Female Northern Harrier. Cared for by Jennifer Rockwell, RMBC director and licensed for raptors. Bird was released.
Red-naped Sapsucker
We received this adult male in early April. He probably hadn’t been back in our area long from his winter migration, when unfortunately, he was caught by a naughty cat. He sustained extensive wounds, but after a couple of weeks of antibiotics and rehab care, he was released back in the wild.
Western Screech Owl nestlings Downed tree, mother not around nor did she return. These babies were integrated into another owl’s nest with young of same age.
Western Screech Owl nestlings
Canada Geese Reunited with their Goslings.*
These babies hatched on the roof of Albertson’s Library on BSU campus. Laurie Whittaker, employee and volunteer for our bird center rescued the babies from the roof and once on the ground waited for goslings ‘cries’ to be heard by their parents still on the roof. The parents both flew down and Laurie was able to get the parents to follow her (babies in hand) the short distance to the river and off they went, the family of four reunited and right where they should be.
* Note: Many Canada Geese roost on top of buildings, which is safe from predators, however it is never safe for the goslings that must jump to the ground. That ground could be an asphalt parking lot/street, concrete sidewalk or a grassy area; none of which is conducive to the safety of a hatchlings goslings.
American Kestral nestlings Orphaned and integrated to another nest with Kestral babies of same age
Nestling Hummingbirds. Their mother was killed by a cat.
American Coot – Found orphaned. After growing fat on the many insects and wonderful water plants we provided this guy/girl Coot, we were able to release ‘Coot’ with a flock of his own kind on the river. They are quite difficult to rehab and release. Please see our video on this website of the ‘raising and release of a ‘barely past hatchling stage’ Coot. As babies they look like they have a 1940′ football helmet on.
Say’s Phoebe: These arrived at center as fledglings by a concerned citizen thinking they were abandoned. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control; we were unable to get them back to area where mom and dad more than likely were hanging out. raised and released. They were a success story and were released after about a week.
This adult raven was picked up in late March. He was literally flat on his back with his legs in the air. There was no movement at all and he appeared to be dead. Laurie Whittaker, RMBC employee noticed a bit of life and immediately got it back to the center for rehab. Blunt force trauma or a toxin were suspected. She gave it fluids and flushed its system hoping it would make it through the rest of the day and that night. After three days the Raven made a miraculous recovery with more fluid treatment and necessary rehab. The bird was able to be released after 3 days in same location it was found.
Miracle Raven released and joined by its mate. A happy ending for all involved!
New Digs
Amazing claws
Now you see me…
Now you don’t…
Gopher babies… A cat killed their mother. Gina Gregerson, board member and long time volunteer found the den and was able to dig out (no easy task) all of the babies and successfully raise them to release.
Baby Gopher
Coyote pup at five and six weeks of age.
Coyote pup at five and six weeks of age.
Coyote pups at five and six weeks of age.
Coyote pups at five and six weeks of age.
Cottontail babies About 2 wks old
Baby Yellow bellied Marmot (aka Rockchuck) The everyday spoon gives you an idea of its actual size.
Baby Yellow bellied Marmot (aka Rockchuck) The everyday spoon gives you an idea of its actual size.
Feeding time for this Yellow- bellied Marmot baby aka Rockchuck
Feeding a baby Ground Squirrel
Baby Red Fox
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Boise’s native tree squirrel)
Two week old baby Raccoons picked up by Toni Lynskey, raccoon foster parent and vet tech. These tiny masked bandits were unnecessarily orphaned due to the mother being trapped and drown. They were held over for the summer, fall and winter being released in May the following year. Raccoon babies are raised entirely by their mother and the male babies are sent off in late Sept/early Oct to find their own niche in life and are often injured by other raccoons protecting their territory.
The female babies stay with mom throughout the winter and sometimes before or sometimes after she has another litter, does she send the females off to find their own ‘place’ in life. Therefore . . . .we hold ‘all’ Spring babies over the winter in order to release when the weather has definitely turned to spring again and they have water, berries, worms and a better availability of all food sources. This is in lieu of a fall release when winter is approaching. Den finding can become an issue, food sources are scarce and they haven’t had all that training from their mother, some of which we can’t provide no matter how hard we try. The first year for a juvenile raccoon is tough enough, much less having to immediately face several months of cold/nasty weather, a food scarcity and an acute awareness of danger and predators.
Please call us before you trap and remove. We can help.
American Kestrel found by citizen on side of road, possible impact with car. A bit bruised and disoriented, but a little time and some yummy cut up mice . . we sent this boy on his way after just a few days.
Cedar waxwing: This beauty was attacked by a cat. A week or so of antibiotics, test flown and released in area from which it came
Northern Saw-whet owl. Hit by car. A week of rest and rehab, this handsome 7-8″ owl was released back in area found
Chukar hit by car. Rehabbed for two weeks and released in Chukar territory.
Red Eyed Vireo enjoying a mealworm. This little insect eater came to us as a ‘cat caught’ pre-fledgling. It was released 3 weeks later after Rx treatment and flight training.
Domestic Turkey – Young Juvenile
Northern Red-shafted Flicker: Young male fledgling. Upon arrival was in very poor shape, extremely dehydrated and clinging to life. Fluids, short antibiotic stint, lots of insects and fruit made all the difference in the world for this wonderful neighborhood bird. He was released in the area found.
Barn Swallows: After many weeks of insects, these kids were transported and released into another Barn Swallow flock. We have had our own ‘Swallow Tracker’ for many years. Katy Cummins searches out flocks of the different Swallows and when we have some ready to release, Katy takes them out to one of her special found Swallow places, knowing the approximate time of their comings and goings and releases our rehabbed Swallows into a flock of their own ilk. Thank you always, Katy!
Garter Snake with a more unusual and colorful pattern than what we normally see in the area. After checking with several snake experts, he was found to be a Garter Snake who picked up some great genes, apparently from cross breeding. A gorgeous and healthy specimen who we released soon after acquiring it.
Western Toad who had lost the lower part of one hind leg. He got around surprisingly well and was released onto privately owned property with perfect habitat with plenty of cover and available food.
