Bird Cams Around the World

16 days of incubation



- 13;22 return

I received this update in email, but cannot find it on Glenn's blog yet. There is a great picture of Glenn holding SFO in his arms after sedation and one of SFO after a hunt. Such a beautiful tiercel. Hopefully the blog entry will be restored, or appear so everyone can see the 2 pictures in this post.



SFO Update 3.5.13
by stewartfalcon


First, the overdue update: he's fine and the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit story has not yet aired.

In the photo above, he is resting in my arms after sedation to make possible a thorough x-ray examination by avian specialist Dr. Fern Van Sant at her For the Birds Clinic in San Jose. You may recall that his first x-rays were taken without sedation and the bullet, not the shoulder dislocation, was the diagnostic focus. After six weeks I wanted to get an update on his medical condition with my favorite and trusted bird doctor. It is clear that he suffered an avulsion fracture at the humerus joint -- a small piece of bone was broken loose by a tendon when he was shot or when he impacted the ground after he was shot.

Our treatment approach has been to rest him for three weeks and then begin modest exercise. He has shown enormous progress. He was unable to fly at all when found or when given the opportunity to fly in an aviary but 6 1/2 weeks later flies free 150 yards to the lure. On the other hand, he was unable to achieve climbing flight last Thursday making him nowhere near releasable condition. Thus the trip to the Doctor to help sort things out (cost: $253 paid by SCPBRG).

The Predatory Bird Research Group rehabilitation permit was a relic from a time when we took in non-releasable falcons to add to our flock of captive breeders. I gave that up when I became director in 2007. I work with birds like SFO under the authority of my falconry permit and in cooperation with permitted rehabilitators--in this case, Peninsula Humane. I am considering an application for my own rehab permit to accommodate birds like this one.

My contact is the wildlife supervisor at Peninsula Humane and her personal life is in some sort of upheaval right now and she may have left her job yesterday. Thus I am in a sort of limbo at the moment. Compounding the issue is that Peninsula Humane tells me that the US Fish and Wildlife Service prefers euthanasia when there is potential for chronic pain. I do not know how much pain this animal is in but I know that he does not hesitate to fly smoothly across the meadow when called and that he sometimes bates strongly away from his perch in my weathering yard. I cannot know what he feels but I do know that animals differ in their sensory ability: humans have ten thousand taste buds whereas raptors have about one hundred. Falcons see ultraviolet light -- humans do not. Falcons have over one million photo-receptive cone cells per square millimeter on the retina -- the human eye has only about two hundred thousand. Just saying that a raptor might react differently to a two-month old injury than we might.
Dr. Van Sant evaluated the x-rays and suggested that we give this bird more time in the hope that he continues to improve and so that we can learn more about this injury and I agree. She will write a medical opinion for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.


I leave you with a photo of SFO taken after a flight last week when he was unable to climb to a pigeon but eventually took it near the ground.

ETA: The post is not there, but a link to the photos are?

SFO in Glenn's arms:


SFO after hunt:

POTENTIAL TROUBLE FOR DAN AND LIL:

Just reported by Ann G - moderator for SF Yahoo forum:

Some of you may have noticed that we have only Seen DAN (he was mis-identified in the video, yesterday) on the eggs since about 3:00p Friday when I tuned in.

I saw a big battle out near W2 and W3 yesterday 03.08.13 at 1:08p. I was having lunch at Epic and saw a prolonged interaction take place - lots of stooping, and a big chase towards Treasure Island and beyond where the two birds disappeared into a fold in the sky. I could not keep a good watch as I had to pay attention to my lunch guest. I did not see a bird return.

Apparently, Cheryl witnessed an interaction on Thursday, and perhaps she will share it with us.

Let's all keep an eye on things so we can try to figure out what is going on. Any assistance keeping an eye on the goings on in the scrape, or on the ground downtown would be helpful.

Thanks,

~AnnG

Not liking this at all. 10:45AM still uncovered.

I thought I saw someone flying around in front of ledge, zipping through about 10 minutes ago when cam panned out. I'm guessing Dan. - could have been another species for that matter.

The sad part here is there has been some discussion on the SF forum regarding the other pair 6 blocks away. They have laid eggs in a gutter. Glenn has approached building owner about placing a tray, but owner has declined.

Partial quote from Glenn regarding this building: The owners of this building do not even live in California. But here is the real irony: 111 Sutter is the office location for the fictional Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon. Owners and managers there are proud of that yet they reject the real thing on the roof! And yes, we made the connection abundantly clear.

Anyway... Not to be negative, but I don't think there will be a happy ending for Lil and Dan at this point.

10:50AM - someone just landed on ledge and proceeded back to eggs.

I think it's Dan again.

Poor guy. And of course, Dan is really skittish of cam. They are zooming to figure out who it is, but I'm hoping it doesn't scare him.

Oh no. This is concerning. I'll try and watch the cam.

I understand how you feel mwplay. I'm guessing (& hoping) that SF watchers are out scouring the fight vicinity for any sign of Lil. I'm hoping that she was just injured & they can find her & help her...

Unfortunately, the cam operator has left the view on the ledge so unless someone happens to see a parent come in, we won't know until the person at the switch wakes up!

Edit: They just woke up & Dan is back on the eggs.

Here's a link to the video Ann referenced in her post:



That looked like Lil to me, but Ann really is an expert on these birds. Mary, Cheryl and Ann are the "boots" on the ground for this pair, so I have tremendous confidence in her identification.

Gosh....

Mary M just posted to SF Yahoo Forum at 11:06AM PT:

It looks like Lil is on the scrape. She is a bit twitchier than the usual Lil battleship pose.

Keep a close eye out for a few days. There may be some pressure on them coming from the east.


I'm really confused because I thought it was Dan.

Now, whoever was on the eggs got off at approx 11:18AM PT. Eggs are now uncovered.

Something must be going on in the air.

Please post pics...i"m not bad at i'd'ing...