Today was a big day in this young eagle’s life. We’ve been so busy, none of us realized that today was the one-year anniversary of Decorah’s hatch. Seldom do we know this much about our education birds. In addition, Terrie was at SOAR working on her “eagle hours.” (See the start of this training info
This clip first aired on 7 February 2015 and is now on Hulu… sorry there are ads… Steve Corwin and crew visit the Ventana Wildlife Society condor recovery area in Big Sur, California. Watch and learn about testing these big birds for lead exposure and chelation treatment.
Tail feathers… January through March is not the time of year that birds should be molting feathers. In February, Decorah had five new tail feathers growing. The feathers grew about half-way in and then the blood supply to the feather dried up and the feather dropped out of the follicle. A blood supply to the
This research was published online with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2012. Abstract: Proposals to end the use of lead hunting ammunition because of the established risks of lead exposure to wildlife and humans are impeded by concerns about the availability, price, and effectiveness of substitutes. The product availability and retail prices of different
Decorah sits on the shelf-perch so he can look out the window. That is obviously more fun than sitting on the bow perch that doesn’t have quite that view. The plan WAS to put bracelets / jesses on Decorah, however, he has about five tail feathers growing in and do not want to disturb or
Make the switch! Watch this segment from Itasca Community TV (Minnesota) of Just Outdoors – Copper Bullets that talks about ballistics, shot placement, human and wildlife health, and three shooting demonstrations. (It’s not short, but is informative!) The Case for Copper: Research uncovers problems with lead bullets for deer hunting Check out this article from
Health Risks in Lead-Based Ammunition Scientific experts in lead and environmental health have published both a consensus statement and an editorial encouraging the reduction of lead-based ammunition used with the eventual elimination of lead-based ammunition. Health Risks from Lead-Based Ammunition in the Environment: A Consensus Statement of Scientists (190 KB PDF) Health Risks from Lead-Based
Terrie and Tyler are adding to their needed hours of experience and helped with Bald Eagle Days event at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center in Nebraska. Terrie had a bit of “fist time” with Thora and transferred her from travel crate to bow perch and back.
The bald eagle admitted on 13 December 2011 that had been caught in a leg-hold trap also had elevated blood lead levels (BLL) of 9.6 µg/dL. She coughed up a pellet (accumulated undigested material, in the case of eagles primarily hair) shortly after initial exam at SOAR. This pellet was x-rayed for lead fragments. The
Kay has received official word from US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that the 22 June 2014 juvenile eagle admitted from Decorah, IA / Winneshiek County is no longer being held under Kay’s federal rehabilitation permit, this juvenile eagle has been transferred to Kay’s Live Eagle Exhibition Permit! Decorah will be his name! Now Kay