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Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

MONTHLY FLYERA Volunteer Newsletter

June 2016

Celebrating 40 years of excellence inwildlife rehabilitation and research

Photo: snyders/moonbeampublishing Editor: Loretta Carlson

THE BABIES ARE HERE; WE NEED YOU!

Perhaps it was the warm temperatures of February that tempted the birds to start breeding early. Whateverthe reason, we are ahead of 2015 caseload levels and have already admitted the first young Blue Jays.

The three summer shifts are scheduled as follows: 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.,

1 to 6:15 p.m., and 6 to 10 p.m. The 15-minute overlap allows a smooth

transition between shifts. So please check Volgistics to see where weneed help mosttypically evenings and weekendsand then sign up.

If you cannot work a full shift, but you find yourself with some

unexpected free timeeven a couple of hourscall Julie at (302) 737-

9543, extension 102, and she will let you know how you can help.Thank you!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED DESPITE THE SEA OF YELLOW

by Andrea Howey-Newcomb, Clinic Director

It's that time of year again when our caseload soars from 20 to more than 150 birds. Incubators fill up withhungry nestlings, fledglings bebop around baskets and playpens, and injured baby raptors and baby killdeer

demand special attention. All of these new hatching-year birds are in addition to the growing list of adults that

require our world-renowned care.

At this time of year, we need a minimumof 18 volunteers a day to help feed

babies, care for adults, administer medical treatments, and keep the clinic

running smoothly. The need for volunteers does not go away after ourinterns arrive.On the rare occasion when we have too many people, we will

keep volunteers on bird-care duty and assign interns to projects such ascleaning out the lower barn, changing sand, cleaning the lower-leveltreatment room, filing paperwork, repairing perches, and the never-ending

cleaning tasks in the clinic. No matter how many interns we have, the interns

can never replace our volunteer family.

So why do we need so many interns and why are they given certain tasks?

Because of our astoundingly high caseload and patients with complex needs,

we require a larger staff base. We hire seasonal staff and bring in both stipendand volunteer interns. Because the clinic rarely has days that are fully covered,we need to fill those holes with interns. Many of the interns are working

40 hours a week and can offer consistent care to our special species.

Carolina Wrens waiting for youto feed

them. Staff Pho

Volunteer Wendy Hubbard (left)feeds Carolina Chickadee as intern

Caitlyn Hamill observes.

Staff Photo

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However, do you know what makes our internship program so successful and competitive? YOU! You have

knowledge, techniques, experience, and friendship to offer and share with our interns. Please be patient withthem. They are in the process of learning new life skills to help them make their mark wherever their pathsmay lead them. Tri-State is playing an integral role in shaping the lives and careers of these young advocates

for animals, wildlife, and the environment.

If you ever have a poor experience with the internship program or if you wish to be more involved with the

care of certain species, please talk to a supervisor, Julie Bartley, or Andrea Howey-Newcomb (Clinic Directoroverseeing the intern program). Our goal is to give both interns and volunteers an enriched learningexperience. We want you to feel fulfilled and utilized andof courseto leave with a smile knowing that you

made a difference.

CLINIC SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE REMINDERSWear closed-toe shoes when working in the clinic. Sandals, crocs, and other open-toe styles do not afford

protection should you trip or drop something on your foot.

Please remember that all volunteers and staff members should park in the upper lot. We need room in thelower lot for transporters and members of the general public bringing in baby birds and other patients. If youare working the third shift, you may park in the lower lot. Volunteers who have difficulty walking or other

health issues may park in the lower lot at any time.

Please do not use your cell phone while you are working around the birds. Not only could making andresponding to calls or texts distract you from your work and become a safety hazard, but the sudden ringing

or pinging of the phone also could be stressful for the birds. Keep your phone in your car or the VolunteerRoom. You may send and receive calls or texts in the Volunteer Room, breakout area, or any of the offices.

STILL LOOKING FOR FOSTER WILD BIRD FAMILIES

Whenever baby owls, finches, wrens, goslings, and ducklings come through our doors, we hope we can returnthese youngsters to their parents. However, some of our patients will be healthy orphans. With your help, we

can place these youngsters with foster families whose nests are located in suitably safe locations. Contact

clinic supervisor Brie Hashem (bhashem@tristatebird.org ) if you know of good foster family candidates forgoslings, ducks, or songbirdsespecially species that nest in boxes. If you know where we can find a good ow

or hawk family, contact clinic supervisor Aimee Federer (afederer@tristatebird.org ).

RECENT RELEASESWe finally released one of our last-remaining patients from 2015. Broad-winged Hawk15-2551 came to the Tri-State clinic on November 26 from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in

Massachusetts. The juvenile originally went to Tufts in July 2015 after an apparentimpact, sustaining injuries to both its right leg and wing. The orthopedic injuries hadstabilized, but the bird needed time in our flight cage as well as implantation of damaged

feathers before it could be released. With supportive care, the hawk steadily regained itsstrength and by April was ready for flight conditioning and flight encouragement underthe guidance of Jackie Kozlowski. On April 28, we implanted new tail feathers, dremeled

its beak and talons, and affixed a band while the bird was under anesthesia. On April 30,we released the Broad-winged Hawk onsite at Tri-State in time for it to migrate to its

summer breeding grounds.

Spring migration is underway, and we have admitted a number of warblers passing through our region. DonnaVickers of the Newark Police Department found an Ovenbird on Main Street in Newark on May 5. Quiet onadmission, the adult warbler had soft tissue damage and head trauma, indicating a likely impact. After two

days of cage rest and pain medications, the Ovenbird was bright, lively, and flying well. We released it on theTri-State grounds on May 7.

The Veery that came to Tri-State on May 12 from Hockessin was an apparent impact victim. The adult

presented with a head tic, bruising on its thoracic inlet and left eye, ear, and wing, as well as a possiblefracture of its lower beak. Radiographs revealed no other abnormalities. With pain medication, supportive care,

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and treatment for parasites, the Veery was self-feeding fruit, crickets,

mealworms, and earthworms by May 16. As its condition stabilized and itbegan attempting flight in the playpen, we moved the bird to an outside cagefor further exercise. With its weight up, beak and other injuries resolved, and

excellent flight skills, the Veery was ready for release by the presenter on May22. Learn more about the Veery in this months Featured Bird article.

Another impact victim was the Coopers Hawk that came into our clinic onMarch 23. Found in the road in Newport, the adult male had sustained a rightulna fracture, puncture wounds, and feather damage. We cleaned and

sutured the punctures and wrapped the wing while this high-stress patient was under anesthesia. By April 9,

the fracture was stable and well aligned and the hawk was self-feeding. By mid-April, the hawk was gainingweight and practicing its flight skills outside. After two weeks in the large flight cage, the Coopers Hawksflight skills and stamina were excellent, allowing us to release it in Newark on May 3.

Each year, many healthy baby birds come to Tri-State because people have a strong urge to intervene when

they see a young bird alone on the ground. In fact, many of these babies can safely remain in the care of theirparents. Such was the case for the Great-horned Owlet we admitted on May 1. The concerned homeowner

found the brancher on the ground in his yard. A thorough exam determined the youngster was healthy anduninjured. We reunited this young Great-horned Owlet with its parents in Wilmington that same day.

OTHER RELEASES IN MAY

In May, we also released a Bald Eagle, an Osprey, a Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owls, a Turkey Vulture,Canada Geese, Mallards, a Great Blue Heron, a Clapper Rail, a Killdeer, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird,American Crows, Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow, a Black-throated Blue

Warbler, a Common Yellowthroat, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker, a White-throated

Sparrow, a Gray Catbird, a Blue Jay, Carolina Wrens, House Finches, American Robins, a Common Grackle,Northern Cardinals, and Mourning Doves.

FEATURED BIRD: VEERYCelebrated for their beautiful, flute-like songs, thrushes live everywhere in the

world except New Zealand and Antarctica. Among the thrush species found inour region is the shy and secretive Veery. Named for its ethereal, downwardspiraling call, the Veery is a medium-sized thrush that spends the summer in thedense deciduous forests of the northern United States, along the Atlantic Coast,

and as far south as North Carolina. This neotropical migrant spends the winter in

Brazil.

The Veerys head and back are a warm shade of cinnamon-brown with faint

spotting on its buff-colored breast. With a plump body, round head, and narrowbill, this birds profile is reminiscent of the American Robin, but at 7 to 7.5 inches

long, the Veery is a bit smaller.

Hopping through the forest understory foraging for insects, fruit, and berries, the

Veery also gleans food from shrubs and tree branches.

The Veery forms monogamous pairs and has one or two broods per year. The

female builds a nest of grass, twigs, and moss and lines it with soft bark and dry leaves. She places the nesteither in a low tree or shrub or on a platform in a hidden spot on the ground and incubates three to five eggsfor ten to twelve days. Both parents feed and defend the young.

Listen for the downward-spiraling song of the Veery, especially at dawn and dusk. According to All About

Birds, the oldest known Veerya banded malewas at least 13 years old when researchers recaptured andreleased him during banding operations in Delaware in 2010. Learn more about the Veery at the Cornell Lab of

OrnithologysAll About Birdswebsite, www.allaboutbirds.org, as well as in Birds of North America, published

by the Smithsonian Institution, or your own favorite birding book.

Supervisor examines the Veery.

Staff Photo

Photo by Hank Davis

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COLLECT ALL FOUR!Dont forget to pick up your Tri-State volunteer service pins.

Four designs honor volunteers with five (Cedar Waxwing),ten (Wood Duck), fifteen (Great Horned Owl), and twenty-plus (Bald Eagle) years of service. If you have volunteered

for five or more years, please see Julie for your pin(s).

Volunteer Manager Julie Bartley and Executive Director Lisa Smith handed out the first pins at the April 10Volunteer Appreciation Celebration.

VOLUNTEER ANNIVERSARIES FOR JUNE28 years:Lisa Robinson 23 years: Fran Petersen 20 years:Helene Harris and Karen Wenner-Pedersen

13 years:Anne Kisielewski 12 years:Jan McCullough 11 years:Betty Jane Anderson 10 years:Katie

Bartling and Patti Root 5 years: Christine Perkins and Hinda Smith 4 years: George Christopher

Welcometo the new clinic and clinic support volunteers who joined us in May. Youve come at a time whenwe need you most. Please introduce yourself and dont be afraid to ask questions. We all learn from one

another.

MANY THANKS TO OPEN HOUSE SPONSORSWe owe much of the success of this years Open House to the nineteen generous sponsors who supported us.

Presenting Sponsor: WSFS Bank

Partners

Bartlett Tree Experts Kitchens By Design

Bath Fitter Longwood Veterinary Center

Camp Bow Wow Krista Rothwell, Artist

Chirp Kids Clothes SpeedPro Imaging

Circle Veterinary Clinic Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital

Concord Pet Foods & Supplies Talleyville Frame Shoppe & Gallery

Concord Pike Veterinary Hospital Vanguard ID Systems

Debbies Fund VCA Kirkwood Animal Hospital

Expedia CruiseShipCenters Wild Birds UnlimitedHockessin

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE

by Charles RobertsonTri-State has welcomed four new board members this year. Below are photos and brief bios for three of them.

We will publish the information on Chip Little, Government Affairs Manager at Colonial Pipeline, in an

upcoming issue. Remember: If you would like to contact the board, please send an e-mail toboard@tristatebird.org.

Dr. Lisa Murphyreceived her bachelors degree in biological sciences from

Stanford University and her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the Universityof Pennsylvania. Her experiences include veterinary responses to the World TradeCenter disaster and Hurricane Katrina, and she was also part of a small U.S.

delegation that traveled to Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Lisa iscurrently an associate professor of toxicology at the University of Pennsylvanias

School of Veterinary Medicine, the resident director for the Pennsylvania AnimalDiagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) at New Bolton Center, and the head of the

Toxicology Laboratory that provides critical testing services for Tri-State cases. Sheco-chairs the Animal Decontamination Best Practices Working Group of the National

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Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) and serves as an appointed member

of the Governors Invasive Species Council of Pennsylvania.

As a recently retired DuPont manager with more than thirty years service, Justine Tumasbrings considerable experience in finance and accounting to her Tri-State board role. Justine

earned a bachelors degree in biology from Simmons College, a masters of business

administration degree from Suffolk University, and a doctor of business administration

degree from the University of Sarasota. She also holds professional designations, in goodstanding, of Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. Forthe past ten years, Justine has served as adjunct professor of accounting in WesleyColleges associate, bachelors, and MBA programs.

Maryanne Yingstis a member of the Human Resources Committee and Volunteer AdvisoryCommittee. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Maryanne has been actively involved withTri-State for more than twenty years in a variety of roles, including work as a bird-care

assistant, oil spill volunteer, relief supervisor, and transporter. Maryanne is involved with hercommunitys bluebird nest box program, the Inland Bays Horseshoe Crab Volunteer Program,

and the Citizen Osprey Monitoring Project. She also volunteers with Clothing Our Kids, a

non-profit group that helps elementary children in need of clothes in Sussex County.

UPCOMING EVENTSVolunteer Upgrade Sessions are for volunteers who have been trained in adult bird care only and who

would like to continue working in the clinic through the summer. We hope you do! At the peak in July, wecould have as many as 300 birds in-house. In response to demand, we added two dates:

Friday, June 3, 1:30 3:30 andMonday, June 6, 5:307:30

Giant Yard Sale. Saturday, October 1. Details to come in future issues of The Flyer.The trailer will be inthe upper parking lot in June. Start cleaning out your basements and attics now.

Benefit for the Birds. Friday, October 21.For information, contact Duke Doblick in the Development office

at (302) 737-9543, extension 108.