Kung Fu, Shadow, and Doe Take the Big Step, Thunder Update, and the Queens Fledglings

Remember Carol Vinzant, the wildlife rehabilitator who sent in the photo of the baby squirrel eating upside down while in her pocket?

Well, here are three of her charges, Kung Fu, Shadow, and Doe. They were snoozing away just a few days ago without a care in the world. Little did they know that the time was about to come, as they're all grown up now, when they'd be released to make their own way in the world of a carefully chosen city park, complete with squirrel house.

Carol opens the door of the carrier at the base of a tree.

She said," The squirrel release went pretty well, though I’m still nervous about the timid squirrel Doe.
The bold squirrel Kung Fu had no trouble jumping out of the carrier and climbing up the tree. Shadow quickly followed him, then did a crazy spastic dance between the ground and tree, which scared away a robin. Doe was very shy about coming out and eventually just went to hide in the bushes.
(This is where the photo of the squirrel house would be if Blogger would load it, but it won't . Just like it won't load the continuation of the photos of the Gracklery started yesterday. Sigh. D.B.)

One of Carol's charges looking like he'd been hanging upside down in a tree in the park all his life.
You can see the slideshow story here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/animaltourism/sets/72157605454790265/

Carol Vinzant
207 East 5th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 979 - 5327
http://us.mc311.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=carol@carolvinzant.com
http://us.mc311.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@animaltourism.com

THUNDER UPDATE!
Remember the night screen captures of the Red-tails in Tulsa flying all around in the dark? They were captured by Donna Johnson who sent some Thunder news today for all of us to enjoy.

Hello Donna,

Robin asked me to email you about Thunder on the KJRH website. It sounds like they had quite a day. They give very graphic play by plays on the site of Thunder’s every move almost daily and today he got on the pole that the camera is attached to and put on quite a show. It just so happened that the webmaster was watching and when Thunder disappeared off screen he grabbed a cameraman and audio equipment and went outside. They saw Thunder on the tower way below the nest and taped him being attacked by a small bird. They also posted video of Thunder’s show and then her flight away. They followed her flying around and landing in some trees by the river. Then to top it off, they got another video of Kay, Jay and Thunder all in the nest area eating. There are 3 new videos in the upper right hand corner of the web page located here: http://www.kjrh.com/content/news/hawks/default.aspx

The 3 new videos are titled "Thunder comes under attack from a rather determined little bird ", "Thunder flies! Great closeups, followed by a few moments of her in flight as she headed towards the river" &"Shortly after Thunder's flight, all three in the nest for lunch "

I thought this would be some great information and videos to share with everyone. I hope you have time to check it out.

Thank you,

Donna

And thank you, Donna!

Thank goodness Carol's newly released squirrels aren't in the same park as this beautiful eyass from Mama and Papa's nest in Queens. I hate it when animals we know eat other animals we know. Even though we know everyone has to eat after all, but still...

This was the first fledge off the Queen's nest. She's giving something the eye, possibly her two younger siblings who have also taken the leap. The three youngsters from that nest are doing very well and learning their lessons in good time to take care of themselves this winter.

And this would be the spot for the photo of the youngest fledgling Jeff Kollbrunner sent, www.jknaturegallery.com/ if only blogger would get a clue. Double sigh.

Donegal Browne

There's always tomorrow, right?

Houston Nest

Hi Folks,

Has anyone been down to the Houston nest in the last few days? If so, get in touch.

New blog post up, as usual, later this evening.

Donna

Pale Male and Lola's Eggs: Linda Maslin Makes an Offer, Plus The Gracklery

So close and yet so far, the dilemma of how to gain a timely egg retrieval?

Today I received an email from long time Pale Male watcher Linda Maslin.

Donna,

I have been following the saga of Pale Male for at least 10 years. I am very upset that the eggs will not be retrieved on time for the important tests to be done. I would be willing to donate money if others would to have NYC Audubon hire people to retrieve them. Can this be done?

Linda Maslin
Blue Bell, PA

Linda, excellent question and I don't know the answer but I think it's feasible. There are five factors that I know would be necessary currently for someone to arrange. As to the sixth I would be overjoyed to donate my time and equipment to work toward an egg retrieval timely enough for a diploid test and DNA samples. As to the needs:

1. The continued cooperation of 927 Fifth Avenue to allow access.

2. The continued cooperation of NYC Audubon to liaison with 927, supply

spotters, and borrow a ladder.

3. Permission of the required agencies in charge of migratory bird's eggs.

4. The ability to finance the job, for insurance and the necessary

tool for retrieval from the roof which is similar to a telescoping handled basket fruit picker. .

5. A person to collect, disperse, and be in charge of donations.

6. I have the harness and rigging that I used when I lay on the roof to

photograph the nest. There is no reason the same position, equipment,

and set up couldn't be used as it was safe and allowed for both hands to be

free to manipulate a camera. Therefore both hands could be free to

manipulate the retrieval device.

Anyone game?

****************************************************************************

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...well sort of--Bloggers at it again.

This afternoon I looked out the bedroom window, which faces a hedge, and discovered a Gracklery. More than a dozen immature Grackles had all somehow been convinced to group in the hedge as opposed to following their parents around begging. Do young Grackles take an afternoon nap? Did the adults have to do any emergency mobbing of the local Cooper's Hawk.? I've no idea but there all the youngsters were.

Blogger has decided not to upload any more photos for the moment so the rest of the Gracklery photos must wait for Blogger to behave. Here are the last three of the sequence---more to come eventually.

3:19:00pm The gapper. He doesn't make a sound, nor jiggle his wings while the parents aren't in sight. He just sits stock still with his mouth wide open and waits. It is a singular technique amongst the group.

3:27:35pm Grackle fledgling is in a state, but then again they're almost always in a state at the sight of a parent.

3:28:09pm Dad forages back and forth while the fledgling wails.

3:28:33pm And in goes the food.

4:06:38pm I discovered today that House Finch are particularly fond of the seed heads of dandelions.

4:18:50pm Toupee Goldfinch looks as if his rug has fallen even further into his eyes than usual.

4:21:25pm Doorstep Dove sits on the edge of the bath warming her feet.

4:23:20pm Robin having banished Doorstep goes about his own bath but keeps a wary eye that he himself not be banished.

Donegal Browne