How Big Al Got His Name

As promised, the story of Big Al. He was the littlest that came to me, a title held until him by the precious Lawnmower Girl.

When you first get them you're not sure what really happened to them -- were they hurt by a fall from the nest or a scramble with a predator? Were they a runt of the litter, or born with some defect and the mother left them behind? Were they fed something by well meaning people who found them before they got them to us that unwittingly caused problems? It's hard to know, but you learn to look for signs, and often there are signs you can't read. You take the baby on and in my case, observe, call for advice, wake up 10 times a night to check on them, use available medicines if needed, and celebrate the victory of each gram gained and each day of healing until you have a rambunctious, bright eyed little critter, ready to go enjoy their life in the wild. This process has brought me such joy, even though I have paid a personal price -- which I'll write about at some point. For this post, I intend to share the joy... as that is what I had in abundance in rehabbing baby squirrels.

Besides being tiny when I first got him, he moved in s-l-o-w motion. I certainly expected this to mean he was weak. But I was quite AMAZED at the strength with which he held on to my thumb with both his little hairless paws. And that will to live is worth any lost sleep, and all that it took to get him well. Oh please click on any picture to see it bigger. I"m sorry it's a bit out of focus but I am not a great one handed picture taker.

His skin was kind of yellow, like my dad's (who was Mediterranean), and he was strong as a bull, even with his eyes closed and in a vulnerable state, which was exactly how I'd describe my dad in his last three years of his life (he had some neurological problems that did not allow him to open his eyes). And for some reason he had a thick lower lip, which became more pronounced when he was sucking down his milk. You guessed it, Dad did a little of that too.

My dad's name was Albert, and sometimes guys who dated his daughters would refer to him as Big AL, as he was quite intimidating back in the day. Perhaps because this one was so teeny, I thought Big AL was totally fitting.

When I picked him up from his little bed to bring him to the chair in which I fed him he would hunt around jerkily with his little nose, looking all over "mom" for the source of the milk. It just endeared me to the baby even more. Here is a little video of it. 



I just love seeing that again.

He had a sensitive digestive system that I worked hard to balance. He was not an easy eater. Though he clearly had an appetite, he often would not open his mouth when the syringe nipple was right at his lips. It was a real trick to get him to open up. Once he finally latched on, he'd try to swallow the whole thing, always straining toward it instead of just relaxing and settling in to nurse. And just as I did get him drinking -- by which time I was often contorted into some really painful position but was not going to move till he was done -- he'd inexplicably pull away from the nipple after only half a cc, then hunt wildly for it again!

I aimed for 3-4 cc's every 4 hours but he would only drink 2cc's -- at best. So I began feeding Al every two hours to compensate experimenting with different strengths of formula and temperatures to see if it would help. Nothing really did. *Sigh*

It was always tough, but eventually he'd have his fill and snuggle up in my hand, content. And I would feel relief and satisfaction -- for at least a few hours before starting all over again. This went on day after day but indeed, he put on weight. and the hair on his back began to grow, which looked different (as did the color on his nose) from the squirrels I'd been raising. His fur looked silky (see above pic) but was more coarse than soft like the others.  And I still couldn't explain the yellow skin.

After three days it dawned on me that he was yellow instead of pink because I had a Red or Fox Squirrel here. Sure enough his little forearms began to sprout reddish hair, followed by a little tuft of red on his chin. I had never had a Fox who was so young before ... and this is how you learn, lol.

Big Al made me better understand parents who love their good kids and the ones who cause trouble/heartache/incredible sacrifice. The good ones are, well--good. Easy to love. The ones who are tough you have to work harder with,. They may tax and vex you but you don't give up on them. And that makes you realize how much you love them too. Hopefully that love is felt and taken in. Every time I looked down at Big Al finally asleep in my hand, I hoped somehow, in his little squirrel way, he indeed felt loved.

Meet Big Al

A little Fox squirrel who, in his own way, crept into my heart.

He was so little.

Made me smile...

A LOT!




I will post much more about him, but for today, a picture... one that needs no words.

Good Product

Commenter Teri and the Cats of Furrydance recommended a product in the comment area of THIS POST and it is such a good thing I thought I'd post it here.

It's called Snuggle Safe and it's a microwaveable heating pad for pets that won't burn them but will stay warm for about 12 hours. She endorses it, and that's enough for me. I have put rice into an athletic sock and heated it up to travel with baby squirrels that can't regulate their body temp when young... It also feels like an adult squirrel so I have put those in with solo baby squirrels so they don't feel all alone in a big, dark world. But that only lasts about 45 minutes. This looks ideal for elderly as well as newborn pets of all kinds, and everything inbetween.

Thank you to commenter Laurie for her expert research. One common Pet store has them for $39 but she found them for only $24 at THIS SITE... or see the link below.

http://www.entirelypets.com/snugglesafe.html

Thank you to both of you! Keep those tips comin' please.

Microwave pic is from entirelypets.com Pic of disc alone is from Amazon.com

Tres Amigos

I got to The Park, finally. For the first time in a long time I went for a walk by myself and reveled in all the things that have always nourished me there. I used to go several times a week and enjoy the water, the trees, and all the critters. I've been so busy -- and adding rehabbing baby squirrels at home has barely left me energy to brush my teeth let alone get "me time" like a meandering hour in nature. But it is just the thing to revive a tired gal, and I will try to go again very soon.

To spare you seeing only squirrel pictures for the next few thousand posts, I took a picture of three new ducks I'd never seen before. They made a handsome trio and if I were a duck I think I might want to join their little gang.

Too bad you know who wasn't standing in the middle and we could come up with all kinds of nicknames for them like The Reverse Oreos or Piano Keys or something like that. I guess the latter could still apply....

I love the little poof of feathers on the top of the black one's head. Such a Dandy that one.

Ah, Such Sweetness!

The newest baby squirrel, who I've had for about 8 days, is a little girl Gray. Half her tail and half her left foot was cut off by a lawnmower when she was just past the pinkie stage... barely an infant. I just had to show you her sweet little face... I can tell you how much she looks like a little puppy but this one shows it I think. A tad blurred, as she's so small I couldn't even get my macro setting to fully focus!


And my blog pal, commenter Margo, sent me a stuffed dog toy that made a realistic squirrel mommy for this orphaned little one to snuggle up to. Since she's so small and has these injuries, I don't want to take a chance putting her in a box on a heating pad as you can with little critters. I am keeping her in a tank that's got an expensive heat regulated top, but that leaves a REALLY big space for her to fumble around in. NOT the secure, warm, cuddly feeling squirrels like. And with no little squirrel sibs or buddies to curl up to, I'm telling you this was the perfect thing. Every time I look now, she's curled up to the squirrel you sent me Margo. Thank you so much.


Here she is with her nose tucked under "Mom's" tail.


And kind of spooning against "Mom's" belly. Just two of the many ways I've peeked in and seen her curled up to this toy. As she's gotten a little stronger, she's crawled up and over and even completely under it. You can see these are later pictures because she is certainly bigger and has the start of white fur on her chest.

But here's how small she was when I got her. Notice the wide smooth baby belly, pink skin, no fur on her arms or tummy at all. And that white stuff is wound medicine on her tail and foot. This is one to click to enlarge. :-)She made little kicking motions with her feet and tiny little squeaks and noises of content when I fed her. It amazes me how much she resembles human babies in this way. I don't have any kids, but boy, I think I am getting my fill of all those maternal, I'm-in-love-with-my-baby feelings.

It's been so much fun watching her grow every day, and develop the ability to suck, attempt to crawl and see her ears pop off her head, then develop. First her chin got some fur, then the littlest coating of it covered her little arms and legs, then her some sprouted on her tail, and finally, I am seeing a little white fur coming up on her chest. The tummy gets fur last. She smells so sweet, she's warm, and so incredibly soft -- really, there are no words to describe it. And she is completely innocent and vulnerable. How can you not be in love with all that?

Sleep tight little girl, you are safe, and warm, and cared for. Sleep and heal and grow.

Proof

....that Avocado is like CRACK to Squirrels...


I fed this one little Fox/Red some and he devoured it with all the attendant snorts and wild grabbing at it with his little paws. When it was over, this is what I saw:

Notice the green, sticky fingers. This could be any kid with chocolate ice cream all over them.
YOU MUST CLICK ON THIS PIC TO ENLARGE IT TO GET THE FULL MONTY!!!
After this, I learned to buy the ones that are less ripe and give it to them in cubes that were not so messy.

It's the tail end of baby squirrel season, and my new role as a temporary in-home rehabber, officially sub licensed, has been both a joy and a privilege. It has also hijacked my life and worn on me the way only motherhood can. *taking a moment to bow to all mothers*

I at least would have posted more pictures with short little hellos but I ran into some technical difficulties that I have now solved.

I will write more soon.

Sleep Clinic

From the Too Good to Not Repeat Department: from August 2009

Squirrels amuse me to no end. And gobble up my heart hook, line and sinker. They are just so darn sweet AND funny. Here are some glimpses into what I've seen over the last 18 days raising this little Gray. He started out weighing 55 grams, and ended up at 130 g over the course of these pictures.

To start with, a normal looking pose..... a few days after I got him. Here was already putting on weight and eating more vigorously. Sleeping like a little angel.


Sometimes I'd open the lid and see him just plain crashed out. Zzzzzz


Fuzzy white belly full of milk. He grew so much between meals that clearly his cells were doing important work when he slept like this. I literally could see that his tail hair had grown longer, or that his ears had suddenly popped up from being pinned to his little head, or that the pads on his paws had gotten fuller from morning to the noon meal.

Having just stretched his legs waaaaay out... Like an adolescent boy, his feet got big first. If you saw the little yawn that goes with this kind of thing, you'd keel over from cuteness overload.


I call this the Keith Haring pose.


One of my favorites. The ankles crossed, the big tootsies. His pink little mouth, how soft and furry his little chest and chin and forearms are. And we won't make any comments about other visible body parts....


From his first box, he grew to being in a heated tank. Since he had no buddies, I put a stuffed kitty in there with him. Clearly, he liked it. The squirrel isn't in the middle of climbing here. No, he's fast asleep.


I have been giving him nut eating lessons (that needs to be a whole post of it's own), but he just doesn't seem to understand the stuff in the bowl is to eat. I died laughing when I found him passed out with his face in the food, like a drunk in his beer. You can click on any picture to see it larger... This one might be the one to do that with.


Lastly, just this morning I went over to look and this is what I saw. He opened his eyes a little as I snuck the lens under his "roof". I lied, you need to click to make this one larger too.

If they are this funny when asleep, no wonder they are so entertaining when they're awake. I hope this has made my case, or at least, made you smile today.

Sorry Folks!

I usually post every day -- or every other day-- but I've come down with some kind of flu and just have not been able to post... Will be back in a few days I hope, so please keep checking in. Hope you ALL are well. I hear this thing is going around.

Mr. Personality

I have mentioned someone who I volunteer with at the Rehab Center that we affectionately call Uncle Bill. Not because he is like an uncle to us... no, to the animals he cares for.

I adore Bill myself. Just took an instant liking to him. He comes in and works hard... took on the outside stalls called mews where we keep all the little ducklings that come in, the songbirds that are transitioning from fledgelings to adulthood, gulls, herons, geese, etc... and further back in the yard there are a few fenced in pens, that can have anything from the baby goat and little pigs to alligators. Uncle Bill cares for them all no matter how scorching it is, no matter that he is sloshed in duck poop and slimy fishy water. He takes his time and he is gentle with the animals. We are not to treat them as pets, so as not to imprint them to humans... but Bill spends time with each animal as he goes about his chores. He delights in them -- as many are quite amusing... like this black crown heron that he named Mr. Personality. There are 5 in this pen, but you'll know which one he is.




Before I knew of this name, I had gone in to help clean up the fish they'd had for lunch, and had no idea why that one was going on. I mean, I heard him going on while I attended to the ducks in the pen close to this, so he's not reacting to a person in the pen. At some point I thought to myself, maybe he fell or flew into a window to get to us, and he has suffered some kind of brain damage, lol.

We figure the other ones have no idea what he's going on about, and possibly want him to just STOP. The poor guy to the left is not related to him, but they came in together. We figure he just thinks: "Somehow I got stuck with wacko over here."

If you view it again, U.B. also named the three who stand regally at the top left as the Three Magi's because they stand so stoically, looking upon it all. I think the names are perfect.

What a crack up animals can be. Have you ever seen a black crown heron? And why, I wonder, aren't they black?

Bits and Pieces

BUSY LITTLE HANDS:
A little video I forgot I shot -- oh these little digital snap cameras with their mini movie capability. When I zoom in it takes it's time to focus and makes a strange noise at times. But I get the shot -- there are countless numbers of antics going on every day that I don't catch. I can hardly post the ones I do, so filming quality gets pushed even further down the list...

That said, I still hope to brighten your day. I am finding lately that when I give a squirrel a hard nut, like an almond, 3/4 of the time they bury it. When I give them something soft like a pecan or a walnut, they stay close and chomp it, keeping their eye on me, hoping for another as soon as they can chew it up.

I did catch a little one hopping around to find a spot, digging, pushing the nut in with his mouth and doing a very hearty job of packing down the soil, with one last whiff to either be sure where it is, or maybe be sure no other squirrel could detect it and steal it away....

BIRD UPDATES:
Also -- a vulture update. I told the story of the baby black vulture HERE. Last week I learned he'd gotten so big he was transferred to a big boy cage. Another woman was taking a quick pic so I joined her and did the same. This is for the Grilzzled

Scribe in particular.

In other news, the Chimney Swifts I guess got big enough to be returned to the wild. I have not yet found out how that happens... but I am so glad I got the pictures I did. Don't know when I will come across those again.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN:

And I have gotten my sub-contracting license that allowed me to take home a very sick baby squirrel who came in to the Center Thursday near closing. I had just managed to get a cc of lactated ringer’s solution down him (the fluids that they give for dehydration) and asked who was going to take him home for the evening feedings. The answer was -- you are!

I drove home probably with more care than I have in years, as I had very precious cargo. I am happy to say that he has gotten stronger with each passing day, and watching his progress on an hourly basis, for several days has been an amazing and most rewarding experience. I got him at 55 grams and unable to eat and now he's 73 grams, and quite a joyful eater. I hope to raise him just until his eyes open. Then I feel I can turn him back over with confidence that he will live.

He completely cracks me up, as he conks out in the craziest positions. I will do a little photo post of some of them in the next little while. Until then, here's the little munchkin. I swear these little guys just KILL me! Click on it to see it bigger. Those feet! So CUTE!

We're coming into baby squirrel season so I will have a lot more to feed when I go in to the Center. I just hope nothing happens like last year, where we were struggling to feed over 1200 of these due to Hurricaine Ike. Are you a fan of squirrels?

Check Out the Houston Zoo Website!

Good Morning Everyone!

I have some good news to share. I've begun to write for the Houston Zoo's website, as they have recently started several blogs. I'll be writing some pieces as a docent would for the educational blog, and will be interviewing and profiling other volunteers and staff alike-- there are so many interesting people who are drawn to contribute to the world of animals...

I'm really excited about it, as it's such a natural fit. I have many ideas, and will be looking forward to hunting down new stories, learning and sharing about more animals, and taking photos and BETTER video than I post here to go along with it!

Though I will link here the posts that may be of more interest to you --mainly the ones about cute animals, conservation efforts, habitats, Keepers, etc -- I did want to share this one with you just because it's the first. It's just a little roving reporter bit. That said, you should definitely click on the name TOBY that I mention in it though. He is the brand new red panda at the zoo and he definitely earns the title of Cutest Animal in the World! (after your own dog/cat/hamster/fish/bird that is!).

http://houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/2009/08/everyones-a-winner/

OR JUST CLICK HERE!

And you must know that any comments you leave there would be greatly appreciated. Even just a word or two.

Every Day, Something New

After a fair amount of experience feeding baby birds, I was asked to go to the area what we move them to once they become fledglings and clean and feed those in there. It turned out to be a most enjoyable task. There were only about a dozen tanks in there, filled with birds unfamiliar to me, save the few Blue Jays. The last one on the end held a group of half a dozen soft ash-y black birds, who were making the biggest racket!

I opened the top of the tank and was greeted by an unusual sight: Instead of perching on a branch or standing on the ground, these guys were vertically clutching on to fabric that had been placed along the left side of the tank wall. Their chirps swelled to a crazy cacophony and their mouths opened as they vied for position when I came at them with their soaked science diet cat food on my fake mother's beak -- the kind of scissor handled tweezers I've mentioned in previous posts.


As soon as I was done with this feeding on the end, it was time to replenish my coffers and start a second feeding on those in the first tank. By the time I got to the Chimney Swifts again, one who'd been stuck lower down last time flew forward and attached himself to the pocket of my apron, much like a woodpecker would, where he apparently felt nice and comfy because he was very well behaved.

When I came at him with the food he began flapping his wings to get "Mama's"attention... but otherwise, he sat very patiently and in truth it made it much easier to feed him and the others in the tank.
Just adorable these little beings! Maybe not when they are squawking in your chimney. But when not being fed, you might never know they're there.

These little guys are the color they are to obviously blend in with their environment of choice... the smoky ash-encrusted inside of your chimney. They obviously breed at a time of year when there are no fires burning, and this explains why they grip upright. Yes, they make some noise but they are there for such a short time. And they do you the favor of catching thousands of pesky-to-humans insects.

They used to build in hollow trees but they now choose chimneys due to loss of habitat... and with all the new gas fireplaces, that alternative is also dwindling. If you have any in your chimney, please think twice before you hire someone to shoo them out. They usually just remove the nests and discard these helpless babies! Oh no, that just won't do!

If you click HERE, you can read more about that. Among other useful info it says: "Chimney Swifts are protected by Federal Law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act." and if you hire a company to clean your chimney, you need to find a reputable company whose policy it is to protect the little dears.

I am very curious to know if any of you have ever had or seen them before.

The Great White One

When I lived in Greenwich Village in New York City, there was a great big white dog that I would see on a side street, maybe 4th and 11th, sitting on the top stair of a brownstone, on a leash that was connected to the doorknob INSIDE.

There he could enjoy the breeze and watch the people go by, but would not get away. A good solution for a large and gentle dog. Apartments are small for the most part in the village, and it can be hard on large dogs. And backyards are few, so here he was. And he became a mascot in my mind.

So on my last visit in June, I was sitting in Le Pain Quotidien on Hudson and I saw him! I leapt out of my seat and ran out to get a picture for my own sake. He's got to be seen to be appreciated. A happy face, no? And somehow he manages to stay snow white in this city. A very special dog indeed (possibly a very special groomer too).


And a second snap of him in all his largeness (pls. Click on the pic to enlarge). He's just about the size of those bicycles behind him, but this angle doesn't do his stature justice.

It was cool this day, but I remember seeing him on sweltering days and thought, "How does he handle the heat with all that hair?"And so, it was time to say so long to my very furry friend, for now at least. I'm so glad I caught him on film... otherwise he'd just be a memory. .

I have no idea as to his breed and have been looking on the internet to no avail. It's probably just easier to ask you -- do you know what he is?

Precious Tiny Boy -Deer

I mentioned a few posts back that I got to feed a tiny baby deer for the first time. Well here he is. His little legs and hooved were so delicate. I have never seen a deer this small before, but I hear this is small as baby deer go.



I know, I could have filmed so much more. And who doesn't want to see more baby deer getting fed with a bottle? Remember my videos are quick because I have work to do. It's a privilege to take a quick shot for my own memories of all these extraordinary experiences I've been so blessed to have, but the animal's care and comfort is paramount. So a little rather than nothing adds to my descriptions, however rushed they have been in the last many months.  I gave this little guy a bottle, but he wasn't eating so well.  He didn't feel good this day.  I was taught that it's good to stand them up rather than feed them on your lap or held between your legs while you sit on the floor.  And that the bottle has to be raised just so, so that his neck will be outstretched as he drinks, and that I should lightly cover his eyes with my free hand (I needed at least three arms to do all this), as all of that would imitate his normal nursing behavior... poking his nose under the leg or at the belly of his mother, who in the wild, would be standing and even moving around. 

I was about to write that this was the first time I've been this close to or fed a deer, but I have to remind myself of things I did which seem like a lifetime ago. I have been close to and fed a deer in an entirely different way. I was visiting Japan -- may have been in Kyoto, near all the temples.  I can't even remember when but I'd guess it was about 18- 20 years ago.  I was in a park and was told that the deer were tame, that you could offer them something to eat and they would bow to you (it being Japan).  Well, all I had was a cookie, something I would not offer an animal now, but as I mentioned, this was like another life.... Sure enough an adult deer came shyly up to me, and indeed bowed both before and after I gave it the treat. 

I was blown away then, and was again in awe to be assisting this sweet little fawn.   Sometimes I can't believe what I get to do when I go to help these creatures we share our lives with.  I may be cleaning poop and scrubbing cages and doing dishes in addition to giving away hours that could be spent in many other ways, some of them income earning.  But it never fails that I always feel I get more than I could ever give. I know you know what I mean.  And in that sense it's a common equation, but for me it still holds as one of the great mysteries of life...

A Vulture Is Born

As promised, and especially for my friend the Grizzled Scribe of Riverdaze, here is the story of the little vulture I've had the chance to care for at the Center.

Three weeks ago a man's doggie brought him something in his mouth, which he was holding very gently. The man was quite surprised to see an unusually large egg -- cream colored with a few spots -- and something was trying to poke it's way out! He rushed it to his vet, a vet who happened to know one of the women who runs the Rehab Center I volunteer for. The kindly vet dropped the egg off at the rehab woman's home. At this point, all she could see was a little beak through the cracks in the shell.

Well, the baby bird spent an exhausting night trying to get out, which was accomplished by 5 AM. What a night that must have been! While the Rehabber discerned by the color of the egg and it's markings that it was a ground nesting bird, she was delighted and surprised to discover the wet little chick that appeared was a baby black vulture. Cute as could be! She brought it in and we've been feeding it rat pups in spades, which he gobbles up with great glee!

Thanks to a long line of caring humans, not to mention one remarkable dog, this little life was protected and now he's thriving.

Here is a top view... he's dozing as it's early in the morning. But once he's up, he's literally bright eyed, eager and just plain adorable.

And yes, his "nest" is a little soiled... 'Twas first thing in the morning and I was opening the top precisely so I could clean it out for him when I snapped this picture. It was squeaky clean moments after, as I am a good housekeeper, if not for myself, for these little animals we care for. When he's awake, he sits up and is very attentive, following our every movements with his eyes. And he's quite responsive -- when I open the tank, all he wants is FOOD FOOD FOOD! I took this on Sunday and when I was back in on Tuesday it seemed he'd grown a third more.

What I think is funny is the little guy in the tank next to him, who appears as a ghostly (if not a little startled) apparition in the window!

I always think of a vulture as big, black menacing, not so pretty bird. They look more like a pet of the Adams Family that this little one. Who knew they started out in life to be so fuzzy, sweet and cute?

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE!

Just take a look at this video and you will know the wisdom and truth of my title.


I took this a little while ago, before I went out of town, and I haven't seen this lucky little goat since. I certainly do miss him (to see his story, click HERE). But I Tuesday there was another white, leaping baby like this that we took care of indoors, but it was pure white and a little LAMB! Didn't get a picture though... too busy feeding a zillion baby birds. But no one can replace the little guy above, the first goat I've ever held and fed. Awwwww!

I WAaaaaant one! Don't you?

Two Redheads and a Brunette

Three Little Pigs... Could there be such a literal embodiment of a title as this?

And yes, that's Teddy the goat who's won the hearts of this blog readers in the pen to the right. I'll have another little clip of him coming up in a week or so.
(Need I mention that once again, animals have had a crazy effect on my real grown up voice and I hear myself speaking in these movies like a complete goof-ball. Really, if you met me you'd know... this is NOT what I sound like day to day!)

Don't know where this trio of cuties came from... I suspect a confiscation by the SPCA -- so watch Animal Planet Animal Cops Houston and maybe you can tell me someday. I don't know where they went to. But they were adorable and amusing and I know with certainty that they are healthy and happy in their new home right now!

Bye Bye Birdie

Since Spring hit, more and more when I go into the center, this is what I see: A big healthy pink mouth opening wide, as if I were mama. About 200 of them, on any given day....

I can't believe that before 2 years ago, I'd never even seen a baby bird before, even a bird nesting in a tree, or babies in that nest, and now I'm FEEDING baby birds of all size and species --all the time. Some eat about every 20 minutes!

We feed them Science Diet cat food, which come in perfect sized pellets, soaked in water to make them the right consistency. It's packed with nutrients. The tiniest babies can swallow them whole, though I do break them apart and make sure to swish them between my fingers so it's more like what their mother might bring. Depending on the species, we may also feed them bits of berries and/or crickets (some with legs, some without), and meal worms. All of these are extended via a kind of tweezer that replicates a mother's beak, which we sterilized between uses per bird.

Here's a peek at tiny new born chick and two different sized mourning doves that someone brought in. I was transferring them from Triage to a nice, warm "nest" in tanks holding others of their own kind. Once settled, I'd start their feedings.

This was the first time I'd ever seen this sight, so I took a split second movie of it for my own memories. My camera could not focus when I zoomed in on the pinkie.... BTW, that is a healthy newborn -- a believe it's a Starling. At first glance I thought, oh no, this one does not look too good. He is a little more purple due a bruise from falling out of it's nest. But when I went to feed him his head leapt up, little yellow mouth popped open wide and he eagerly gulped down the morsel I offered. And the second and the third! Within a week he had beginning feathers and was strong as an ox. In another week, he was standing on the edge of the fabric stuffed tupperware cup that had been his nest fighting to get food before the others. A week later, he was testing his wings within the tank.



There are many mourning doves in a long row of tanks and those need to be tube fed with a liquid mixture that resembles more how their own mothers feed them. I'd describe it better, but you might be checking this over lunch or with your first cup of coffee and, well, it's better left in these terms.

When the birds are ready, they get transferred to the mews we have just outside, where we have propped branches and put in a bird bath. There they have lots of company and can get used to short flight and fresh air and community. After that, they go to a rehabbers home, where there is the acreage to build a flight cage. They can catch insects and hunt on the ground for food, learning from the other birds. It's the last step before the birds are released and fly free to enjoy the lives that were saved by these Centers, and go on to have babies of their own.

Just Ducky!

Look at this face!

Who couldn't love a face like this? I see this picture, or this one...

(even if it's a little blurry, the comedy still comes through)

...and I just have to SMILE

This fawn and white Indian Runner duck belongs to the zoo, and is the first animal I took out on grounds for the visitors to enjoy after I completed my animal handling training -- the last part of the close to 9 month training process it takes to become a proper docent.

This breed is aptly named, because they don't waddle, they run, and when they get where they're going, they often stamp their feet as if they are very excited, or had a lot of Starbucks. There is only one Runner in The Park, and I took a shine to him right away because of these charming antics. CLICK HERE to see him.

While this one is trained to be held, I found he was more comfortable when I set him on the top of his carrier. Think about it. Ducks are low on the food chain, and anything bigger than it, trying to hold it is akin to being caught to be eaten. While this duck was doing fine in my arms, I wanted him to be as comfortable as possible, and he was very well behaved while standing. I was impressed!

I've grown to LOVE love LOVE ducks and geese after spending quite a bit of time with them at The Park next to my house, where they reside in abundance. I've gotten to know who hangs with whom and what their personalities are like, what each pecking order is, etc. In fact, between my time there, The Zoo and The Rehab Center, I have come to have a real respect, love and appreciation for all kinds of living being that I never thought I'd feel that way about.. all because I have spent some time learning about them and observing them.

They say you can't hate someone who's story you know, and I believe this is true for animals as well. It's one of the things that attracts me to educating folks about them. The more people know about any animal, the more they may be respectful to them, teach their children and grandchildren to do so, and hopefully that will extend to caring about preserving them and their natural habitat.

It takes a lot to get a duck to trust you. This one was delightful -- well behaved (though he tried to pluck off my buttons and name tag repeatedly til I hid them) and very responsive to what I was asking of him. It's been in the triple digits here for most of the last three weeks (CLICK HERE). Though we stayed close to where he lives and I parked us in the shade, after 20 minutes he looked so hot, I packed him up to take him back for a dip.

And I think it was just the right thing to do. Without delay, he walked up his little plank and posed at the edge of his personal pond.

I took a little movie for you to see how he cools off.... At 100 degrees, I was ready to join him.



That quacking has quickly made the short list of my favorite sounds.

I look forward to taking this one out again and introducing him to many more people. And now that I've introduced him to you, what do you think?

Zen Moment

And I mean just a moment...





I've been so busy since I got back to town and I leave again July 22. I've had to play some catch up with hours at the Wildlife Rehab and the Zoo and have done some wonderful new things:

**Bottle fed a baby deer just Tuesday

** Today took my first animal ambassador out on zoo grounds on my own to teach the public about waterfowl, a Runner duck who was very well behaved and who I LOVED being that close to.

** fed a newly hatched vulture. Great story behind that one.

** saw and fed for the first time ever 5 coal black, noisy little chirping chimney swifts, a trio of night hawks, terns, barn swallows, a bluebird, many bluejays, grackles, starlings, screech owls, kill deer, herons --all babies or fledgelings.

** Met an all white baby lamb who followed us around and did little leaps much like the baby goat....

The list goes on and on. I've so many little stories to tell, and some pictures/videos to go along with them but I just haven't had the time to write anything up. Even if I could, I for the last few months I've had trouble downloading new pics. My hard drive is full and it's been a complicated thing to get it clear enough... Suffice to say, you see why the tranquility brought on by this 30 seconds of a clear natural spring rushing over the rocks (from a fall trip to Virginia, hence the leaves) is such a nice little moment of zen...

Enjoy, and hopefully I'll be able to get some new things up this weekend.

Worship at the Church of the Orally Fixated

A ways back I may have mentioned that there is a young giraffe at the zoo who always sports a mohawk. It looks like someone put hair gel down his mane from the crown of his head allll the way down that really long neck. It sticks straight up, day after day.

Then I heard about the Auntie who apparently has deemed herself his hairdresser. Keeper stories abound about this comical turn of events. But then the other day I saw one who looks much shorter doing this to a taller one. Perhaps the tables have turned. Take a look.




You'll notice that the one being groomed is ALSO licking the tall fence post that surrounds the habitat. When you think about it, it's pretty normal behavior for them. In the wild they'd be using that long dark tongue to tear off leaves from the tree tops and pull them to their back teeth to chew. They probably had to graze all day long, because you never know when the next tree will come along... But at the zoo, they get their food from their keepers, regularly so... no one goes hungry. And yet basic instincts like these don't just disappear. Now, it seems to serve to pass the time, and much to my amusement! Here's all that a little closer up.




So funny. I will be sure to ask the keeper about this again to see if I have my facts straight when I go to the zoo this week to volunteer.

A Little Visit with a Very Little Owl

You may remember the first little introduction to this charming little screech owl at the rehab center. This little guy likes to sit and watch everyone in silence. All day he has a ringside view of the action -- every animal someone brings in, every VIP visitor, every volunteer goes by his cage or the front lobby, where on special days he enjoys perching in this little log house.



CLICK HERE if you'd like to see the other post I mentioned above.

Trying Out New Wings

I live practically next to the Natural History Museum and there is an oddly cone shaped glass building attached that is covered in what looks like vines from the inside. After many moons walking past the thing, I learned it's a butterfly pavilion. Having never seen it before, I decided to visit when a girlfriend of mine was in town with her two kids.

There we saw a display area where we could observe

I should be using this post and the questions it brings up to research the answers and bring them to you. You'd think that I'd have the answers from whatever the plaques said at the museum, though I don't actually remember many of those. In case you don't check in on my other blog A New Yorker in Houston, you might not know that I've been kind of buried under the completion of something and have barely managed to get something up here. Posting Lite I could call it.

For now I will throw my questions out there, and in a few weeks when I have a life again, maybe they can be answered. Or maybe some of you can help. Here they are:

How do they know when to cocoon? And how is that made...they must make it themselves around them. And what is this incredible gold substance? They look like beads from an egyptian necklace.


And I was captivated by the shiny milky gorgeous emerald green ones. They remind me of those dished Martha Stewart has, lol. The row above them look like leaved and wilted leaves above those. I want to know what they all are.


How do those magnificent wings grow in such a small space? How long does it take? Does this happen only once a year, at the same time of year? And how long do butterflies live?


There were several types of butterflies that crawled from the cocoons above. I caught a little video of some of them trying out their wings. How gorgeous are the cobalt blue ones?


At some point, I imagine shortly thereafter, these are released into the pavilion where they literally dance in the air and flit from bowls of fruit to fragrant flowers to many a shiny green leaf. A pretty nice life, however long it is.

So if you know the answer or even a guess to any of these questions, or have some questions of your own, please let me know in the comments!

Bon Voyage les Enfants

Here's a bad picture of me from about 6 weeks ago, when I was feeding the baby beaver siblings. I was so astonished to see a Beaver for the first time just a week before, and learn that they were held in a blanket cradled in arms and given a baby bottle of milk that wasn't too hot and wasn't too cold but just right. And the little one made contented noises and grasped the bottle just like our human babies too. I am constantly amazed how we are not all that different from our animal friends... even wild ones.

I tired to contain my exuberant delight when within days I was the one feeding them and after that, taking them to the sink for swimming lessons. Two or three weeks later, the babies were able to be moved from the tank they'd called home to the outside in the fresh air in a much bigger crib, so to speak. In it there were lots of nice green things to chew on and their own little pool. But when we'd go over to check on them, they just reached up to us and did that plaintative whine that went right to my substitute, part-time Beaver Mommy's heart.

We began to wean them...  And here's that next step - giving them a pacifier for a minute or two.  But when the still can cry and just want their bottle. Sound familiar parents?


Yet, we must be strong!  It was high time to start to eat reeds, like their moms would get them doing if in the wild.  Below I caught them gnawing on something green and was pleased (I had just put one of them in their little pool to swim so one has a wet face). But when they spotted Uncle Bill and I peering at them, they come over and reach up for us.   You can hear their endearing little calls (though Bill and I are talking)... gee, no imprinting there. 



Heart melters, these two. But as of last week they've gone off to a rehabber's house with lots of nice land and a natural river where they will easily adapt and grow and have their own babies. We humans will be a distant memory, though they may not be very afraid if they see one. Hopefully if they do, it will be a respectful human being. I'm glad they have each other as they embark on this next adventure.

More of the Baby Giraffe

He's grown taller since I took this, but here is a little look at the newest baby giraffe at the zoo, back by popular demand! Here he was only about 24 days old and darling darling darling.



Today he's a few months older, and very much taller. And more news-- there's another giraffe who is expecting. She'll deliver anytime between Fall and January -- yes, their gestation is so long it's that big a window for a due date. There have been sonograms on the mother and the baby is in there, though you can barely tell to look at her. I attribute it to their long legs... or the fact that the mother's belly is so far above my head that it's an optical illusion, LOL. Could you imagine if the doctor gave human parents to be a 6 mo. Window for a due date???!

A Manor for the Meerkats

At the zoo they treat the animals like GOLD I tell you. Every day there is something different done for enrichment, which helps animals do the things they would normally do if in the wild. Some enrichment is geared to stimulate their senses, others recreate natural behaviors, some make them think and some are just for pure fun.

Here is a cardboard box that some kids in a special zoo program turned into a "Meerkat Manor". These curious little fellows go straight to work, exploring every crevice in their comical way.



Oh yes, they are busy! But look what happens when a plane goes by (which you can easily hear amid the din of excited zoo visitors).



All the action stops and they snap to attention and peer up at the skies. Are you a fan of the meerkat?

A Soggy Day with Geese

I am behind in posting things.... so this was from a few weeks ago. We had two solid days of torrential rain. I went to the park to see if I could find the lone, orphaned baby duck I had been feeding every day (with the hope it would get big enough to not be so appealing as a meal to every predator around). I didn't see it that day and feared the worst. I went it Wellies and tromped through all kinds of reeds and muck to look for it and had the fire ant and mosquito bites to prove it for about two weeks.

Discouraged, I was headed home and saw Mr and Mrs Goose searching for something in the flooded grass. I had cracked corn with me, which they will eat out of my hand, so I called to them. As they usually do, they trumpet rather loudly, and, led me Mr. Goose, the two came over. He gallantly assumed the position, threatening me with his beak in attack mode as they approached, while the Mrs. followed behind, confident that he was on the case. I have seen people run from this posturing, but I just stand there and talk to them in a bit of a sing song way. I know I am not there to harm them, and in fact, I am bringing them something natural and good to eat.



You would not believe how utterly soft they are. When they eat like this I get to feel their necks as they occasionally brush against me. They just don't make the words to describe how it feels.

I suppose it's obvious by now... These two are my absolute favorite birds and I pamper them when they let me. Something new I've noticed this year is that they both have kind of fleshy feathery knickers hanging down over their little legs, when they didn't before. I've seen Geese who have quite a bit of this waddle, but I assumed it was quite like our chins -- something that can sag as one gets on in years. Does anybody know about this?

Best of all, the next day I went back and saw that baby duck. Who knows where it was hiding when I was searching high and low. I fed it quite a bit and noticed it had doubled in size, and was getting in some real feathers, at least teen age ones, in place of fuzz.

Another Look at the Nutria

To continue on with getting to know the Nutrias, and help you see that they really are nothing like a rat, or what people think of rats (namely: ew and ick), here's a cute little guy who came over to me as I was walking in the park a few months ago. (If you're asking What's a Nutria, click that name on the tabs on the sidebar over there to see)


Now, would a RAT do that? No. He looks more like one of those miniature dogs wanting a treat. Or a very well trained gerbil. A rabbit with less cute lips and no hopping? Well, he certainly looks like a Nutria if nothing else. Because of his tail, he's in all this trouble, being called a water rat. Add a flat tail to the same body, face and teeth and he'd look just like a beaver and suddenly folks might be calling him cute.

Well, I gave him some bread, and --this was shot several months ago--it was the last time I did. I know these little guys have gotten carb addicted because people in the park throw them so much bread and they are really herbivores. I know wheat is a grain, and maybe it's not that bad for them but sliced rye doesn't grow on a riverbank with the rest of their food.


Since I've done so much training now between the Zoo and the Wildlife Center, I have stopped giving them bread... If I'm going to feed wild animals it will only be things as close as possible to their natural diets. When I see someone throw Fritos (oy!) to ducks (who will eat them) or M&M's (OY!!!) to a squirrel (who will eat them) I want to charge up and ask "What are you THINKING giving them these things? Do you think BLUE M&M's exist in nature??????" in an entirely too loud voice... or whack them upside the head (the people, not the animals).

Name that Colorado Bird

Here's a little taste of the many visitors we had at the cabin in Colorado. I was amazed as we were only there about 4 days, and are not there for months. If you put out seed, how do birds suddenly see that food source and start coming daily? I thought it would take a while, but there they were.

We do have a metal fire pit on the porch and it was filled with water and a few rocks to keep it held down and when we arrived the mountain birds were in it, using it as a birdbath and water fountain, though there is a small lake just at the end of our long drivewat -- but it is about 20 acres away. Maybe that gave us a leg up.

When I get back I will post some mini-movies I took of these guys and more. Until then, can you identify what kind of birds they are? If you click each photo, it should enlarge for you and give you more detail.

Number One: Plump and tame.


Number Two: Orange breast


Number Three: Brilliant Blue and aggressive with a chipmunk


Number Four: Red head

Number Five: Yellow Orange but look at the shape of his beak (with sunflower seed in it!)

Hummingbird

When we went up to our cabin 10,000 feet into the Rockies, I bought the cheapest hummingbird feeder Ace Hardware had and melted down about a cup of sugar in a cup of water. When it cooled I filled the feeder, hung it on a nail off the porch and hoped that something might happen in the 4 days we were there. Well in literally 4 minutes there was the distinct almost cartoon like whiz or whir of their rapidly beating wings and lo and behold, this is what I saw outside the front window.



I am leaving out of town for an important week Monday and have half the day eaten up tomorrow with a seminar. There is much more I want to tell on this, and I have so many pictures of colorful birds that stopped by our porch to eat the seed I put out. I pre-loaded a bunch of things, and I may be able to send those from my iphone while I'm gone, and can pick back up with the birds of Colorado when I return.

I look forward to a little more free time in the summer and the chance to do more research for my posts than I have been able to in the last 4 months.

'Twas Nice to Know Ye, Opossums

After taking in row after row of baby opossums and a few adults this Spring at the rehab center, most of them have grown up and gotten fat and healthy enough to be released back into the wild. I have been taking very quick little video moments because there is too much work to do. But I've come to appreciate these animals through watching them and want not only to preserve those moments for myself, but to help others come to appreciate them too. I often go home and study whatever we've gotten in, looking them up in books and on Google.

To waive au revoir to a few... First off, a mama with her baby crawling. Notice Mom has her mouth open to show her many teeth, though she lies there motionless -- "playing opossum" -- while her baby, innocent to any converns about my presence, gleefully takes a crawl on the giant mountain called Mom. It's quick but good enough.



I know , a two second snippet, but you were warned, lol. The one below is longer and clearer to see. After cleaning a row of tanks of a bit older babies I put in their esbilac (puppy milk mixture) and cheerios so they can learn to lap and eventually eat on their own. These guys did a good job and were pretty darn cute in the process.


Now see, did you ever think of opossums as cute before? I know they still may not be someone's cup of tea.... But I have to say, if you spend some time observing an animal, let alone caring for it, you come to really see it's merits. Even if it's a spider -- CLICK HERE to visit my friend Bindu for a great proof of that (I do NOT like spiders, not at all, but her Ode to a Spider post made me see I could really appreciate them).

Reminds me of this quote:

"You can't hate someone whose story you know"

....applied to the animal kingdom of course. I googled like mad to find to whom I might attribute that quote to no avail.

As Spring turns to summer, different species complete their birth cycles. Babies who once dominated the center go out and entirely different baby animals arrive in need. I heard that this week we got in two bob cats and two fawns -- I saw a little Bambi come in, absolutely newborn with limp, long legs and an adorable little face, as someone carted her off in their arms to check all her vitals. I wish I wasn't so busy this week and going out of town next week, as those would be two really amazing babies to look after!!

Hey, Wake UP!

I was walking by the newly constructed foot-paddle boat launch area in The Park and saw this sight for the first time... three adult NUTRIAS on land. I see them in water, and I see them chewing reeds, and I see them sometimes on the banks of the lank on the grass, I assume hunting for tasty new green shoots. But I've never seen them stacked up like a bunch of firewood. One woke up and was in the middle of this little grooming thing they do... he's almost finished by the time my camera caught him.




I love it that he is making the same face you might do if you were scratching your underbelly. Cracks me up. I also think it's funny to watch the two duck feathers swimming around in the back ground in the same way the ducks themselves would. A sort of optical illusion (If you can imagine them as two tiny white ducks).

These little guys are so like Beavers in appearance (except for the tail)... I don't know if Beavers also do what you saw him doing, but I did read up that Nutrias regularly rub their hair with their hands to distribute natural oils that help their hair/skin stay protected while they tool around in the water so much. That was the tail end of what you saw him doing... I love how they use their little hands much like ours.

Here, it looks like he wants his pal to wake up, but he's out cold. I really was surprised to see this kind of behavior.



I realize these are not the best videos but I've been so busy I haven't been able to do much more than this. I have some great video of hummingbirds at our CO cabin feeders and many brightly colored birds that came to visit that I hope to load before I go out of town end of this weekend. In the mean time....

I had never seen a Nutria before I moved here, but they are prevalent. Do you have them where you live?

FUNNY BUNNY LIPS!

OOOOH, are you ready for a chuckle? A little glee? Recently I did a day long animal handling class at the zoo, as a part of being a docent. We learned how to handle everything from a goat (that's THIS GENTLE ONE, who I now can take around the zoo on a leash for the children to pet) to a ferret and everything in between -- a chicken, a rock dove/pigeon, a lizard, a snake, a pretty white rat, a gerbil, a Welsh Rabbit, a Running duck.... I'll stop now.

All the while this giant Welsh Rabbit was sitting there in a cage at eye level, doing hysterical bunny things with his soft, gray bunny lips. I caught a few moments of him drinking and knew it would be fun to post here.

(Unlike photos you can enlarge with a simple click of the mouse, you are forced to see a reduced version of these mini-movies on blogger. If one of you knows a trick I don't to make this happen, do tell!)

Turns out I am terribly allergic to bunnies, so my lungs closed up, my eyes watered and I coughed and wheezed for three days after! I was in an enclosed room with several of these while we trained on the other animals. I guess I won't be taking one of them out to greet the public. 

Are any of you animal lovers also allergic to animals? Which one(s)? Do any of you have or ever had a bunny?

Adorable Goat update

If you are asking WHAT GOAT right about now, click those red words (or click on the Goat Category on the right of this page).

For those of you who've been hankering (commenter Kilpy and Alice) for a little more of the baby goat, here he is on a day he went outside to enjoy the sunshine and a little grass in the Wildlife Center's new outdoor pens.

'Tis just a moment, but sweet all the same.

Bits and Pieces

A quick thank you for all replies on my last post. I'm on the road, sending this pre-written post from an iphone.

I do have a net and proper pet carrier and food and water if I were to catch the chicken and would have a person who could take her set up before I did anything... And I would take the hen there immediately after catching her. I can always take her to the professional comfort and care at the wildlife rehab center I volunteer at in a pinch. A vet tech there alredy offered to take her but I'm still looking for the best fit for her new home.


OK---Close to sunset baby and adult bunnies are found everywhere along the edges of the reeds and thicker patches of tall flowers in The Park. They are the only animals there that aren't used to people, scampering away as soon as you get near. I'm glad. As much as I enjoy the fact that the animals there are so tame, it's not the best thing for them.... because plenty of people out there do bad things to animals if they can get their hands on them. I was able to snap a pic before this one hightailed it to safety.
All the ducks I've seen sleep with their heads turned back and their beak resting in the feathers, tucked under their wings. This guy looks like he passed out and his beak is holding him up... exhibiting the same fine sense of balance as when they sleep on one foot. Maybe he had a tough night out with the boys. I got closer to see if he was ok. He looked up and said AFFLACK, so I moved on.

I call the one below Three in a Tree. I had given a nice juicy walnut to three different squirrels and they all managed to run up into the nearest tree and perch on a branch stump, as they are wont to do, to eat it. Usually if two squirrels go up the same tree there is a squabble and a comical chase by one after the other. This was an amazing sight, so I tried to get a quick shot. Unfortunately it doesnt show up so well here... but it's enough.



Hope you can see them all. There's one way up on the top left whose tail is facing us.