• About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Bios
    • Meet our Animal Ambassadors
    • Contact Us
  • Emergencies
    • Caring for Injured Animals
    • Animal Drop-Off
    • Animal Care FAQ
  • How to Help
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Affiliate Links
    • Capital Campaign
    • Wishlist
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer TimeTracker Login
    • Apply Today
    • Daily Care
    • Hotline
    • Intake Window
    • Interpretive Guide
    • Medical Services
    • Orphan Care
    • Rescue and Transport
    • Teen Volunteer Opportunities
    • Wildlife Guardian
    • Volunteer Resources
  • Home
  • Conservation
    • Services Offered
    • Projects
    • Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository
  • Education
    • Visiting Liberty and Private Tours
    • Education Program Request
    • Eagle Court of Honor Program Request
    • Field Trips – Traditional Classes
    • Field Trips – Homeschool
    • Zoom Program Request
  • Publications
    • Blog
    • Media Kit
    • Nature News
    • Nature Explorers
    • Wing Beats
    • Kid Activities
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Wishes for Wildlife
    • Calendar
    • Book an Event
  • Menu Menu
Liberty Wildlife

Hoots, Howls, and Hollers – May 04, 2020

Megan Mosby

Megan Mosby
Executive Director

During this interesting time of social distancing, we all have had to adjust.  We now stand in lines that hadn’t formed before.  We stock up on things that are a little new to our list like hand wipes and serious cleansers.  We don’t leave the store without our paper products whether or not we actually need them…well at least some of us do.

The thing I find the most frustrating is that my friends don’t drop by much anymore so I have had to make new acquaintances for whom social distancing is the preferred way of being…wild birds.  In particular one sexy little guy called a hooded oriole…oh my has he stolen my heart.

My new normal is to plant myself on my side patio, morning and evening, in hopes that he will honor me by showing up in all of his splendor.   My neighbor, Susan, introduced me to him last year and now we share him as our new BFF neighbor.  He is a pretty selective visitor and doesn’t always make himself known as he hides stealthily inside the depths of the trees and shrubs that line my patio.  I am trying to learn his song so that when he is out of sight, I can still know that he is there.

For those of you who don’t know or haven’t been introduced to this handsome species, simply put, they are magnificent….all intense orange and black and sleek. The drab-ish wife is more olive and yellow and perfectly designed to be out of sight as she raises her babies in her self made hanging nest on the underside of a palm frond.  After their clutch or if luck abounds—two clutches—they head off for Mexico until the next breeding season when they hopefully once again drop in on me and neighbor, Susan.

From what I can tell, they are happy eating bugs like ants and beetles or larvae, grasshoppers and the occasional orange slice that I have impaled on the thorns of a palo verde in my bird yard.  He easily competes for attention with my otherwise different ‘shades of brown’ collection of finches, house sparrows, doves, towhees, and thrashers including my 4 or 5 year old “sticky out leg” curved bill thrasher that has raised a family in my yard for this, the 4 th year.  I have an occasional cardinal that shows up and puts the male finch with his breeding bright red breast to shame, but like I said, he is only an occasional drop in.

I have grown to know my new friend in a totally social distancing way.  I lure him in with food, water and a safe place to be.  He brings me friendship and something to look forward to when most other camaraderie is challenged, kaput, outlawed.  I am grateful for having the ability to get to know him and the others, appreciate them, and communicate with them…albeit it’s pretty one sided.

I am not happy about the Covid 19 virus with all of the grief surrounding it, but I am pleased that I am allowed to fill my down time with such a joyous experience.  I encourage everyone who might have a secret spot to visit daily, to look for some social time with your wildlife neighbors.

Get to know them and their ways…at a safe distance, of course.

This Week @ Liberty – May 04, 2020

The intake total for the year is now up to 3330.

The season is finally upon us with a vengeance. For about the last 2 weeks we have been seeing around 75-80 animals arive at the intake window each day.  As of 8:00am this morning, we were 731 ahead of May 4th last year. And all this with remarkably fewer volunteers, mostly due to the pandemic. The people who have remained at their posts and those new people who have joined us recently have been performing admirably. These volunteers have my profound thanks for “stepping up” and doing what needs to be done. If we can make it through May and June (historically our busiest months), we’ll put this year in the record books for a variety of reasons.

The Air Force jet fly-over last week was meant as a salute to the first responders and medical people who are getting us all through this unprecedented experience, and I can’t help but think that this covers those who help out the wildlife as well.

  • 11 baby swallows are brought in

  • susie hydrates a baby grackle

  • A big needle for a little bird

  • Lane assess an LBB (little brown bird)

  • Another tiny orphan gets weighed

  • An Inca dove is assessed

  • a hatchling moorhen comes in

PreviousNext
1234567

Although we are all excited when an eagle or a condor comes in, the vast majority of our patients are of the “LBB” (little brown bird) variety. Hundreds of doves, sparrows, grackles and other small birds arrive with a plethora of presentations. True to form, some will survive, and sadly some will not, but in any event, all will receive care that they couldn’t possibly imagine without Liberty Wildlife being on the job…

(Look for 7 photos)

  • Dr. Lapa checks an eye issue

  • This one looks Ok

  • The other eye is not as good…

  • This is how a screech owl is supposed to look

PreviousNext
1234

More than one little owl came in last week. There are 14 species of owls in Arizona, most of which are small. This little Western screech owl presented an eye problem which was examined and addressed by Dr.Lapa. It wasn’t apparent what caused the injury, but the little owl is definitely in good hands now.

(Look for 4 photos)

  • Flammulated owls are quite pretty!

  • Getting examined

  • Dr. Lapa checks the eyes

  • Susie holds for Dr. Lapa

PreviousNext
1234

Another diminutive owl that is with us for treatment is this little flammulated owl. Not a frequent visitor to us, this little bird is a long distance migrator, showing up in our area in late April. They breed in various locations in the western US and head down through Mexico to spend off-breeding time in Central America. This little guy was found in a pool and presented possible head trauma but presently is doing well in our care.

(Look for 4 photos)

  • Little barn owl

  • Amyra does an assessment

  • Dr. Semick checks a wing

  • Jan assists Dr. Wyman

  • A new wrap is applied

PreviousNext
12345

A couple of barn owls showed up last week, with a number of different presentations. Some barns are orphans who either fall or are pushed/blown from nests (usually in palm trees). Some have been injured in the fall, some receive their injuries from the usual suspects: cats, dogs, and kids. A remarkable number come in from agricultural areas often from nest sites in bales of straw. In several instances, the bales were loaded onto trucks and driven hundreds of miles, carrying the entire clutch of baby owlets to wherever the hay was destined. As the bales are unloaded at the destination, the baby owls are discovered and if lucky, they are brought to Liberty Wildlife.

(Look for 5 photos)

  • Dr. Semick looks at a great horned owl

  • Jan assists Dr. Lapa with the X-ray

  • Drs. Wyman and Lapa confer with Jan about the X-ray

PreviousNext
123

Not to be outdone by their smaller cousins, we also saw the intake of a couple of great horned owls. These birds are very tough and often we find indications of old injuries that have healed on their own. In a lot of these cases, the owls have learned to adapt to any limitations that their injuries place on them, often living fairly normal lives with some new ways of dealing with what the world throws at them.

(Look for 3 photos)

  • Spa day equipment

  • WNV vaccine equipment

  • All Ed birds get the spa treatment + WNV

  • Jan and Alex give the inoculations

  • Einstein gets his shot

  • Dr. Lamb hoods Brie

  • Talons are trimmed

  • New anklets are installed

  • Joe holds while Brie gets new “shoes”

PreviousNext
123456789

Once each year the birds get a “spa day” which includes talon trimming, beak coping, worn jess and anklet replacement, and any other cosmetic or comfort enhancing adjustments, and vaccination for West Nile Virus. The vaccine is historically donated so the cost to us is minimal. It’s just a question of labor – and who wants to grab the birds as nobody wants to have the birds begin to dislike them because of the handling required. All of the Ed birds get the treatment from kestrels to eagles so it’s a long day for the staff and the volunteers. We’re hoping the animals like it as they are better equipped afterward for another year of being prime “Ambassadors for their species,” living in the limelight. AND, they are protected from WNV!

(Look for 9 photos)

7 replies
  1. Naomi
    Naomi says:
    May 5, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    Thank you for all you do for wildlife your stories always make me cry and I’m so amazed that are all still doing that 24/7 year in year out!

    Reply
    • Terry Stevens
      Terry Stevens says:
      May 5, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      We miss you, Naomi!

      Reply
  2. Vickie Brignall
    Vickie Brignall says:
    May 5, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    Not sure Megan remembers, West High School 40+ years ago. Megan and Beth Barr were two of the “best” Sped teachers I’ve ever met. Was in the district 31+ years. I worked for Lorraine Cripps. I’m going to gather you and your organization up. Talk soon

    Reply
  3. Linda Armstrong
    Linda Armstrong says:
    May 6, 2020 at 7:05 am

    A juvenile great horned owl was rescued April 3rd at our condo complex in Apache Junction. Just wondering what or how to get the status.

    Reply
    • Terry Stevens
      Terry Stevens says:
      May 6, 2020 at 5:12 pm

      Well, we took in probably 50 baby GHOs in April. For this reason, we can’t give reports on any one specific animal. Just know that the bird you brought in is getting the absolute best treatment possible and is, no doubt, being cared for by one of our experienced foster mom owls who raise hundreds of orphans each year. I’ll try to get some pictures of this year’s class of foster orphan owls in the next update.

      Reply
  4. Kim Summers
    Kim Summers says:
    May 18, 2020 at 8:24 am

    I need help understanding quail. I have eight eggs in a 20 gallon growers pot shaded all the time. No quail parents around. I read the hatching time is three weeks. We first noticed the eggs 2.5 weeks ago. Info? Thoughts?

    Reply
    • Terry Stevens
      Terry Stevens says:
      May 21, 2020 at 11:23 am

      Anything you need to know about quail, you will learn from Jeannie Garrett. She allowed me to give her number for you to call:602-326-6859
      Tell her Terry said “Hi!”

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Terry Stevens
Operations Director

Posted by Terry Stevens
Operations Director

Recent Posts

  • This Week @ Liberty – January 31, 2023
  • Nature News January 2023
  • This Week @ Liberty – January 17, 2023
  • This Week @ Liberty – January 3, 2023
  • Nature News December 2022

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • April 2017

Donate

Help us reach our financial goals in treating 12,000+ animals per year.

Donate Now!

Donations are tax deductible.

Emergencies

If you have a wildlife emergency and are in need of assistance, contact us immediately.

If you do not reach someone right away, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

480-998-5550

Drop Off

Have you found an injured animal in need of help? Bring them by our new facility.

2600 E. Elwood St.
Phoenix, AZ 85040

Map It

© Copyright 2023 - Liberty Wildlife, Inc. | 2600 E. Elwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Scroll to top