Tuesday, July 24, 2012

UPDATE: FIFTH AVENUE POSSIBLY POISONED FLEDGLING CHANGES ROOST, UPDATE ON FLEDGLING IN REHAB, AND HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO HER CARE!

UPDATE AND PHOTOS BY JEFF JOHNSON  (Many thanks Jeff!!!)
Got into the Park at 1850 and swept by the last known location of the sick fledge again with no joy. Vectored NW since the fledges seemed to be generally going that way and by luck came upon a very easily seen fledge because the light reflected off its breast so that it looked almost illuminated for a few minutes when seen from the NE quadrant. 

Sick fledge was very apparent from the NE. AT first I thought it to be Opera Star because it's body looks shrunken, despite the fact it has sort of ruffled out its feathers in a pillowed effect. 1911 Metadata time.
 Sick fledge from below shows pillowing of feathers and almost closed eyes. 1914 Metadata time.
Sick fledge from ESE close. Dark coloration strapped pattern and shriveled appearance make me think this really is the same sick fledge and not Opera Star. I didn't see or hear any Red-tails when I was in the Park for 45 minutes during the afternoon. This evening, the only Red-tail I could find was this sick one. 
No further information was shared about the fledge in rehab. I was told by hawk watchers that  the fledge I call Opera Star was seen in good health by the MET this afternoon. 1937 Metadata time.

(This makes sense as the Cafe Duo tend to share meals and likely ate from the same poisoned rat.)
 Tree (camera facing ESE along the east perimeter path to the center of The Great Lawn where the sick fledge roosted for tonight. I suppose we should take heart in that the fledge had the strength to move from the tree she was in to this one.  1941 Metadata time.
All I could find out Donegal.
Jeff 

You did well in finding her roost.  This fledgling is running out of time.  She's dehydrated, hungry, and likely having problems with internal bleeding and organ function.

If anyone finds her to be accessible, get a hold of her, (see below how to do that) and get her to rehab.

You get a hawk in hand by throwing something over her and getting her by the ankles and tucking her under your arm.  The beak isn't a problem, it is the talons one must watch for.  Though this hawk is so debilitated she probably wouldn't do much of anything.  Then get her into a cardboard box if you can (no cages, it wrecks their feathers until the next molt) and call the Horvaths at 516-293-0587. 

SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE FIFTH AVENUE FLEDGLING BEING CARED FOR BY THE HORVATHS!
(Though she isn't out of the woods yet!)
 From Cathy Horvath--
The Fifth Avenue fledgling had blood work done today and we should have results tomorrow. He looked a little better than yesterday , is perching well and bright eyed and alert this morning and is keeping food down. We are treating it even before results for poisoning and  for frounce too but don't know how much pigeon is eaten compared to definite rats being consumed regularly.
Go Cathy!
Far more rats are being eaten than pigeons.  Rats particularly poisoned ones, are far easier for the fledglings to catch.  Though Pale Male does give lessons to his young on pigeon hunting, and he is spectacular at it.
But the pigeon population is way down (No I absolutely do not hate pigeons, they are beautiful and smart and terrific but they are also part of the NYC food chain.  Hey I rehab pigeons, okay?) since the city instituted the no feeding ban in the city's green spaces.  
Therefore, as I think everyone should have a good life,  I'd  think feeding the pigeons outside the park discretely, just outside the park, healthy bird seed, early in the day, in an area in which the birds can easily see the seed, like the sidewalk,  and consume it ALL before nightfall when the rats will get it, might well make a difference to some hawks.  And also keep the pigeons happy, healthy, and capable of raising the next generation of beautiful urban pigeons for us to enjoy.
 
And last but not least, donations towards the care of  the Fifth Avenue Fledgling and many other animals  under the Horvaths care can be sent to-- 
Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation 
202 N Wyoming Ave
N Massapequa, New York 11758
Get out there and make a difference!
Donegal Browne

2 comments:

Brent Plater said...

As a hawk lover I thought you might be interested in this: see http://wildequity.org for more info.

Pale Male Petition to Obama: Stop Nest Destruction Now

Petition Demands President Obama Bring an End to
Bush Administration’s Destroy-first Policy

San Francisco — The Wild Equity Institute filed a formal administrative petition with the Obama Administration today, asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("Service") to protect migratory bird nests from destruction unless and until prior written authorization from the Service is obtained.

Dubbed the “Pale Male Petition,” the requested rule change was inspired by the infamous destruction of Pale Male’s nest on 5th Avenue in New York City in 2004—which the Bush Administration deemed lawful under a peculiar interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. After Pale Male’s nest was destroyed he did not produce offspring again until 2011.

“It’s been eight years since Pale Male’s nest was illegally destroyed, and the Obama Administration still has not restored full protections to migratory birds,” said Brent Plater, Executive Director of the Wild Equity Institute. “The Pale Male Petition will close a loophole that continues to threaten migratory birds and their young.”

The proposed regulations would reverse a nearly decade-old, convoluted Bush Administration policy that allows any person to destroy a bird nest if the nest is deemed “unoccupied” at the time of destruction: so long as the person avoids “possessing” the nest in the process of destroying it. Although the Bush Administration policy seems difficult to reconcile with the laws of physics, it provided the legal underpinning for the destruction of Pale Male’s nest in 2004.

Donegal Browne said...

Alright Brent!!!! Contact me using the email address on the main page in the top right column, About Me Contact.

Can't wait to hear from you. Excellent!