Park for release. The park was chosen as a release site because it hosts a large natural supply of fish and many low lying branches to act as a good vantage point for him to hunt. Clinic Assistant, Susan, held the heron to let him get his bearings and then in a flash he took off flying beautifully across the pond to a low Maple tree branch. We are thrilled that we were able to give this very young bird another chance at life in the wild!

5 Ducklings are Rescued

2010-07-24T14:52:00.004-04:00

About a week ago, we got a telephone call from someone that had been trying to get 5 very small mallard ducklings out of a sewer drain. They were so small, they fell through the holes in the grating. After trying for several hours, they called us to help.

Eileen and her rescue helper/husband, Tom, appeared at the scene with a few nets and a carrier. Pretty quickly, we heard the peeping from below. Eileen checked it out and found 5 tiny ducklings, huddled in the corner.

Although not a very glamerous job, it turned out to not really be that complicated. Lying down with net in hand, Eileen scooped one by one out. The hose in the photo was used to keep the ducklings away from the tunnel in the sewar that ran throughout the sewar system; if the ducklings got in there, they would be out of reach, having access throughout the entire neighborhood.
Of course, as it went on, the latter ones were quicker at getting away.
Eventually, all 5 were safely out of the sewer. Unfortunately, their mom who dutifully stayed by their side for most of the day, had moved on with her other babies. We alerted the homeowner and neighbors to keep an eye out for her so that we could reunite them, but she wasn't spotted again.
So for now, they will grow up at our center. With a healthy fear of humans already instilled in them, once they grow up they will be released back to the
wild.

Release of the Cormorant

2010-07-17T12:37:00.005-04:00

On June 21, we got in a young Double-crested Cormorant from a local veterinarian's office, where someone dropped him off due to an injured wing.

Upon examination, we did not find the bird to have any fractures, only some tenderness in his left wing. With supportive care and anti-inflammatory pain medication his injury resolved, and he was ready to be released back to the wild.
Below are photos of his release by Lauren Schulz, our Education Coordinator:

B'Bye!
========================================================
Double-crested Cormorants are a common sight on Long Island. You can often see them sunning themselves on buoys and docks, as they are not waterproof the way waterfowl and gulls are. They have a very strong beak that they use when they dive for fish; they do not spear the fish but grab it in their bill. Look closely at photo #1 above; see how it is almost like a hook?

For more information on Double-crested Cormorants, click here.

American Robins flying free!

2010-07-10T12:29:00.004-04:00

Last week (July 5th), several of the baby American Robins that were brought to our hospital some weeks back were ready to go. Fully flighted, eating on their own, they no longer wanted to have anything to do with us, which is just what we want to see. Since it was Fourth of July weekend, we waited until the festivities were over to give them the best chance they can have.

Staff and volunteers gathered them up, and being that this group were all from close to where our facility is located, we released them in Caumsett State Historic Park, in the Walled Garden.

As you can see, these birds were ready to be free, as as soon as our hands were opened, they took right off!

(See if you can find them in the photo to the right- click on it to make it bigger if you need to.)

It was a wonderful thing to see them fly away and regain their freedom, and a Happy Independence Day for all!

Belted Kingfisher is released!

2010-07-05T12:46:00.011-04:00

On June 25, 2010 we received an admission of an adult Belted Kingfisher that a local homeowner found on her driveway. Right above the bird were two big picture windows that were very reflective of the surrounding trees. It was clear that this little guy hit the window, not realizing it wasn't a throughway.

During the time he was with us, he was rather subdued. He perched well but showed no interest in eating, so he had to be handfed several times a day. (This is normal, as this type of bird dives into the water after fish). However, over the last few days he perked up and started showing more feistiness.
Wanting to wait until the 4th of July festivities were over, we came in today to find a very vocal and active bird.

We brought him back to the harbor where he lives and as you can see from the photos, he was ready to go and thrilled to be free!

Belted Kingfishers are common on Long Island (as well as across North America), often seen perching on electrical lines over water, checking out

what is going on underneath them. They hover above the water before plunging into the water after a fish.

Dining to Donate!

2010-06-11T12:42:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, June 23rd, You can help Volunteers for Wildlife out simply by grabbing a bite to eat! If you dine at/or take out from Applebee's in Miller Place between 12 pm and 10 pm, Ten percent of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Volunteers for Wildlife! You must present this flyer to your server/the take out counter when placing your order. All donated proceeds will go directly towards the care of hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife patients!

The Release of a litter of White-footed Mice

2010-06-03T06:30:00.006-04:00

A litter of six White-footed mice was admitted to the Wildlife Hospital earlier this month after being orphaned. Unfortunately, the mother mouse was found electrocuted after chewing through a power cord.

The mice weighed in at 4 grams the day they were admitted. Imagine holding 4 paper-clips in your hand, this was just about what one of these babies weighed.

Eileen Hagerman, one of our mammal experts, began to hand feed the litter a milk replacer appropriate for fast growing mammals like White-footed mice. They required 24 hour care for the first 2 weeks of their life, going everywhere with Eileen.

Once they began to eat formula out of a tiny dish, their care was turned over to the staff and volunteers at the clinic. After 3 weeks they weaned onto solid foods eating fruits, vegetables, seeds and grains.

On May 19, 2010 they were released back to the wild to live out their lives. A very special thank you to Eileen Hagerman, and the volunteers who cared for these tiny little patients.

Virginia Opossum Release

2010-05-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

On May 1, 2010 a juvenile male Virginia Opossum was admitted to the wildlife hospital after being attacked by a dog, unfortunately a common injury to Long Island's native wildlife. Many of our family pets find, chase, or even hunt wildlife in our own backyards. One way to deter this from happening is to monitor your pet while it is in your yard. Additionally, walking your dog on a lead instead of allowing them free access to your backyard habitat can prevent wildlife injury.

This young male Opossum was successfully rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

Opossums are North America's only marsupials. Although opossums may look frightening, they are more afraid of people; their main defense is to "play possum" or play dead to trick their predators into thinking they are not alive. Seldom will an opossum bite as a means of defense.

If you find an injured or orphaned opossum, call our hotline (631)423-0982, or email our wildlife advisory for help.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

2010-05-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

The American Kestrel is one of the true falcons being in the Genus Falco. He is the smallest falcon found in North America weighing on average only 117g (4.1 oz)! In the wild the Kestrel is seen perched on wires bobbing his tail. The small stature of this bird is not to be taken as an indication of its might. The American Kestrel is known to hunt small birds and mammals. Kestrels can be found throughout North and South America. They are common in New York City, as they nest and watch for prey on the ledges of tall buildings.

Identifying F. sparverius can be easily done. The blue-gray wings combined with the bold barred rufous back make for a striking appearance. A distinct pattern on the head and face make the Kestrel a handsome creature.

Buster lives at Volunteers for Wildlife as a permanent resident. He was brought to Volunteers for Wildlife in 2000. He helps Lauren and the education volunteers in education programs like Raptors of Long Island. The program is suitable for grades 2 through adult and can be anywhere from 45 minutes up to 1 hour. Our education programs are your chance to meet some live hawks, owls, and falcons that live right in your own backyard. You can learn about their unique adaptations while getting to see them up-close! Undoubtedly if you are involved with one of our education programs you will get to hear Busters call. The American Kestrel has a screaming shrill described as kli kli kli kli kli kli kli or killy killy killy.

"Kidnapped" Cottontails Return to Wild

2010-04-28T11:40:00.010-04:00

Wildlife rehabilitation is an ever changing field that affords those involved the opportunity to work closely with a number of different species of animals. The other, more often overlooked, side of the field is the opportunity to interact with the public regarding wildlife. Generally, most people are happy to see wildlife and learn about them. However, on a few rare instances, we have encountered Long Islanders who are sadly not very enthused about our wild neighbors.

On April 7th, while at a veterinary office with one of our permanent animals, we encountered one of these more difficult types. A woman, with a box of four juvenile Eastern Cottontail rabbits in hand, had brought the babies to the veterinarian as she did not want them in her yard. Despite encouragement to reunite the babies with their mother, she adamantly refused to return them. These babies were young, healthy and were "kidnapped" from their nest while the mother was away. We admitted the four cottontails to our clinic.

As an animal that spends its life on the run from hawks and other predators, Eastern cottontails can be very stressed in captivity. Their stress levels make them very difficult to raise. The cottontails were tube fed a milk replacer at our hospital multiple times a day. Before long, they began to eat grasses, clover and dandelion on their own. On April 23, our volunteers and staff set the cottontails free again in the beautiful Walled Garden at Caumsett State Historic Park. Within minutes, they were acclimated to their surroundings and enjoying the delicious weeds and plants. (Photos of the release are below.)

Eastern Cottontails are the only native rabbit indigenous to Long Island. They are a medium sized rabbit with brown fur and a white cotton tail. A single mother rabbit can give birth to as many as 36 babies in one year. The mother rabbit will pull fur from her body and make a nest in a shallow depression in the ground. The young are often mistaken for abandoned as the mother only visits the nest in the early morning and late evening to feed the babies. Young cottontails are independent by the time they reach about 5 weeks of age.

A Visitor from Quebec!

2010-03-17T09:47:00.005-04:00

On Monday, March 8th, Volunteers for Wildlife received an injured Canada Goose from our neighbors at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center in Oyster Bay, New York. The goose was found on the side of a road next to the Sanctuary.

Upon admission, the goose was given a complete physical exam by our staff. He was emaciated and dehydrated. In addition, he had a heavy parasite load of feather lice and intestinal parasites. The goose was unable to stand. His legs were stiff and his feet knuckled under his body weight. The exam also revealed that this goose had been banded with a band from the North American Bird Banding Lab and a foot tag. Bird bands allow individuals to be tracked over a period of time. We processed his band (Band#: 0988-09312) and learned the age, gender and origin of our patient!

0988-09312 had been initially banded in Boucherville, Quebec, Canada on July 6, 2006 as a young gosling before learning to fly. It seems this Canada Goose may have been a migratory one coming down to Long Island for just the winter months.

During his rehabilitation at our hospital, the goose received supportive care with tube feedings, deworming and a homeopathic course of treatment for joint stiffness. Over the days, he got stronger, developed a hearty appetite and put on a substantial two hundred and twenty five grams of body mass. We moved him to our yard for exercise and a more natural environment. On March 16th, the four year old goose had gained enough strength to fly again. Upon seeing a resident flock of Canada Geese, he took flight over our fence and joined the flock!

On Long Island, Canada Geese are found in large numbers. The ideal landscape on Long Island, with plentiful water sources and well manicured lawns and golf courses, encourages many of the native geese to stay on the Island year round. Although their numbers are plentiful, we were very glad we were able to help the goose recover so he can hopefully migrate North again!

Rehabilitation and Release of a Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

2010-03-07T13:40:00.000-05:00

We recently released a male Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, that was rehabilitated at the Wildlife Hospital of Volunteers for Wildlife. The patient was rescued by a concerned citizen of Wantagh who observed the duck on his front lawn for an extended period of time. The gentleman called the Wildlife Advisory Telephone (631) 423-0982 for help with the bird.

After an initial physical examination, the Mallard was found to be weak, dehydrated, obtunded (mentally dull) and thin. Dr. Loudon at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island, was consulted to ensure that toxicity was not the cause of our patients symptoms. Blood tests indicated that the duck was not suffering from lead poisoning and seemed to be overall inconclusive. He remained at the wildlife hospital for supportive care and medical treatment. It was noted that he had passed many adult Helminths while in the bath. Parasites in the digestive tract are common in waterfowl. This particular duck had a heavy parasite load. Following the successful treatment of his "worms" the Mallard was released at Twin Lakes Preserve in Wantagh.

Volunteers for Wildlife would like to thank the staff and Veterinarians at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island (VMCLI) for their generous support with this and many other cases.

Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio) Released!

2010-02-15T07:53:00.001-05:00

After being rescued from a chimney in Muttontown, this red morph Eastern Screech-Owl, Otus asio, was rehabilitated at the wildlife hospital at Volunteers for Wildlife. Supportive care was provided for several days to nurse the bird back to a sustainable condition. The Screech-Owl was released at the Muttontown Preserve late Saturday afternoon.

Otus asio are small owls commonly found in Long Islands forests. The species has three phases the red phase, gray phase and an intermediate brown phase. Volunteers for wildlife is home to each morph of Eastern Screech-Owl. Therese, Orlando, and Duncanhttp://www.volunteersforwildlife.org/ are avian ambassadors for their species and they can be seen on one of the many education programs provided by the education department at Volunteers for Wildlife. For more information about our education programs, visit our webiste , or call 631-423-0982 and leave a message in mailbox #5.

Great Horned Owl Update

2010-02-08T08:38:00.001-05:00

he Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, featured in a previous post, was successfully released the other day. After treatment for a swollen wing and some time in the Wildlife Hospital, the owl was evaluated for her flight ability. Her strength had returned and she was released in the very place she was rescued.

Thanks to the hard work of the Animal Care Volunteers at Volunteers for Wildlife, we successfully assisted this beautiful raptor. The attentive and rapid response of the Krawitz family was an integral part of this birds healthy recovery. Once they noticed that the owl was entangled in a soccer net, they called the Wildlife Advisory Telephone at Volunteers for Wildlife (631) 423-0982. Their concern for the birds well being saved its life. Thanks to Mr. Krawitz for documenting the rescue and release with his video recorder.

If you come across an animal in need, please call Volunteers for wildlife or contact the center through email at wildlifeadvisory "at" gmail "dot" com

Dovekies (Alle alle)

2010-01-31T18:14:00.001-05:00

Dovekies belong to the family Alcidae which includes Guillemots, Murres, Razorbills, Murrelets, Auklets and Puffins. Alcids are pelagic birds (birds that spend most of their time out at sea). They come ashore only to nest or when they are exhausted, or ill. Birds belonging to Alcidae have black feathers on their backs and white feathers on their bellies. This coloration helps to camouflage them from their prey. Recently a series of storms have blown a large number of Dovekies, Alle alle, to the southern part of their winter range and inshore.

There have been many reports of stranded, starving birds, most likely the result of sustained, easterly gale-force winds. These winds have pushed the birds toward the coast. These small (average about 160 grams) auks are driven to exhaustion and emaciation.

Compromised individuals have been found on the streets of Eastern Long Island, West Islip, and even as far inland as Deer Park! The largest wreck of Dovekies to date was during a severe weather event in 1933. Reports of Dovekies were noted from the streets of Manhattan. Unfortunately the efforts of our rehabilitation team were unsuccessful in nursing these severely emaciated birds back to health.

Great Horned Owl Rescue!

2010-01-24T09:29:00.004-05:00

On a beautiful Saturday morning, Volunteers for Wildlife received a call regarding a large distressed owl tangled in a soccer net at a home in Cold Spring Harbor. VW Director, Eileen Hagerman, and her husband Tom loaded up their car with the necessary supplies and rushed to the owl's aid. Upon arriving at the scene, Eileen and Tom discovered the owl was a Great Horned Owl that had become entangled while in pursuit of a rat. After several minutes spent untangling the owl and cutting the soccer net, the owl was finally free of the net. He was brought to Volunteers for Wildlife's Wildlife Hospital for further evaluation. Stay tuned for updates in the coming days on his story!

Here is the homeowner's video of the rescue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=098Cwxf0Gys

Brant (Branta bernicla)

2010-01-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Recently a concerned gentleman and his son brought a Brant, Branta bernicla, into the wildlife clinic for admission after obtaining advice from the Wildlife Advisory Telephone line (631-423-0982). The bird was found in their yard unable to fly.

Upon examination by the wildlife rehabilitation department of Volunteers for Wildlife, the bird was found to be emaciated, weak, dehydrated, and afflicted with feather lice. Additionally the Brant had a nasty "cough"; the increased respiratory sounds were most likely an indication of a respiratory infection. An intriguing part of this patient's history was the band on its right leg. Lauren Schulz, the education coordinator at Volunteers for Wildlife reported the band information to learn more about our patient. Apparently this bird was in fact a female Brant banded in Point Lookout, New York on 2/20/2003!

Antibiotics, fluids, and rest were prescribed for this winter visitor. After being deloused, the Brant swam in a warm bath. Unfortunately, several days of supportive care and medication were not enough to bring this beautiful bird back from her severe level of emaciation. Our migrating visitor did not survive. Emaciation and exhaustion afflict many migrating species. Several elements factor into a successful migration, one of those is nutrition. Before heading out on their journey migrating birds must increase their weight to sustain their bodies higher demands. Long flights and poor weather can lead to a dangerous situation for many birds. If the bird can rest and find a sufficient food source before it is too late they can survive. The death of the banded Brant was reported to the bander. Hopefully the information gathered by this bird and others like her will lead researchers and rehabilitators to a better understanding of migration, population, and the ecology of the world's migratory birds.

Branta bernicla, are separated into three distinct winter populations who intermingle throughout the breeding range. The Pale-bellied population can be found nesting in the eastern part of the breeding range and will winter on the Atlantic coast of North America and Ireland.

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

2009-12-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

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.

Merlin (Falco columbarius) Admitted to the Wildlife Hospital

2009-12-12T19:54:00.001-05:00

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

Give the Gift of Wildlife!

2009-12-06T14:30:00.001-05:00

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/

Happy Harvest

2009-12-03T14:31:00.009-05:00

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.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

2009-12-01T14:49:00.001-05:00

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.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genes: Phalacrocorax
Species: Auritus

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

2009-11-29T08:46:00.000-05:00

The Barred Owl is one of two species of Wood-Owls in the genus Strix. S. varia can easily be distinguished from the Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis in several ways. The larger size of the Barred Owl (720g versus the 610g of the Spotted) is a good indicator of the species. Additionally the streaked feathers on the thoracic region and the much paler face give this owl away! This vocal species has a comical call often referred to as "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all". Click here to listen to a Barred Owl call.

Volunteers For Wildlife is home to Solomon a young Barred Owl. Our newest permanent resident, Solomon came to us in February of 2009 from a rehabilitation center in Destin, Florida. Solomon was found on the side of a road in 2008 with a fractured wing. It is suspected that he was involved in an automobile collision. His wing was surgically repaired by a veterinarian. Although the rehabilitation center had planned to release him after the surgery, it was then discovered that he was blind in his left eye. As owls rely heavily on their keen vision to hunt for prey, he was found to be unsuitable for release to the wild. Barred Owls can be found in Eastern North America from Canada to Mexico, in mature, swampy woodlands. Although once found on Long Island in large numbers, Barred Owls have been seldom seen here in recent years due to a lack of suitable habitat.

Windy Days

2009-11-14T06:51:00.005-05:00

For the last few days, the winds have been gusting and the rain falling here on Long Island. The wind has thrown many of the wild migratory birds off track and has certainly exhausted others making the journey South. Here at the center, our own permanent residents are taking refuge from the wind in their shelters. Yesterday morning, we captured this moment of two of our permanent Red tailed hawks, Baby and Lucky Lady, huddled together on their perch.

Baby, the Red tailed Hawk pictured at left, came to our center in 2001. He was a young nestling that had fallen from his nest. He suffered from extreme torticolis (twisted head) and took many months to recover. Unfortunately, due to the time of his recovery and the intensive care needed, he had become imprinted on people. Baby is a male Red-tail and is smaller than his companion Lucky Lady.

Lucky Lady, pictured at right, also came to our center in 2001. She was an immature Red-tail (~2 years) at the time of admission. She was transferred to VfW from a nature center in Westchester. She had been found with a badly damaged eye. Once she arrived at the center, we realized that eye needed to be removed. After the removal of her eye, we tested Lucky Lady to see if she could hunt. She proved although she only had one eye that she was capable of finding live prey. We banded her leg and released her. Unfortunately a month later, Lucky Lady was found down on the ground again. She was weak and emaciated. She was brought to our center and we then learned she was the same bird we previously released. Although Lady was able to find food in captivity, she had difficulty finding enough prey in the wild. Due to her inability to hunt effectively, she is now a permanent resident at our hospital. Both Baby and Lady visit with thousands of school children and adults every year to teach about the importance of wildlife conservation.

Cub Scouts Visit Volunteers for Wildlife

2009-11-12T08:36:00.008-05:00

Wednesday, on a chilly fall morning, Cub scouts from Pack 21 in Port Washington came to Volunteers for Wildlife to fulfill requirements for their wildlife badge. The group participated in a "Living with Wildlife on Long Island" program taught by VW Education Volunteer Alice Hackett.

During the hour long program, the Scouts learned about several different species of reptiles, mammals and birds that make their home here on Long Island. The scouts were delighted to meet some of Volunteers for Wildlife's animal ambassadors including our American Kestrel, Opossum, Eastern Box Turtle, Mallard, Red tailed Hawk and Great horned Owl. In addition to learning about their natural history, the Scouts learned what they can do to help ensure these incredible animals have a future on Long Island. Simple actions such as picking up litter, properly discarding fishing line and watching the ducks instead of feeding them can go a long way in preserving our wildlife and natural habitats. It is our hope they will take these lessons with them and educate others on the importance of wildlife conservation.

Pictured Above: Nina, our female Eastern box Turtle, visited with the Scouts on Wednesday. Eastern box turtles are native to Long Island. Although they used to be found in great numbers, their populations are threatened due to habitat destruction. Nina was dropped off at a vet's office this past summer. She had developed an upper respiratory infection. Box turtles have an incredible homing instinct. If they are taken out of their territories they will spend their lives trying to find their way back. This often will put the turtles in danger as they will have to cross dangerous roads and other barriers to get back home. Unfortunately, Nina cannot be released to the wild as we do not know where her home territory is.

New Volunteers for Wildlife Video

2009-11-11T18:47:00.000-05:00

Check out our new informational video about Volunteers for Wildlife! In this short piece Lauren Schulz (Education Coordinator) and Sue Corradino (Clinic Supervisor) go over the mission of Volunteers for Wildlife as well as how to stay up to date on fund raiser's for the organization, patients in the hospital, and other exciting news & events.

2009 Volunteers for Wildlife Raffle!

2009-11-06T18:38:00.003-05:00

Want a great way to help out Volunteers for Wildlife? You can participate in the annual raffle.

Here's how it works:

1. Email your info:

First Name, Last Name
Mailing Address

to wildlifeadvisory@gmail.com

2. We will mail you a "Raffle packet" which includes blank raffle tickets. Purchase as many tickets as you would like by filling in the information on the ticket and mailing the ticket stub along with your payment to the address indicated in the packet.

3. The Raffle drawing will be on December 4, 2009. You will be contacted if you have won any of the wonderful prizes.

Raffle prizes include...

$500 cash prize
Dinner for two at Abel Conklin's in Huntington
A basket of wine from Syosset Discount Liquor
$200 Gift Certificate to Bryant & Cooper
A Gift Basket from the Wild Bird Center of Stony Brook
The below 16x20 Snowy Owl image framed, matted and ready to hang from Wildlife Photographer Chris Corradino

Successful Rehabilitation of A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

2009-11-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Great Blue Heron is the largest species in the Ardeidae family in North America. This magnificent bird can be spotted hunting fish and other small animals such as salamanders, rodents and small mammals in the many marshes and estuaries on Long Island. Both Nassau and Suffolk County provide a spectacular habitat for this 5 pound plus bird.

Recently Volunteers for Wildlife received a call from Dr. Ellen Leonhardt's office at Animal General of East Norwich about a Great Blue Heron in need of rehabilitation. The bird was brought to her office by a good Samaritan that found this large awkward bird in his yard. After an initial examination Dr. Leonhardt and her staff determined that the young bird was shot with a bee bee gun and had a bullet under the surface of his skin on his neck. Additionally radiographs showed an ulna fracture. The doctor brought the bird to surgery to remove the bullet and called our office to continue with his care.

As with all of our patients, upon arrival at the Wildlife Hospital, an examination was performed. It was determined that the Heron required a bandage for his fractured bone. We wrapped the injured wing and began a regiment of feedings and antibiotics to prevent infection.

Each day this beautiful bird got stronger and healthier. His recovery went smoothly as we kept him in a quiet calm location on the grounds of the facility. The Heron's voracious appetite was satisfied with capelin fish and spearing. After two weeks of having a bandage on his wing, we removed the wrap and allowed for him to strengthen the muscles on his injured appendage. Soon after he was roosting in his aviary and flying short distances.

On November 4th, the Great Blue Heron returned to the wild at a salt marsh in Cold Spring Harbor on the North Shore of Long Island. VW Volunteer, Erica Cirino, joined us at the release to see the heron off and snap some photographs of the event.

The Tale of a Hermit Thrush

2009-10-31T11:27:00.010-04:00

After returning home from a busy day at work on Friday, October 23rd, I was excited to sit down and relax for a few minutes in the den of my home. Not too long after, my time in front of the television was interrupted by a very loud thud against our window. I ran outside to see what hit and found a small Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) laying on the ground. The bird was in a clear state of shock and it was just barely breathing with its mouth wide open. Recalling upon my training and the advice I give to the many people who call our wildlife advisory hotline every day, I gently picked the helpless bird up and placed him into a box. I brought the box into the house and placed it in a quiet, dark place. With many victims of window collisions, the birds often recover within a couple minutes to an hour and then fly away again. However, I questioned whether this bird would even survive through the next five minutes. A half hour later, I checked on the bird and was shocked to see he was now standing instead of laying on his side. As nightfall came, the bird was still unable to fly and I decided that I would bring him to work to admit him to the hospital Saturday morning.

Upon initial exam, we were pleased to find no fractures in his wing or leg bones... a pretty remarkable feat given the impact he had with the window. We did notice a laceration by his ear and some swelling in that area. We gave the bird some pain medications and an antibiotic to prevent infection of the wound. Over the next several days, we were thrilled to see he started to eat and fly more each day. A week after his unfortunate trauma with my own window, we headed out to the Walled Garden at Caumsett State Historic Park and watched as the Hermit Thrush took flight back into the wild.

Building collisions are a common occurrence especially during the fall and spring migrations of many songbirds. If you find a bird that has collided with a window or vehicle, place the bird in a quiet, dark box and give it several hours to recover. If it has not recovered within that time, please call our wildlife advisory telephone at (631) 423-0982 for advice.

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Update

2009-10-31T06:55:00.000-04:00

In an earlier post we reported a Northern Saw-whet owl (NSWO) that was admitted to the hospital was successfully released! Releasing an injured or orphaned animal is one of the many joys to working in rehabilitation. Although not all patients make it to the point where they can be released, for those that do we are fortunate to be there for.

The NSWO was sent back into the wild on Sunday October 25, 2009. The release occurred at Bailey Arboretum. The Arboretum is a wonderful place for an Owl to start out into the wild. Specifically Bailey is a beautiful, safe 43 acre arboretum with woods, ponds and gardens located in Lattingtown NY.

Here is a picture of the NSWO after it was released. He flew to a near by tree and got his bearings before he took off into the woods.

I would like to thank all of the Volunteers and Staff members involved with the care of this amazing bird. The hard work and dedication of those who devote many hours to rehabilitation and education made this very special bird capable of going back home into the wild.

VW releases Northern Saw-whet Owl!

2009-10-25T16:30:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday, we received a call on our wildlife advisory telephone regarding a small "baby owl" down on the ground breathing very heavily in Glen Cove. Luckily, we were able to send out one of our rescue transport volunteers, Jim Jones, to evaluate the owl. Expecting him to return with an Eastern Screech Owl, we were surprised to learn the owl was actually a Northern Saw-whet owl!

This small adult owl was the unfortunate victim of an auto collision. Building and auto collisions are especially common at this time of year when many birds are beginning their winter migration. When the owl arrived at our hospital, he was dehydrated, weak and suffering from head trauma. After giving him some fluids and supportive care, we set him up in a carrier for the night with some dead mice and hoped for the best. We were happy to see the next morning that the owl made it through the night and devoured his dinner. After a couple more days of rest in a carrier, we decided it was time to move him to an indoor aviary. Having some doubts about his ability to see out of his right eye, we were worried that the owl would have difficulty with the challenge of catching live, moving prey. We left him overnight to test his hunting abilities and were dismayed the next day when he did not catch any food. The next night, we decided to give the owl another shot with live prey. On Friday, he finally came around and proved that he was still a skilled hunter. We are thrilled to report that late this afternoon, the little Northern Saw-whet owl was successfully released back to the wild!

Northern Saw-whet owls are the smallest species of owl we have on Long Island. The adults only reach 7-8 inches long at maturity. They prefer to roost in densely wooded areas with pines, hemlocks and cedars. The Northern Saw-whet owl gets its name from the mechanical sound it makes, which is likened to the sound of a saw being sharpened. While some Saw-whet owls are resident here year round, Long Island also provides a stopover for many Saw-whets flying along the Atlantic Coast in Fall and Spring Migration.

Annual Bird Seed Sale!

2009-10-23T21:03:00.000-04:00

The 2009 Bird Seed Sale order form is now available for download. Help support Volunteers for Wildlife by purchasing bird seed while feeding your backyard birds during the difficult winter months.

Our seed sale is ongoing from October all the way until March. This is a great way to provide for our feathered friends, without taking up a lot of space with seed. Order each month until March 15, 2010.