Forcing Avis
Avis, after medication, feeding, and a face-wash, June 29. Her eyes are bright, she's getting stronger and more uppity all the time, and that's what counts.June 29 (Thursday). I've been force-feeding Avis since midday yesterday. She's had two doses of Zithromax, some leftover antibiotic from one of Liam's bouts of pharyngitis. I kept it in the refrigerator thinking I might get a bird that needed it this summer. Forcing this little spirit to eat and drink is horrible. She's all mucky looking and hates being handled. I hate handling her, so we're even. I'm working in the studio around noon when I hear a small thunk, and I peek over to see Avis pecking a mealworm out of her dish. It's the first food she's taken of her own volition since the night of the 27th. Left to her own devices, she'd be dead now. For whatever reason. I may never know. But I have a suspicion that whatever is wrong with her, it's addressed by the antibiotic.
It's possible, I suppose, that she wasn't really ready to be released, and lacked the instinct to hunt on her own, and just got run down. But I can't reconcile that conclusion with her behavior in the fledging tent, which was to catch everything that flew by and eat mealworms from a pie plate. Why would that behavior cease when she was released? (Luther did regress, but not to the point that he lost interest in food. No, Luther's REAL interested in food. He just wants me to pop out of the house and administer it every couple of hours.) Maybe she had something bugging her on a low level, and when she was released, the stress and night out in the cold without much food to burn left her vulnerable to it. She had had a bout of anorexia as a young nestling, which I treated with a single dose of Zithromax--not wanting to burn out her digestive tract. She picked right up after the one dose. In retrospect, talking with my rehab-whiz friend Astrid, I probably should have given her a full course of antibiotics. Maybe it was festering the whole time, and took release time as its chance to strike her down. Dunno. Dunno nothin'. All I know is that I won't let her die, no way, nohow.
And so now it's June 30, noon, and Avis is still in the pet carrier, facing out the studio window so she can watch for Luther. The window is open so she can call to him, and he to her. I have mealworms and water in there, and I'm watching her papers to be sure that she's defecating regularly, for that's how I'll know she's eating. She's just had her third dose of Zithromax. I have no idea what the proper dosage of this drug would be. Let's see. Liam weighs 49 pounds and he gets a teaspoonful. Avis weighs what? An ounce? Two? So how do I divide a teaspoon into a portion that tiny? I just get the smallest drop I can in a dropper and pump it in. And it seems to be working. She's bright-eyed, perching well, not trembling, hard as hell to catch even in the carrier; she slips out and zooms around the little aviary and I catch her in midflight like a cat swooping a butterfly from the air. Not so fast, Missy. You have some more R & R coming your way. I'll watch her, give her a fourth dose in the morning, and turn her out into the fledging tent to try again. She's improved immeasurably in the time she's been confined. Now to see if she'll feed herself in the fledging tent, and then work on a re-release. I know Luther is going to be happy about that! Thank God I'm not traveling this month!
Luther comes in for subsidy, June 29. I had a hand-raised hummingbird named Adventure Joe who used to sit on this very plant support. I'm flashing back! Photo by my darlin' hubband.Meanwhile, Luther is having a ball out in the big world. I awoke at 5:15 this morning and went out to see where he might be roosting. I called softly and heard an immediate answer from a tall ash tree by our driveway. He wouldn't come down. An hour later I went out, called his name again, and received a chip in response, followed by a begging call. It's uncanny--I have only to call Luther's name, and he answers back exactly as a young bird would answer its mother's location call. I call, he chips--and I locate him, just as his mother would. He flew down to my hand, accepted a mealworm, and went about his business. When he lands on my hand he's so light I can hardly feel him. And my heart is so light it floats on air.
Luther opens wide! Photo by Bill "Shutterbig" Thompson, III.
posted by Julie Zickefoose @ 9:07 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
I am glad you are pulling Avis through this. She may not like being force feed or held but we don't always like what is best for us, so why would this precious creature be any different. I hope all goes well with the second release. Lori
A few winters ago a Boreal Owl was spotted at a nature center in Minneapolis. The nature center was mobbed by birders from all over the U.S. to see this rare owl.
Eventually the nature center people began to feed the owl mice. Of course the people at the nature center gave the owl a name, there were posted feeding times for the public to watch the owl pounce on the store bought mice. The nature center even built a feeding platform for the owl. The owl stayed at this nature center till mid April.
I was totally against everything the nature center did to use this owl to get more people to visit the center and of course all the money they got from all the people that visited this nature center.
This owl never hunted on its own and was basically converted into a pet! Since the owl was so attracted to the people giving it mice all the time it stayed and missed migrating north to breed.
I am afraid the more I read about these phoebes and how they are trained to come to you by your voice to feed or to perch on your hand (Luther) the more they act like pets.
As a professional birder who does a lot of guiding in Minnesota and Colorado I see injured birds from time to time in the field and I just let nature takes its course. If I see a snake grab a egg out of nest, then so be it. I saw a sharp-shinned Hawk nab a Blue Jay in our yard. I could of chased the hawk away since the Blue Jay was still alive and screaming but I decided NOT to interfere and watch the hawk devour the jay instead. That is just my approach to not interfere.
If everyone were of Mike's opinion, letting nature take its course would soon mean that the human species would overrun the world. With habitat shrinking everywhere and human ignorance and apathy growing with every passing year, the work Julie is doing is of vital importance. She touches so many lives, wild creatures and humans alike. With the images and words on this blog,as well as with her books, paintings, lectures,etc., she is teaching us that every life is sacred. Avis and Luther would have died when their home was destroyed if she had not been willing to devote so much time to caring for them, was that nature's way or human error? By detailing their story online she is educating her readers to seek a rehabber, and offering good information to rehabbers who may not have raised phoebes before. Heck, I've only seen a phoebe once in the wild; I'm THRILLED to know that there are 2 more out there because of one woman's diligent attentions.
For every egg that hatches because of a milk crate raccoon baffle, for every turtle that makes it across the road with a little boost, for every hummingbird and phoebe that flies free above Indigo Hill, thank you Julie.
I agree with Jemkagily! Hi Julie, I know you don't remember me but I'm Christine and met you at your talk at the National Zoo in DC in April (I mentioned how much I also loved the movie "The Three Lives of Thomasina")! I have been reading your blog ever since and actually have come to craving it, either first thing in the morning or before I go to bed. I used to work at the National Wildlife Federation many moons ago as a lowly Admin Assistant. I remember my interview with the head of the environmental quality division and he wanted my views on animal management and I said I had thought the human species had done so much damage to the natural world that I didn't see how we couldn't intervene when we saw a need. He smiled and asked me when I wanted to start! I certainly also understand Mike's soap box reasoning. But if you read Julie's blog and her writings on her website you will see that she has a great track record and that the babies always seem to hang around for a while but then they DO eventually go on their own wonderful wild ways, maybe making a stop back to say hello every now and then. Keep up the good and exhausting work Julie!
Dear Mike:
I understand your concerns about turning wild creatures into pets. There is a fine line in rehabbing between nurturing a wild thing for itself and corrupting it into something it was never meant to be. Good rehabbers know this, and do everything in their power to avoid dependency and foster independence in their charges. I believe Julie knows where this line is and does her best not to cross it.
Naming a wild creature and personalizing it may be the beginning of that slippery slope. Pure scientists number their study subjects, but rehabbers by nature invest something of themselves into each life they care for, and I think we can forgive them some anthropomorphic quirks in return for the good works they do.
Letting nature take its course is often the best choice. I do not advocate pulliing bunnies and fawns out of the field just because one thinks they are "abandoned." When the Cooper's Hawk takes a bird from my feeder, I am sad for the loss of life, but I also know the Coop has a right to live, and may be feeding young of its own - I do not interfere with the natural cycle of life.
But, when Nature is disturbed by humans (in this case, phoebes who lost their home when a shed was torn down) then I think humans owe it to Nature to pay her back. That's where rehabbers come in. If they can rehabilitate a bird or animal and get it back into the wild to fulfill its role, then haven't they contributed positively to the course of Nature? If your Boreal Owl had been hit by a car, wouldn't you have wanted a raptor rehab group to intervene in an attempt to save it's life and its genes for future generations? When the Exxon Valdez dumped oil all over the Alaskan coastline, would you have preferred we let "Nature take its course," rather than calling in rehabbers to salvage the animals they could?
As for that owl, yes, I would have been opposed to hand-feeding it and commercializing it, as you were. However, are you certain it was the nature center practices that prevented it from migrating? Using that theory, I should have Dark-eyed Juncoes in my yard all sunmmer and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the winter. I don't, despite the fact that I maintain seed feeders year 'round and leave up the necter feeders till it frosts in the fall. Despite a free and easy food source, these and other birds migrate according to their own internal clocks; I can't make them stay by providing a birdie buffet.
As well as the good Julie has done by saving 2 Eastern Phoebes, she has done much more good by telling their story and maybe converting a few more souls into people who appreciate the beauty and mystery of Nature. Maybe they will start to think about conservation, recycling, pollution, etc. and we will all come closer to a better world. (A lot of hope is resting on the wings of Avis and Luther, and the shoulders of one busy lady!)
Kathi, stepping off her soapbox
I have seen the good work Julie does first hand. After a storm a couple years ago broke a large branch out of one of our trees we discovered a hummingbird nest with babies. I had no idea what to do with them and eventually came into contact with Julie. See told me to place the nest where mom might find it and to watch it for a couple hours. Mom never came back and I took the nest and babies to Julie. She named and raised these two babies along with two other hummer babies that were orphaned in the same storm. Three of the four hummingbirds lived to enjoy the world and visited her the next year. The other one (Buzz) was injured sometime after fledging and she took care of him until he died. Julie always gives the parents a chance to reclaim the babies if possible. She only intervenes when there is no other choice but death. I think what Julie does is a great service to the wild population of song birds. Don't let people like Mike discourage you. Lori
I'm so sorry to hear that Avis is having troubles. What joy to hear Luther acting just like a baby should -- pushing away from "Mom" but still hanging around nearby. Thanks for the updates.
As for the comments of Mike about Julie's rehabbing efforts. It strikes me that a careful reading of the posts about the baby Pheobes would show that Julie is NOT turning them into pets. If she were, she'd have found a dozen reasons not to open that flight tent door and let them out and it wouldn't have happened.
Hello Julie, I have encouraged my ten year old son to start a blog. I am (on my own) peeking at some blogs that he can communicate with. Yours looks beautiful as well as your art work. My son is an avid animal/nature lover. He has recently become interested in the American Kestrel. He seems to be picking up the blogging on his own. It is the first time I have seen him WANT to write. If you feel like popping over and saying Hi I know he would get a thrill out of it.
http://www.reidscl.blogspot.com/
All the best to you,
Gwen R
Mike: Do you even READ Julie's blog?
Please give us a break, okay? What Julie and other dedicated people like her do is a blessing to this human-dominated world. She is a great person who cares and who is doing something for wildlife. You make it sound like she charges admission.
By the way, are you the dude who dissed Chet Baker a while back? Better watch it, man...Gotta talk nice while you are here.
I knew fully well if I question Julie Z on her rehabbing the phoebes some of her loyal fans would get upset. Just like when I poked fun of her dog. Some of you guys got so damn weird about it. it was like a broke some commandment. Thou shall not talk negative of Chet in this blog.
I have a PET dog name Bear who is a Siberian Husky. When I yell out "Bear" Bear comes to me by the sound of my voice. Julie Z. makes a noise and "Luther" responds and flies to her and lands on her hand.( read last blog entry)
When Bear wants to get outside and relax he goes into the house. When Luther needs to escape the outdoors he flies into the screen tent. My dog stays in the yard. Julie's Luther stays in the yard.
YES rehabbing is a great for birds but there is time to stop feeding the bird you just released and let it be. Let it fend for itself and hunt by itself. No more calling it to see where it is, no more asking it to land on your hand to feed it. Yes I have a right to question this. I had no idea this blog was ONLY for loyal fans of Julie and you must only praise Julie and her family.
Yes I poked fun of her dog and Julie took in stride and emailed me about my comments. Some of you guys lavish over her so much its a bit silly. Its as though your own lives were so unblanced you wish you could live a life like Julie's family. Frankly I have a great family, a beautiful house in the suburbs, I have tons of gardens (working on my master gardening certificate) and several species of birds nesting all around my house.
Some of you guys need to loosen up some.
Julie Z backed Mike Collins on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker sighting in the Pearl River this past spring and that is how I found this blog. On Mike Collin's website. Of course I disagree with Julie's views on Mike Collins video but that topic is being debated on bird forum.
Well its time to get the barbeque going and cook up some shrimp and lobster.
Happy Fourth of July and good birding to all
I'm glad to see Avis is improving... I just had to stop in before retiring for the night to see if she was doing OK.
Our 2nd round of bluebirds is starting to hatch. There were 2 in the nest today, with 2 more eggs to go.
As far as the rehab controversy goes... Mike, I think you're missing the point that this is *Julie's* blog, and therefore poking fun at Chet and being aggressively critical in your opinion of the phoebe's rehab is setting yourself up for getting a backlash. It's like walking into someone's home and being antagonistic.
I'm glad we have local rehabbers who are licensed to keep permanently injured birds, bats, etc. In keeping them alive and using them in presentations, it gives many of us a chance to see a creature we may never otherwise see up close. I'm glad Julie chose to show the story of the phoebe's rehab - it's not a process I'd be able to see in my own life. It sounds like all her other rehabs flew the coop successfully... no reason to think Avis and Luther won't do the same.
We had finch parents build a nest in our fuschia basket this year. The little ones hatched and fledged sooooo fast. BUT the younguns' still hang out bugging mom and dad for bugs in our yard. It is so very funny. The parenting never stops does it? We have 3 boys in college who are home for the summer (along with girlfriends off and on). You can get them to leave the nest but they come back, and back and back. We also have nests of swallows and swifts. Now THOSE parents WORK!! My husband and I have it easy in comparison! The parenting never stops.
Don't stop parenting, Julie. We love it, it's good for the birds and other small animals and I might add, good for our souls. Karma bounces.
I am sending this email with no intent other than to inform
I just spent the scariest week of my life with breathing shortness ( I could barely walk to the next room without
running out of breath)
Turns out I had a severe and COMMON allergic reaction to my sons mealworm farm.
We have kept mealworms for about a month to not only feed my sons lizards, but to compliment
the sunflower seeds, thistle, suet and other seeds we feed wild birds in our yard.
After 3 hospital visits,
I was properly diagnosed and treated with steroids, I am still a bit short of breath
but improving.
I should note, I do not have asthma, and have never smoked.
Tonight I am doing research on this and find it very common
I also found your website stating mealworms are a good food item for birds.
I am not sure I am ready to set out on a campaign to educate the world.
But, I felt when I saw you website I owed it to people to at least share this info. with someone.
You may want to read http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13994811
or search Google for mealworm allergy or mealworm asthma
Its up to you if you pass this info. along to anyone.
I feel better knowing I have shared it.
No need to reply back
Sincerely,
Jon
Jon Van Buren
651-638-2222
Fax 651-638-2221
www.ImprintItems.com
Julie,
I have enjoyed reading about the phoebes. We have some that nest above our bedroom window. I can't wait to find time to look at your water colors.
Please update! I've only just found your wonderful blog!
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What a beautiful life you have. I absolutely loved looking through your blog. I love birds and envy your interaction with them.
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