This Week at Liberty
January 14, 2025
Hoots, Howls, and Hollers
Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Giving New Life to Wings That Can No Longer Fly
At the beginning of each year, we evaluate the success of our various programs. We do this to report to our permit holders; we do this to measure our effectiveness; and we do this to let you, our public supporters know where your support has been utilized. Our rehabilitation and education numbers for last year are once again looking tremendous, but are still being summarized. I can report to you today on the work done over the past year by our Non-Eagle Feather Repository (NEFR). And it’s impact on helping Native Americans maintain cultural and religious practice cannot be overstated. It is simply illegal for people to possess or trade these feathers without the special permits granted to Liberty Wildlife’s NEFR. Each order is helping to preserve a sacred tradition and ritual for an individual and their family or perhaps even their whole community. Here are some of the 2024 statistics:
Qualified applications received: 702
Our outreach efforts are apparently working, as 41% of these were first-time applicants! And the applications were received from Native Americans representing 142 Tribes located in 38 different states. The top 6 states in order of applications received:
- Arizona
- California
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Washington
Total 2024 orders filled: 586
Top three Tribes to receive feathers from NEFR:
- Navajo
- Hopi
- Cherokee
To maintain and replenish the varied and complete collection of the Non-Eagle Feather Repository, we accept donations of feathers and carcasses from many organizations nationwide. Donations are sent us from state game and fish departments, other wildlife rehabbers across the country, a variety of zoos, and more.
LWNEFR received 107 donations from 34 different donors located in 24 states.
Inventory species: 159
The most requested species is a mature Red-tailed Hawk.
As further evidence of the importance of this work, NEFR recently received a note of appreciation from Pit River Tribal member and Dancer Giver, Jessie Rouse. Jessie creates special regalia for the sacred ceremonies of his Tribe, including this Flicker Band. Each bird wing is used, as well as the black tips from the tail. It takes 8 whole birds to make one Flicker Band Blinder for boys and men. Jessie noted, “These sacred birds carry a lot of power in them. Thank you again, Liberty.”
If you would like to learn about this ceremony and see how this regalia is worn, be sure to check our next blog on 1-28-2025. And thanks to Mare Van Dyke and Robert Mesta for your hard work to make this program such a big success. And, thanks to ALL of the donors who help to make this possible.
This Week @ Liberty
The intake total for the year is now up to 100.
There seems to be a few constants around this time of year and it has to do with the fact winter is finally upon us, which means mentally and physically I have gone into semi-hibernation. I want to eat everything, I want to sleep it off, and I want to be under a warm blanket with a good book and not have to worry about anything else.
Alas, this adulting thing is hard.
With all that being said, we’re off to a solid start in 2025. We’ve had quite a few intakes already (as you can see) and our volunteers are diligently hard at work. We’re excited for what’s to come this year and more than ready for what’s sure to be served as the year progresses. Hope you’re all as ready as you can be, too!
Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning it one of those things we see more often than we care to. It’s the nature of our job; we see the worst of the worst. It’s why these animals are here, and it’s why we do what we do.
For those of you unfamiliar with lead poisoning, this happens when there is a build up inside the body of lead, which in turn leads to physical and neurological issues. The lead doesn’t need to be large, either. It can be a pea-sized piece left in a carcass after a hunt, ingesting fishing weights or sinkers, or even drinking contaminated water. Though each bird is different, it can take as little as a few days or as long as a few months to show signs. Neurological issues, depression, droopy wings, inability to walk/use legs (uncoordinated), and anorexia are some of our telltale signs a bird may be experiencing lead toxicity. Turkey vultures, eagles (both golden and bald), as well as California condors are the top species we see with this.
In fact, two of our very first patients of 2025 are dealing with this. The first is a golden eagle who was found near a wind farm in Winslow; we don’t know if he accidentally hit a turbine, but with a fractured coracoid (think collar bone), it’s quite possible he did. After showing signs of possible lead poisoning, he was tested by volunteer veterinarians and staff and sure enough, tested high (these levels range from zero up to the high hundreds; 10 ug/dL or higher is considered a toxic level). For this six-pound boy, he is undergoing chelation therapy (a mixture of medicine and fluids) while he recuperates in a warm, dark quiet location on-site.
Not long afterward, a turkey vulture came in showing several signs of lead toxicity; depressed, droopy wings, difficult standing/using legs. Volunteer veterinarians and staff performed a blood test and confirmed this vulture’s lead is extremely high. And while the process for healing this is the same as our golden eagle friend, sometimes a high blood level can also cause severe anemia, which then results in the need for a blood transfusion. By using a healthy turkey vulture on our rehabilitation side, Dr. Lamb was able to draw healthy blood, and transfuse it into our sick friend to help speed up the process.
And, if you’re wondering why these are the kinds of birds we see most often with this issue, it is because of what they eat. Vultures and condors eat carrion; especially around hunting season, when they are gorging (because they don’t always know when their next meal is coming), they can ingest lead or simply eat enough tainted meat it has an effect. Eagles are opportunists; they scavenge, therefore ingesting lead in the same way. Fish, too, with weights left in their bellies can lead to lead toxicity.
Either way, between the chelation therapy and being placed in a warm, dark, quiet area, these two are in the best care they can possibly be in. Hopefully, in a few short weeks, their lead levels will continue on the downward trend, and they’ll move outside for continued rehabilitation.
Notable Mentions
Usually I have a whole lot of these to go through. Often times, I need to pick and choose which photos to show now versus which I need to wait for. Unfortunately, this time around, that is not the case. While we may be fourteen days in to 2025, those fourteen days have been cold, cold, and colder.
This week will be a little short, but I promise to make up for it the next time around.
Without further ado, there are this week’s notable mentions:
Frankie the wild turkey hangs in triage and, as usual, preens herself while med service volunteers continue their duties (1 picture)
Staff head right down the street to investigate a burrowing owl who appears to be cold (like I said, it’s cold!) (1 picture – by Susan)
Not here, but I came home to find a coopers hawk eating dinner in my side yard (1 picture)
Medical service and handfeed volunteer Susie captures a great close-up of Marble! (1 picture)
As always, make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming events (and the like) here at Liberty Wildlife! Public hours are still going strong on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-1pm; make sure to drop by and say hello!
Until next time!
More Posts from Liberty Wildlife
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Every year, I tell myself I’m going to start shopping for the holiday in November so I’m done in December and all that’s needed is to wrap. Well, like most every year before this, that definitely didn’t happen.
November 19, 2024
I find it funny that, as I get older, I’m more inclined to host events like Thanksgiving. Thirteen years ago there was no way you could convince me to cook for 15+ people at any given time.
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