Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

MONTHLY FLYER
A Volunteer Newsletter
April 2016

Celebrating 40 years of excellence in

wildlife rehabilitation and research
Photo: snyders/moonbeampublishing

Editor: Loretta Carlson

ITS TIME FOR TRI-STATES VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION CELEBRATION

We hope you have made plans to attend this years Volunteer Appreciation Celebration scheduled for Sunday,
April 10, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. in the Wildlife Response Annex. Come bask in the glow of our deep appreciation
for all you do for Tri-State throughout the year. From 2:30 until 3:30, Phung Luu and Jackie Kozlowski will
present their fabulous free-flight bird show. At 3:30, relax with your friends and enjoy tasty snacks and sweets
until we announce the recipients of the 2015 volunteer awards at 4:30. Please RSVP no later than April 1 to
Julie at jbartley@tristatebird.org or (302) 737-9543, extension 102, so we can have an accurate count for
food, drinks, tables, and chairs. Thank you, and see you on April 10.
CALLING ALL FOSTER BIRD FAMILIES!
Now that spring has arrived, we know its only a matter of time before the first goslings, ducklings, finches,
and wrens find their way to our clinic. Our goal always is to return healthy youngsters to their parents.
However, some of our patients will be healthy orphans. With your help, we can place these youngsters with
wild foster families whose nests are located in suitably safe locations. Contact clinic supervisor Brie Hashem
(bhashem@tristatebird.org) if you know of good foster family candidates for goslings, ducklings, or
songbirdsespecially species that nest in boxes. If you know where we can find a good owl or hawk family,
contact clinic supervisor Aimee Federer (afederer@tristatebird.org).
RECENT RELEASES
Wild birds trying to navigate the mysteries of the modern world
occasionally find themselves facing unexpected predicaments. On
February 22, we received a call about a snowy owl trapped in a
light tower operated by the Coast Guard in Townsend. The caller
tried to retrieve the owl, but it eluded him and began hitting
windows in its panic to escape. Due to the unusual nature of the
location, we called on our colleagues at Delaware Fish & Wildlife
Services, and agent Kate Fleming captured what turned out to be a
Barn Owl. On admission, the adult was dehydrated and suffering
from head wounds and soft tissue injuries. Radiographs revealed no
orthopedic injuries. On February 23, while the owl was under
Photo by Russ Carlson
anesthesia, we cleaned its wounds and sutured the lacerations on
its head. By February 26, the owl was self-feeding and becoming more active and vocal, and by the end of the
month, its excellent flight and lift skills signaled the bird was ready for release. We banded it, and on March 1,
volunteers Russ and Loretta Carlson released the Barn Owl back in the area where it was found. After taking in
its surroundings for a moment, the owl flew strongly along a line of trees and soared over nearby fields before
disappearing from sight.
A passing motorist found a Red-shouldered Hawk by the side of the road in Montgomery County, Maryland,
wrapped it in his jacket, and took it to Second Chance Wildlife Center. On February 2, Second Chance
transferred the bird to our care. Although the hawk was neurologic and had sustained head trauma, it was
alert and aggressive on admission. By the next day the hawk was self-feeding quail and flying from its hide

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

box to low perches. We provided a ramp that allowed it to hop up to higher perches until it was strong enough
to fly from the low perches to the high perches. Once its lift improved, we moved the hawk to a flight cage on
February 16, and over the next two weeks its strength and stamina gradually increased. We banded the Redshouldered Hawk, and Second Chance released it on March 9 back in Maryland.
We recently admitted several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, releasing two of them
in March. Patient 16-133 came to us from Elkton, Maryland, on February 19.
The victim of a cat attack, the sapsucker was subdued on admission with a
laceration over its left wing. After the bird rested awhile on heat in the oxygen
chamber, we placed it under anesthesia and cleaned and sutured the wound.
With pain medications and antibiotics to ease the way, the sapsucker was soon
active, self-feeding, and drumming on the log we provided in its basket. By
February 25, the birds wounds were healing well, and over the next few days
its flight skills and stamina steadily improved. Volunteer Dennis Davis released
this sapsucker in Elkton on March 4.
A second Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was a quick-turnaround patient. A
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 16-133
homeowner from Middletown brought the bird to us after it hit a window at his
Staff Photo
home on March 1. The male was neurologic and sustained minor head trauma,
but he was flying in the admit box shortly after he arrived. With pain medications and a quiet place to rest
overnight, the sapsucker was alert and self-feeding by the next day. After the sapsucker passed a test flight,
volunteer Jessica McCabe released him at Lums Pond in Bear on March 2.
Barred Owl 16-108 came to us on February 10 from Owl Moon Raptor Center in Maryland. Originally rescued
by Frederick County Animal Control officers, the owl was a likely impact victim. The second-year male was thin
and had sustained an injury to his right eye that required surgery. Dr. Cristin Kelley performed the procedure
on February 16, and by February 23 the owl was alert, eating well, and ready for flight exercise and live
testing in an outside cage. After about a week, we moved the owl to a larger flight cage to encourage longer
flights that would help build up his flight muscles and stamina. Once the Barred Owls flight was strong and
silent, we banded him, and Suzanne Shoemaker of Owl Moon released him back in Maryland.
OTHER RELEASES IN MARCH
In March, we also released Bald Eagles, Coopers Hawks, a Red-tailed Hawk, Black Vultures, Canada Geese, a
House Finch, an American Goldfinch, American Robins, a White-throated Sparrow, and a Mourning Dove.
FEATURED BIRD: SHORT-EARED OWL
The Short-eared Owl has one of the most widespread ranges of any species of bird, living on all continents
except Antarctica and Australia. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, some individuals travel long
distances across the ocean, and witnesses have reported seeing them alight on ships hundreds of miles from
land. Partially migratory, the Short-eared Owl travels to the southern parts of its range during the winter. Like
the Snowy Owl, it often follows fluctuating rodent populations. When food is plentiful, this species may remain
on its winter grounds for breeding.
At 13 to 17 inches long, the Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl. It has ear tufts that are so small as to be
nearly invisible. It has a dark facial disk, yellow-orange eyes, and a heavily streaked head. Its body is tawny to
buffy brown, and its upper breast is heavily streaked.
Although many species of owls are strictly nocturnal, others hunt during the day (diurnal species such as the
Snowy Owl) and some, like the Short-eared Owl, are crepuscular, meaning they hunt at dawn and dusk. The
Short-eared Owl is an open-country hunter that uses its acute hearing to find small which the Short-eared Owl
may share its territory.
Short-eared Owls are monogamous and form loose colonies in some parts of their range. One of the few owls
to build its own nest, the female Short-eared Owl makes a scrape on the ground amid concealing vegetation
and lines the nesting area with grass and feathers. Pairs have one brood of three to eleven young each year.
The female incubates the eggs for 24 to 37 days, and the male feeds her during that period. Both parents feed

Monthly Flyer, April 2016

the young during the 21 to 36 days that they remain in the nest. To lure
predators away from the nest or from young just learning to fly, male Shorteared Owls employ a crippled-bird strategy.
Although the Short-eared Owl is considered a fairly common bird in the
Americas, its populations declined by over 3.2% per year between 1966 and
2013, resulting in a cumulative decline of 80%, according to the North
American Breeding Bird Survey (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/). This species is
listed as a Common Bird in Steep Decline on the 2014 State of the Birds Report
(http://bit.ly/1MGwPrZ).
Learn more about the Short-eared Owl at the Cornell Lab of Ornithologys All
About Birds Web site, www.allaboutbirds.org. See also Birds of North America,
published by the Smithsonian Institution, or your own favorite birding book.
JOIN US FOR TRI-STATES OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 1
Photo by snyders/moonbeampublishing
Tri-States 2016 Open House, presented by WSFS Bank, is less than a
month away. Well have the Frink Center for Wildlife and Wildlife Response Annex available for self-guided
tours. Our new What is Your Wingspan? banner will be displayed on the second floor deck for our young
(and not so young) bird enthusiasts to see how they measure up. You will
experience another fun-filled, educational presentation by Phung Luu and his
trained birds, including Indy who accepts cash donations for Tri-State.
The Open House planning committee could use your help, input, and new
ideas to grow this family-friendly day. Our final meeting is Thursday, April 28, at 3 p.m. in the breakout area
on the second floor of the Frink Center. Well be stuffing Open House goodie bags that afternoon. Stop by and
see Duke Doblick in the development office or call him at (302) 737-9543, extension 108, to volunteer to help
that day or to help us plan this important community event.
VOLUNTEER ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
By Barbara Druding
From time to time, the Volunteer Advisory Committee receives questions from volunteers on a variety of
subjects. Going forward, we will answer those questions in the Monthly Flyer, beginning with the most basic
question: What is the Volunteer Advisory Committee?
The Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC) is a committee made up of seasoned clinic and oil volunteers whose
mission is to enhance the volunteer program by making recommendations on the recruitment, training,
retention, and recognition of volunteers. The focus is on how to best attract new volunteers, ensure adequate
training and mentoring, offer continued learning opportunities, and provide rewards for their hard work and
dedication to the program.
This committee has been in existence for more than ten years and is comprised of a dozen or more
volunteers, a clinic staff representative, and one or two board members who serve as advisors. The volunteers
not only work on this committee but also work shifts in the clinic, are members of the oil spill core team, serve
as bird-care assistants (BCAs) and members of various board committees, and represent Tri-State at
community events. They give a lot of their time to these endeavors, but their main focus is the training and
mentoring of new volunteers.
Currently, the committee is redesigning the training workshops, updating nametags, and ensuring that the
monthly volunteer appreciation raffle and the quarterly volunteer appreciation treats are funded. They are also
creating a new citizens award to be called the Citizens Certificate of Recognition. This award will be presented
to a business, group, or individual citizen that has supported Tri-States mission in an outstanding manner.

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

If you have any questions, please drop them in the Suggestion Box in the volunteer room. You dont have to
leave your name if you are uncomfortable doing so. We will answer some questions in this newsletter. In other
cases, a VAC member will address them with you directly if you provide your name. If you are interested in
learning more about the committee, please contact Volunteer Manager Julie Bartley.
VOLUNTEER ANNIVERSARIES FOR APRIL
32 years: Sherry Grizzel 25 years: Jay Baumgardner 22 years: Vera Lee Rao 19 years: Linda Mullin
6 years: Paulette Derkach, Karen Dibble, Michael Gaul, and Carol Loveless 5 years: Marie Calvert-McKee
A huge thank you to all the volunteers who worked in the clinic, transported birds, and helped keep the
grounds and outside cages snow-free and ice-free throughout the winter of 2015/2016. You made sure the
birds received the best care, even when conditions werent the best. Thank you!
VOLUNTEER HELP STILL NEEDED
Front Desk Help
Are you looking for a new way to help injured birds? As we head into the busy spring and summer months, we
need more volunteers for our front-desk team. Because the person at the front desk is often the first Tri-State
representative our presenters meet, the ideal volunteer for the front desk is someone who enjoys working with
other people. We will train you so you feel confident when you answer the phones, greet the public, and make
calls to find rides for the birds coming into the clinic. A part-time paid position for the summer season is also
available. Call Julie Bartley if you are interested.

Transporters
Do you enjoy driving? If so, you might enjoy working as a volunteer transporter. In many cases, callers who
find birds are unable to transport them, and so we rely on volunteers to drive these orphaned, injured, or ill
birds to our clinic. We particularly need transporters who live in Kent and Sussex counties who are willing to
transport birds partway or all the way to Newark. We also need transporters from Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Call Julie Bartley if you are interested and for more details. You can start right away if you are transporting
birds already in boxes. We provide training for people who retrieve as well as transport birds.
Baby Bird Supplies
If you garden, please plant an extra row of lettuce to help us feed our hungry baby ducklings and goslings.
We can also use flowers and plants to provide more natural surroundings for the baby birds housed in
incubators, cages, and baskets this summer. And if you have plants such as ferns in hanging baskets, we can
use them for the outside cages.

Craft Fund-Raisers
Weve had incredible success raising money for Tri-State by selling bird-themed items such as knitted birds,
potholders, and needle-and-felt-crafted birds. What are your hobbies? Can you turn those hobbies into birdthemed items we can use as fund-raisers for Tri-State? Call Julie Bartley with your ideas.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Information Sessions and Adult Bird Care Workshops. Do you have friends or family members who
think they may be interested in volunteering for Tri-State, but who are concerned that this may not be the
right choice for them? We have the perfect solution: a one-hour Information Session that gives prospective
volunteers a good overview of our operations and expectations. All those interested in volunteering at TriState must attend one Information Session before they can register for a bird-care workshop.
Spring Information Sessions: April 16 and 23 and May 7. All sessions will take place on Saturdays at
11 a.m.
Adult Bird Care Workshops: Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m.1 p.m., and Sunday, May 15, 9 a.m.1 p.m.

Monthly Flyer, April 2016

Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, Sunday, April 10, 2 to 5:30 p.m. See

article for details.
Open House, Sunday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. See article for details.
Benefit for the Birds, Friday, October 21, 6 to 11 p.m. Well be taking a short
jaunt to Deerfield in Newark, Delaware, on Friday, October 21, from 6 to 11 p.m.
Deerfield is across Paper Mill Road, just over one mile from the Tri-State turn at
Possum Hollow Road.
More details to follow in upcoming issues of the Monthly Flyer and on the Tri-State
website (www.tristatebird.org). The Benefit for the Birds planning committee
could use your help, input, and new ideas to grow this exciting event. Our next
meeting is Wednesday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. in the breakout area on the second
floor of the Frink Center.

Soaring to New Heights Together

Phung Luu will be at Tri-State for

the Volunteer Appreciation
Celebration on April 10 with a
free-flight bird show and at the
Open House on May 1 with Indy.
Photo by Russ Carlson