Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

MONTHLY FLYER
A Volunteer Newsletter
February 2016

Celebrating 40 years of excellence in

wildlife rehabilitation and research
Photo: snyders/moonbeampublishing

Editor: Loretta Carlson

HARD-WORKING VOLUNTEERS REPAIR CAGES

Seven hard-working volunteers braved the cold winds of
December and January to replace all the rotted rafters in both
flight cages. We are immensely grateful to Rand McIlvaine, Dan
Cotterman, Jim Howey, Greg Keegan, Emilio Oliva, Josh Cruse,
and George Harrison for all their carpentry work.
We extend special thanks to Rich Hinkle, owner of Victoria
Builders and former Tri-State volunteer and board member, for
providing his technical expertise and guidance.
These newly refurbished cages provide a safe place for our
raptor patients to practice their flight and hunting skills.

Staff Photo

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Mouse-Feeding Protocol
Please check the charts before you put out food for the mice. We have been going through a lot of food
recently. Remember that mice cache (store) their food. Therefore, even if you dont see food, if the chart
notes that the mice have been fed, rest assured: They have been fed.

Suggestion Box
We welcome your feedback! Place your questions and concerns about any aspect of your Tri-State experience
in the Suggestion Box in the volunteer office. We read all comments, and a staff member or a member of the
Volunteer Advisory Committee will address them with you directly or during clinic shift meetings. You also can
raise any concerns or questions with Julie Bartley.
Volunteer Raffle
Tri-State holds a monthly volunteer appreciation raffle. Remember to put your name into the Raffle Jar in the
volunteer office each time you work a shift, transport a bird, help with mailings, or volunteer your time for any
Tri-State activities.
Volunteer Testimonials
As we celebrate Tri-State Bird Rescues 40th anniversary, we would like to hear
from you about your positive experiences as a Tri-State volunteer. We will share
your testimonials in upcoming issues of the Monthly Flyer and in A Birds-Eye View,
the quarterly members newsletter. Send your comments to Julie Bartley via e-mail
at jbartley@tristatebird.org or via snail mail at 170 Possum Hollow Road, Newark,
Delaware 19711.
Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of the birds!
Soaring to New Heights Together

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

RECENT RELEASES
Weve admitted eight Sharp-shinned Hawks since December, and fortunately, weve been able to release
several of those birds. A juvenile sharpie suffered a midshaft fracture to its left wing when it crashed into and
broke a window at a home in Princess Anne, Maryland, on December 6. In addition to the fracture, the
juvenile hawk sustained minor bruising on its cere and abrasions on its feet. After securing the fracture site
with a figure-eight wrap, we administered pain medications, treated the bird for parasites, and prescribed cage
rest. By the next day, the hawk was self-feeding quail and proving itself to be an
accomplished escape artist. With physical therapy to restore range-of-motion in the
wing, the bird was ready for flight exercise in an outdoor cage by the end of
December. Once its flight skills and lift were strong, we banded this Sharp-shinned
Hawk, and volunteer Karen Wenner-Pedersen released it on January 13 back in the
area where it was found.

Supervisor examines
Sharp-shinned Hawk from
Rising Sun.
Staff Photo

Two days after this hawk arrived, another Sharp-shinned Hawk came to us from
Rising Sun, Maryland. A presumed impact victim, the juvenile female was not
standing in the carrier when she arrived at the clinic, and she had head and spinal
trauma. Although her left shoulder seemed tender and she had a wing droop,
radiographs revealed no orthopedic injuries. By December 16, the wing droop
resolved and the hawk was self-feeding very well. With time in the flight cage, the
Sharp-shinned Hawk regained her strength and was ready for release. We thank
volunteer Linda Mullin who transported the hawk to Tri-State and then released her
on January 6 back in the area where she was found.

A third Sharp-shinned Hawk required only one-nights rest at Tri-State before we released her on-site. A
Newark homeowner found the hawk trapped in his screened-in porch. She had slight bruising on her left
shoulder but no other injuries. After receiving pain medications and spending a quiet night in the clinic, the
Sharp-shinned Hawk was released on January 17.
Our colleagues from other rehabilitation facilities often call on us to provide continuing care for birds that may
need specialized treatment and housing. Such was the case for a Snow Goose that came to us from the Raptor
Trust in New Jersey on January 5. The adult female had minor wounds and feather soiling plus a few broken
flight feathers. While the goose was under anesthesia, Dr. Cristin Kelley cleaned and sutured her wounds and
implanted new feathers to replace broken primary feathers. After ensuring the implanted feathers were
holding and her waterproofing was good, we placed the goose in a large flight cage on January 13. Once we
confirmed that her feather condition and flight skills were good, we arranged for volunteer Dennis Davis to
release the Snow Goose in Smyrna on January 15.
Another quick-turnaround patient was the Red-throated Loon that
came to us on January 10 after a mislanding in Mays Landing,
New Jersey. A passerby found the adult male by the side of the
road and brought it into the Tri-State Bird clinic. The bird was
stressed on arrival, but he had no fractures or injuries other than
abrasions on his cere, beak, and feet. After observing the loon
swimming in the tub, we ascertained that the birds
waterproofing was good, allowing us to move him to an outside
pool. By January 12, the Red-throated Loon had recovered from
his injuries, and he was eating well, diving, and preening.
Red-throated Loon

Staff Photo

Volunteer Sharyn Fagone released him in Middletown.

OTHER RELEASES IN JANUARY
In January, we also released a Bald Eagle, a Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Screech Owls, Turkey Vultures, Black
Vultures, a Northern Gannet, a Great-blue Heron, Ring-billed Gulls, a Herring Gull, a Carolina Wren, a Tufted
Titmouse, a White-throated Sparrow, and an American Robin.

Monthly Flyer, February 2016

FEATURED BIRD: HAIRY WOODPECKER

The Hairy Woodpecker is one of the most widely distributed woodpeckers
in North America. A black and white bird similar in size to the American
Robin, the Hairy Woodpecker ranges from about 8-1/2 to 10-1/2 inches
long. It has a heavy black bill that is nearly as long as the head is deep, a
black nape, black shoulders, and a white face with a black malar mark.
The black wings have white spotting and the tail is black, although the
outermost feathers on each side are entirely white. The males have a red
occipital patch.
Insects make up 75 percent of the Hairy Woodpeckers diet, particularly
the larvae of wood-boring beetles and bark beetles. This bird also eats
fruit and seeds, and you can entice it to your backyard with suet and
sunflower seeds.
Forming monogamous pairs, some Hairy Woodpeckers have been known
to stay together for several years. They have one brood of three to six
young a year and excavate cavities in live trees as high as 60 feet off the
Photo by Russ Carlson
ground. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The cavity is often in
a branch or stub that isnt perfectly vertical, with the entrance hole on the underside. This location may help
keep flying squirrels and sapsuckers from trying to take over the hole. If the hairys use any nesting material,
they typically layer wood chips at the bottom of the cavity. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the young
once they hatch. The nestling woodpeckers remain in the nest for up to 30 days.
One of the challenges of bird identification is distinguishing between the Hairy Woodpecker and its near-twin,
the Downy Woodpecker. Downys are smaller, and they have short, stubby black bills. The white outer tail
feathers, in contrast to the hairy, are spotted or barred. Visit Project FeederWatch (http://bit.ly/1QAlT4x) for
more tips on how to distinguish between the Hairy and the Downy Woodpecker.
Hairy Woodpeckers live at sea level and in mountainous areas up to 6,500 feet high. They are common visitors
to a variety of habitats, including all types of forests, forest edges, ponds, swamps, and of course your own
backyard. Listen for the down-slurred whinny of the Hairy Woodpecker or its sharp peek call. Learn more about
the Hairy Woodpecker at the Cornell Lab of Ornithologys All About Birds Web site, www.allaboutbirds.org, as well
as in Birds of North America, published by the Smithsonian Institution, or your own favorite birding book.
JOIN THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
You still have plenty of time to learn how you can take part in this years Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC),
which is scheduled from Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15. This joint project of the Cornell
Ornithology Lab and the National Audubon Society offers families, students, and bird lovers of all ages the
opportunity to make an important contribution to conservation.
You dont even need to leave the comfort of your home. Count birds in your own
backyard and report sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Online resources at this
website include tips on identifying birds and materials for teachers and students.
Spend as little as 15 minutes counting birds on one or more of the designated dates.
The more people who participate, the better the information scientists will have about
how bird populations may be changing over time due to habitat loss, climate change,
disease, or other factors.

White-breasted Nuthatch
Photo by Kim Steininger

At Tri-State Bird Rescue, we see many birdsmost of them injured, ill, or orphaned.
This is your opportunity to see healthy birds in their native habitat. Dont miss it!
When you take part in the GBBC, you will not only be enriching your own knowledge
of birds, you also will be helping provide data to the ornithologists who study bird
populations, migration, and conservation throughout the year.

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

GET MODOVATED!
Tri-State announces a brand-new initiative to help our most vulnerable avian patients. We invite you to
become a MODO! Not a Mourning Dove, but a MOnthly DOnor. Your recurring gift will provide a steady
resource for our patients to receive the best care. Your credit or debit card is automatically deducted each
monthsafely, securely, and hassle-free. This program is a safe, easy, and efficient way to support Tri-State.
Why should you become a MODO?

To save writing and mailing a check

To ensure your donation goes farther

To give at a higher, manageable level

To help save birds lives

All donors receive this

exclusive sticker.

You control what you give and you can change your monthly donation amount any time. Through your
personal donor account, you can update your payment information or schedule. Youll receive an automatic
Tri-State membership at the respective level when you begin your monthly donations, along with your MODO
sticker. Plus, all of your charitable donation receipts for tax purposes are emailed to you automatically.
Get MODOvated and join our recurring donor flock today! Visit https://triestatebird.org/modo/ to sign up and
help us save birds lives. If you have any questions, call Duke Doblick at (302) 737-9543, extension 108.
LEAP DAY TV RAFFLE
Make Leap Year 2016 a special one and take a chance on winning a
gently used 46-inch Sony Bravia HD-TV and a PolkAudio SurroundBar
6000 Instant Home Theater. (The TV wall-mounting bracket is
included.) Tri-State is raffling off these outstanding electronics on
Leap Day, Monday, February 29, 2016, at 12 p.m. The value of these
prizes is approximately $2,000.
You can buy one chance for $5 or get three chances for $10.
Tickets are available in the Tri-State volunteer office, by e-mailing
ddoblick@tristatebird.org, or by calling Duke Doblick at (302) 7379543, extension 108. If you fill them out at Tri-State, put your purchased tickets in an envelope and drop it in
Dukes mailbox (check or exact change preferred) or bring them to the development office. All proceeds from
this raffle will be added to the 2015 Yard Sale profits and help us save birds lives. Good luck!
VOLUNTEER ANNIVERSARIES FOR FEBRUARY
22 years: Mary Birney and Mark Cameron 18 years: Roger Suro 17 years: Lucinda Peterson and
Perrie Lee Prouty 16 years: Liz Gontarz 15 years: Barbara Nichols and Al Ware 14 years: Sam Crothers
13 years: Dave and Donna Houchin 12 years: Rosann Ferraro, Eileen Mills, and Mary Milroy 11 years:
Cindy Ahern, Joan Beatty, Doug and Arlene Reppa 10 years: Valna Persak 9 years: Linda Amundsen,
Janice Brink, Sharyn Fagone, Rob Romeo, and Gail Schrenk 8 years: Terri Heagy 7 years: Betty Sharon
6 years: Gail Heath 5 years: Dan Cotterman 2 years: Marty Allen and Bill and JoAnne Rosenfeld

Monthly Flyer, February 2016

JOIN US FOR TRI-STATES OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 1

Tri-States 2016 Open House, presented by WSFS Bank, is just a few
months 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 2nd 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.

Photo by Russ Carlson

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.

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.
Winter/Spring Information Sessions: February 27; March 5, 12, and 19; 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.
Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, Sunday, April 10, 2 p.m. Please join us for our annual celebration
of you! This event will include distribution of the coveted volunteer awards and a fabulous free-flight bird show
by Phung Luu and Jackie Kozlowski. We will share more details in upcoming issues of the Monthly Flyer.
Open House, Sunday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. See article above 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.
Save the date, mark your calendar, reserve your tickets, and buy a dress or rent a tux. Its not too early to get
excited for this momentous occasion! More details to follow in upcoming issues of the Monthly Flyer and on
the Tri-State website (www.tristatebird.org).