Carolina Raptor Center Rehab Blog

Busy week at the Medical Center! Over the past week, the...

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:42 -0400

Eastern screech owls

Eastern screech owl

Eastern screech owl

barred owls

barred owls

barred owls

red-shouldered hawk

red-shouldered hawk

Busy week at the Medical Center!

Over the past week, the patients have been rolling (or flying…ha!) in. Our orphan count has exploded and we currently have a backlog of surgeries.

We have 75 orphans: 35 barred owls, 15 red-shouldered hawks, 13 great horned owls, 9 Eastern screech owls, and 3 red-tailed hawks.

We repaired a tarsometatarsus fracture in a barn owl (patient #17018) today. He was admitted on Friday but we had to wait a few days until he was stable enough for surgery. Tomorrow we will repair a tibiotarsus fracture in a red-tailed hawk (patient #17038). And then there is a great horned owl (patient #17045) with ulna/radius fractures that will need surgery, as well. You can track all of these patients (plus 123 more!) through our online medical records database.

Follow this link: http://raptormed.carolinaraptorcenter.org/cgi-bin/RaptorMedCGI.exe

We admitted 6 new orphans today, including this red-tailed...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:23:00 -0400

We admitted 6 new orphans today, including this red-tailed hawk (2 great horned owls, 3 barred owls, 1 red-tailed hawk). He/she is quite the eater. And look at the size of the feet!

It feels really good to repair fractures. Putting bones back...

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:51:24 -0400

pre-surgery

pre-surgery

the patient

breaking down the fracture site

It's straight!

IM pin placement

post-surgery

post-surgery radiograph

standing post-surgery

It feels really good to repair fractures. Putting bones back where they belong is certainly a positive thing. Every successful surgery leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, but some really do feel better than others. Today’s surgery was one of those.

Barred owl Patient #16901 was admitted 46 days ago from Anderson, SC. He was diagnosed with a healed right tibiotarsus fracture and a collapsed (and blind) right eye. Originally, we were more concerned about the eye. We planned on removing it but the globe refilled and obtained normal pressure (although, it is still under observation). Before rushing into surgery to fix the leg, we wanted to see how the owl perched, flew, and functioned on the leg. The fracture was healed, so in order to straighten it we would have to refracture it and then go from there. Suprisingly, he did well. The leg was rotated out laterally but he seemed to be bearing fairly equal weight on both legs. After giving him some time in a flight cage, we checked his other (left) foot. It was showing signs of wear/pressure sores. In the avian world it is called bumblefoot. This indicated that the bird was not bearing equal weight on both legs. Bumblefoot, just like bed sores, can be very dangerous (most likely deadly) if left untreated. This left us no choice but to attempt surgery to straighten the right leg.

Today was it. We were going to give it a try. Breaking down a healed fracture can be very difficult due to all of the scar tissue formation. Not only does this immobilize the fracture, it also makes it hard to locate landmarks that aid in a successful repair. But, it went really well. 23 minutes well. It only took 23 minutes!

This bird has a straight leg, and therefore this bird has a chance. That’s a good feeling.

Our newest orphan, Eastern screech owl patient #17004, found in...

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:27:56 -0400

Our newest orphan, Eastern screech owl patient #17004, found in Crowville SC. Weighs a massive 100 grams. Is proud of the fact that he can eat over half his body weight in one feeding. That’s right. Skills.

Patient #17,000 has arrived!

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:11:35 -0400

It’s an adult osprey that was found in Denver, NC and picked up by our staff veterinarian early this morning. The bird was diagnosed with a midshaft, well-aligned ulna fracture.

There is a nest near where the bird was found. We are hoping that this bird was not caring for the it.

3 birds until we reach our 17,000th patient!

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:44:00 -0400

barred owl orphans

blonde barred owl orphan

barred owl orphans

great-horned owl orphans

great-horned owl orphans (adult on left)

red-shouldered hawk orphans

3 birds until we reach our 17,000th patient!

This patient was admitted yesterday morning under unusual...

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:32:44 -0400

This patient was admitted yesterday morning under unusual circumstances. He was hanging out at the finder’s house, unable to fly, and being fed the finder (this isn’t unusual for a vulture, as they are very resourceful). Because vultures are such good scavengers and also very good “on the run,” their injuries are normally so chronic that there isn’t much that we can do to help them. Black vulture patient #16994 proved to be different. His diagnosis: massive molt. He had molted so many of his primary and secondary feathers that he was unable to fly. Why? We have no idea. Blood work was normal. No fractures. No evidence of trauma. So, currently he is inhabiting a small mew and waiting until his new feathers mature.

He definitely picked the right spot to loiter. And, according to the finder, he was not easy to catch.

best. job. ever.

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:15:36 -0400

New Bald Eagle Admitted Patient #16992 This bird was transferred...

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:51:03 -0400

New Bald Eagle Admitted

Patient #16992

This bird was transferred from the BB&T Medical Clinic at Riverbanks Zoo. They had him for 6 days before bringing him to us. He was admitted with spinal trauma/leg paralysis. They suspected a pelvic fracture. On intake at CRC, he was pulling back his legs and attempting to stand, but was unsuccessful. Our radiographs did show some pelvic asymmetry but we do not think that there is a fracture. Blood work is pending. Currently, his treatment is mainly supportive care. The zoo did report that he was improving, which keeps us hopeful.

Orphan Count: 42 total 25 barred owls 11 great-horned owls 4 Eastern-screech owls 2 red-shouldered...

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:51:09 -0400

Orphan Count: 42 total

25 barred owls

11 great-horned owls

4 Eastern-screech owls

2 red-shouldered hawks

Plus, we are only 10 birds away from Patient #17,000!

Eastern screech owl orphans On Friday, the NC Zoo transferred...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:46:04 -0400

collapsed eye

Eastern screech owl orphans

On Friday, the NC Zoo transferred four Eastern screech owl orphans to us. These siblings were found in Seagrove, NC after their nest was destroyed during a storm. One of the babies has severe trauma to its left eye and will, most likely, need to have it removed.

Unlike the barred and great horned owls, Eastern screech owls do not stay with their parents very long. They are self-feeding by 10 days old and leave the nest by 30-32 days. They are only dependent on their parents for 8-10 weeks total. With the barred and great horned owls, parental care extends beyond 4 months.

Update on Bald Eagle Patient #16843

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:23:00 -0400

This eagle was admitted on March 9th with right ulna and radius fractures. The patient underwent surgeries to repair the fractures on March 11th and March 18th.

Currently, she/he is doing really well. The bird has had 14 physical therapy sessions (they are now every four days), and is progressing steadily. Due to activity and stress level, she/he has had upgraded from a 16x8x7’ cage to a 48x12x7’ cage. On intake, she/he had a severely necrotic wound, exposing bone, at the fracture site. This wound is healed and already refeathering. The patient is eating well and maintaining her/his weight. Things are looking up!

In the photo, the white patches on the wrists are protective bandages. Eagles are prone to wrist injuries, so apply preventative wrist bumpers.

Photo

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:05:38 -0400

great horned owl orphans

great horned owl orphans

great horned owl orphans

barred owls orphan

barred owls graduated to a larger enclosure

barred owls graduated to a larger enclosure

Our surrogate mother, Betbait, is very good at her job. Enough said.

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:32:29 -0400

Our surrogate mother, Betbait, is very good at her job. Enough said.

What’s a good day at CRC’s Raptor Medical Center? ...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:54:00 -0400

red-tailed hawk

red-tailed hawk

red-shouldered hawk

What’s a good day at CRC’s Raptor Medical Center? When we release more birds than are admitted. Today is a good day!

We released two hawks this afternoon (a red-shouldered and red-tailed) and will release three owls (an Eastern screech owl and two barred owls) this evening.

The red-tailed hawk is (even better, WAS) patient #16575. Click here to read a past entry about this bird.

One of the owls, a barred owl, was admitted 141 days ago with spinal trauma/leg paralysis. He has fully recovered. The other barred was admitted with head trauma and eye damage and the Eastern screech owl had a femur fracture.

Our orphan count is rising. We have currently have 20, with...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:21:25 -0400

barred owl orphans

barred owl orphans

ball o' barred owls

red-shouldered hawk orphan #1

red-shouldered hawk orphan #1

red-shouldered hawk orphan #1

Our orphan count is rising. We have currently have 20, with number 21 on the way right now.

We have 10 great horned owls, 9 barred owls, and 1 red-shouldered hawk (arrived on Friday).

barred owl, orphaned, found in Concord NC egg tooth still...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:58:00 -0400

barred owl, orphaned, found in Concord NC

egg tooth still present, eyes not yet open, most likely 3-4 days old.

58 grams of fierceness. A bundle of pure hunger.

Today, six of the great-horned owl orphans moved to an outdoor...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:54:19 -0400

Today, six of the great-horned owl orphans moved to an outdoor mew to be with their surrogate mother, Betbait. Betbait is one of our resident birds that resides on our display trail. She has proven to be a great mother to orphans in the past. In order to acclimate, the babies are separated from her by a mesh barrier for a few days before we combine them. They grow up so quickly!

3 New Barred Owl Orphans We admitted two siblings found in...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:48:13 -0400

3 New Barred Owl Orphans

We admitted two siblings found in Charlotte last night and one larger orphan found in Lancaster this morning.

Osprey are migrating north from the winter homes in warm, sunny...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:00:22 -0400

pre-surgery radiograph

prepping for surgery

placing the pins

external fixation

post-surgery radiograph

Osprey are migrating north from the winter homes in warm, sunny Central and South America (although, to be correct, a small number do winter on the coast of the southeastern US). Welcome back! Unfortunately, one unlucky osprey (patient #16913) made it to our clinic after being found injured in Asheville, NC. She was found last Tuesday and was admitted at CRC on Thursday morning. She was diagnosed with a left ulna fracture.

Today during surgery we found that the fracture was much worse than the radiograph showed. There were multiple large fragments. Our surgical plan changed multiple times (which led to a fairly stressful procedure), but in the end the fixation felt very stable and the bone ends were aligned as best as possible. So overall we are pleased with the result. Now she just needs to start eating on her own! Osprey are notoriously difficult in captivity.