Welcome to the Bird Treatment and Learning Center blog!
This monthly blog will delve into what's happening with rehabilitation patients and our Ambassador Birds. We'll also dive into topics pertinent to the rehabilitation of wild birds and the training and care of our Ambassadors. Let's get started!
In the first two months of 2023, we've been busy with Bald Eagles. All of our eagle patients have moved from the clinic to the flight center where we test their flying ability. The eagles will stay there to build their strength before being released.
Because eagles are social birds, all our patients are living together in a 100-foot flight lane. We suspect the single adult did not plan on babysitting three juveniles! Volunteers visit daily to deliver food. They also watch the birds fly and report concerns to Dr. Karen Higgs, Bird TLC’s Avian Care Director and Veterinarian.
One of our eagle patients had elevated lead levels in her blood when she arrived at the clinic in December. She had also sustained a wing fracture from being shot. After confirming that the injury did not prevent her from flying, she returned to the clinic to undergo chelation treatment for lead toxicosis. Chelation, essentially “scrubs” lead out of the bloodstream to be excreted. Chelation can be successful, but only if intervention is timely.
All birds are at risk of lead toxicosis, but loons, vultures, bald eagles, and condors are the most susceptible. They may ingest lead fishing tackle or eat from carcasses that contain spent lead ammunition. You can read more about the effects of lead on eagles in this article on Science.
Symptoms of lead toxicosis can include ataxia, seizures, and limb paralysis. Lead affects all major organs and eventually can work its way into the bone. When a bird ingests lead, small amounts are absorbed into the GI tract and released into the bloodstream.
We can prevent birds’ exposure to lead by using substitutes for lead ammunition and fishing tackle. The use of copper-based ammunition is becoming a more popular choice and some states have taken measures to phase out the use of lead ammunition. Hunting with Nonlead’s website is an excellent resource for more information.
Thank you to Bird TLC volunteer Katie Verbarendse for the photos of the eagles at the flight center.