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Alison:
Idaho: young falcon released after rehab
KLEW-TV, Lewiston



LEWISTON - His trip to the warm south was delayed a bit, but now a peregrine falcon can begin his journey.  The WSU School of Veterinary Medicine released their latest rescue, Stephens, at the KLEW transmitter site Friday morning.

"Stephens was brought in by a falconer, who had helped another person who had found him, got him in a hood and a white bandage and brought him down to WSU," said Dr. Nickol Finch of the WSU Vet School.  Stephens was brought into the Vet hospital on October 2. Doctors spent weeks nursing the injured raptor back to health, setting two bones in his wing. Finch said after four weeks of healing, and two more of physical therapy, Stephens was ready to begin his migration south. 

Stephens is just the most recent in a string of rescues.  "We tend to get about four falcons a year, and this is the first one we've released this year," said Finch. "We usually release about one a year. As of last year we've got 95 raptors, and released about 35."

Finch said the KLEW site at top of the hill was an idea place to release Stephens, on his migration path. He's expected to head to California and Finch said perhaps even farther.  "He flew the direction we didn't want him to go, but that's okay," said Finch. "He'll get his bearings and turn around and go the other way. As far as flying, he was nice and strong. The wind didn't bother him at all. It actually helped him out a little bit."

http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/70069377.html

carly:
Defiance moved to Elmwood Park Zoo (Part 2)

"It's in Pennsylvania where the peregrine is still endangered," and where Palmer hoped Defiance would get not only a home, "but also a mate, and perhaps a chance to breed and help contribute to the population of his species."

Or maybe not. The prospective female procreator, Stevie (named for Stevie Nicks), died this fall, the zoo's general curator David Wood reported in a phone conversation from Defiance's new home in Norristown, Pa. But Wood said Defiance appears to be enjoying a happy "alternative lifestyle" with his new, as-yet-unnamed birdy buddy, who turned out to be a male, DNA tests revealed. Defiance gets along well with his companion, recently imported from a West Virginia zoo, in a brand new habitat they share.

"We have a donor who is very interested in peregrines, so we were able to build a whole new exhibit. Defiance is doing great and we're very happy and lucky to have him," Wood said.

Dr. Carol Calista, a Las Cruces veterinarian who works with CDWR rehabilitation efforts, termed the bird's survival 'a miracle,' Palmer said, adding that the "feisty bird can claim at least part of the credit."

She stressed that it took more than a village to save Defiance.

"It took the cooperative effort of county government in the form of Dona Ana Animal Control, two states--New Mexico and Pennsylvania--and the federal government to provide him with a life at Elmwood Park Zoo, where he can live a productive life," Palmer said.

He can also be a ambassador for his species to the more than 130,000 visitors who come to the Elmwood Park Zoo each year.

Link to original article: http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_13775422

carly:
Defiance moved to Elmwood Park Zoo (Part 1)

LAS CRUCES— Defiance is a peregrine falcon who lost a wing and survived agonizing ordeals before his rescue and rehab in New Mexico. Now the feisty bird, who was not expected to live, has a birdy buddy and a posh habitat in a new territory almost 2,000 miles away.

"Defiance earned his name because he defied animal control, his human care-giver, injury, starvation, infection and even death," said Jessica Palmer, a Chihuahua Desert Wildlife Rescue (CDWR) rehabilitation specialist who cared for Defiance in her Las Cruces home. Defiance was a fledgling, just 'earning his wings' when he was picked up and swept by high wind to become tangled in string or wire. As an inexperienced flyer, the peregrine could have simply miscalculated or misjudged the distance of something. Either way, he became entangled in wire, mostly barbed wire or high tension lines. He must have hung by the wing for days until the weight of his body severed the limb from his body," Palmer reports. "Despite the ordeal, it took the Dona Ana Animal Control officer nearly a full day to capture the peregrine. She gave chase with her nets and he, as his name suggests, defied her," Palmer said.

By the time Defiance arrived at her home on July 7, Palmer's evaluation indicated the bird had managed to survive for a week without food and with a life-threatening wound that was infected.

"The severing of wing near the shoulder is among the worst injuries a bird can receive. The major arteries and veins run directly between heart and lungs into the wing. Usually, the bird will bleed to death. If it survives, the presence of infection (can be) lethal, the risk of death increased since the toxins quickly spread to the vital organs and throughout the body."

It seemed unlikely he would survive the night. But Palmer, experienced in wildlife rehabilitation as well as a nurse, educator and an author of novels, sci-fi and fantasy, textbooks and nonfiction historical works, was hoping for a happy ending.

"He was provided with a warm, restful environment and given a small amount of food and water, for fear his body would reject too grand a feast," Palmer said. "When he tolerated the first meal, more food was supplied. As evening drew to a close, he had eaten well. Still, as the sun set, the death watch began. At first light he was found, still standing, with a look of defiance upon his face. As if to say: "So you thought I was going to die."

Defiance's wound was treated and he was given antibiotics, but Palmer admits that each night she "said a formal farewell, not expecting him to be alive the next day, and each morning, I found him with that same look of defiance upon his face."

The bird's survival presented its own set of problems, including a search for a home.

"Obviously he was going to live and equally obvious, he could not be released to the wild. Once it became apparent the bird would survive, verbal permission was obtained from the Federal Government to place him. The total loss of a wing usually requires euthanasia," she said, because "it may lead to severe loss of balance. Birds use their wings as much to maintain balance while standing and walking as to fly. With the total loss, the bird may fall, often sustaining further injuries."

But dauntless, Defiance "beat the odds. He learned, and he learned quickly, to tuck and roll like an acrobat. He learned to climb and he learned to jump from perch to perch."

Palmer stressed there is no warm and fuzzy bird-human love story to report.

Defiance "was neither intimidated nor impressed" by Palmer, but "tolerated" her, "as the bringer of food and human 'lunch lady.'"

He let her know that "his forbearance was conditional, every time I entered the pen, with sloshing bucket and scrub brush. Defiance would climb up to the highest perch and leap down to land on my head, shoulder or back. He would stomp around a few times to notify me that he was in charge here and I was allowed into his territory on sufferance" and then "he jumped back onto his perch and watched for any false moves."

But one of nature's fiercest predators did not attack his savior.

"Never once during this weekly assertion of territory did this creature--who could have easily ripped flesh from bone--break the skin. Never a scratch," Palmer said.

And the plucky bird was suddenly very popular.

"Competition was fierce, with six different states applying to provide a home for him. It became a choice of what was best for the individual bird and for the species of as a whole."

allikat:

--- Quote from: Alison on November 12, 2009, 20:35 ---
And there is a nest box on one of the Statesman Towers, so perhaps the birds are showing interest in it.


--- End quote ---

Now that's exciting!!!

Alison:
I posted the information on this bird on the Indy site for those who had been wondering who this bird is. Laura James-Reim passed the info on to John Castrale at the Indiana DNR.

An update from Laura James-Reim:

A little bit of an update on the Terre Haute birds. Seems like there might be a love triangle going on or at least there was at one time. John said there was a report of two peregrines spotted on campus this past weekend but unfortunately no identification on either one of them. He also said at one time there were three birds spotted - 2 juveniles and 1 adult (which I think Denise may have already told us a while back). So at this point, there are 2 peregrines at ISU, just not sure at this point who they are. We may have to wait until courting/nesting begins in order to sort out what is going on unless someone can spot a band before then.

And the Raptor Center had just sent John a note about S/34. Thanks again AlisonL!

And there is a nest box on one of the Statesman Towers, so perhaps the birds are showing interest in it.

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