We had just passed through Port Townsend heading west when I spotted a small brown object on the roadside. My curiosity got the best of me as I pulled over, opened the door, and walked back to what I thought was a small brownish bird – a roadkill, no doubt. When I stooped down and picked up the feathery mass, it lay limp in the palm of my hand. Then an eye opened! Then the other. It was stunned, but certainly not dead. What an amazing creature! This small owl, a Northern Saw-whet is common in NW Washington, but not frequently seen. Here I was holding one in the palm of my hand. Then it stood up and looked at me. Soft, tender, precious, and utterly amazing! What a privilege! It was not long until my new friend spread its wings and swooped to a nearby bush where it continued to recover from its brush with death.
I have had other amazing encounters with avian friends. A few years ago, at Pacific Rim Institute when pheasants, chickens, and ducks were kept in the coops next to Parker Road, it was not unusual for hungry large owls and hawks to find holes in the protective netting. On one occasion a Great-horned Owl entered on what was clearly a feeding mission. Once discovered, I grabbed my salmon net, entered the cage, and netted the owl. One must be careful to avoid the business ends – talons and beak! Once in the net, I took the owl out of the pen, chastised it for its bad (but normal) behavior, and released it.
I have had other experiences with amazing large birds. On one Audubon trip I co-led to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with my friend Dr. Dave Parent, we encountered a very large bird huddled over a snake in the middle of the highway. We exited the car and approached the Golden Eagle. It attempted to fly from the road with its prey but could not gain altitude and landed nearby. We grabbed a blanket and were able to cover the eagle, subdue it, and get it into the car. Dave is a vet with a license to treat injured birds in Washington, but not Oregon. We connected with a raptor rehabilitator in Bend where we took the eagle. A careful analysis showed severe burns on one wing from the power line near the capture site. The bird could not be saved. What a magnificent creature – collateral damage, electrocution from our energy network.
I have been “on call” for a couple local vet offices when they receive a report of an injured large bird. On two occasions, the injured bird was a Bald Eagle. One was at Deer lagoon when my salmon net again came in handy. It was courting season, and the injured eagle was not at the top of the peck order. The breeding season can be brutal, and injuries often occur. In this case they were minor, and the eagle, once treated by the vet, was released. On yet another occasion, another injured Bald Eagle was reported near the Coupeville transfer station. It was not in good shape, also a victim of electrocution where it lay under the power line. The eagle was taken to Pacific Rim Institute, and we notified the proper authorities. The remains of such birds eventually go to the local tribes that use the feathers and other body parts in their cultural ceremonies, thus completing a circle of life and eliminating the tribal need to obtain healthy living birds!
Collateral damage. The major causes of bird mortality include free-roaming feral cats and our pets that we allow outdoors. It is estimated that cats kill 2.4 billion birds a year in the U.S. Collisions with human structures (lighted tall buildings during migration and windows in our homes) take another 1 billion! As stewards, these are areas we can address. Keep our cats indoors and do not support catch, neuter, and release programs for feral cats. Do not support or be involved with feeding stations for feral cats!!! Buildings can be designed to minimize window strikes and lights can be turned off on tall buildings during migration. If you have birds striking your windows at home, check out the numerous suggestions online to reduce window strikes. Working together, we can make a difference. Remember Christ words in Matthew 6:26: “consider the birds of the air”. Christ is not telling us to just casually glance at them – but to give them our special attention.
Our prayer: Oh Lord… We face many choices in our lives. And often those choices are to provide more comfort for us. But we ask you for wisdom to make decisions that also reflect Your and our love for Your incredible Creation. We are so blessed – but that blessing must be passed on.
Thanks for listening.
— Joe Sheldon
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