A Busy Week at BMW
Twenty-two new patients arrived this past week. They ranged in size from a 3 gram hummingbird to a 3 kilogram golden eagle. They traveled from Quincy, WA, 170 miles north of Pendleton and Frenchglen, OR, 250 miles south of Pendleton, and quite a few places in between.
The eagle was lying in the middle of the road with semi’s driving over the top of him. A good Samaritan stopped to move what he thought was a dead eagle off the road, when he realized the bird was still breathing. Then, after a 4 1/2 hour drive, he delivered him to the Pendleton center!
He’s still groggy in the picture below after being anesthetized for a physical exam and initial treatment.
Radiographs showed damage to the left shoulder and left hip.
But after two days, he’s finally showing an interest in food!
Awards Week at BMW
Bob and I were honored to accept the Organization of the Year Award from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 3 on behalf of Blue Mountain Wildlife. BMW was nominated by Sargent Brian Fulton, WDFW Law Enforcement Program. The hard work of volunteers and staff has been noticed and appreciated by WDFW!
Thank you also to all our Friends who shared your stories about BMW and earned us a spot on the 2017 Top Rated List!
A Rash of Gunshot Birds
It seems like a crazy coincidence. A week ago Kathy Aney and E.J. Harris, a reporter and photographer respectively for the East Oregonian, had a front-page, article on the illegality of shooting migratory birds featuring several resident BMW birds who had been shot. We admitted 11 gunshot birds during the first half of 2017, then 6 during the month of July, with 5 in the past week (all 5 with non- repairable fractures).
Two Crows, the one below from Richland, WA, the other from Baker City, OR
A Cooper’s Hawk from Kennewick, WA
An Osprey from the Umatilla Indian Reservation
And a Great Horned Owl from the Arlington, OR landfill
Although there are no visible metal fragments in the radiograph above, the extensive damage at the fracture site, the small entrance wound and larger exit wound with multiple bone fragments, indicate the damage was caused by a nonlead projectile.
