Nootka (Canada Goose gosling) (Branta Canadensis):  On May 22, 2010, a woman sitting on the beach at her home in Auke Bay was startled when a Canada Goose gosling hopped up on her foot. She quickly searched the area for the mother but could not find any geese around. She called the raptor center and we have been caring for the little guy ever since. He has been named "Nootka.”  We will care for him until it’s time for him to be released. 

A juvenile mallard ducking was picked up from the Gastineau Humane Society on May 22, 2010.   It was brought to the Society because no parent was around. He was put in a kennel with a heating pad underneath, a stuffed animal & lots of towels for it to burrow into.

I decided to call him "Petey" because his little noises sounded like peeps. He quickly adjusted to his new surroundings and he began eating shortly after being in the kennel. After a few days, he was taken outside and placed in a small enclosure to bask in the glorious sunny weather we were having at that time. He also enjoyed "swimming" in the small pan we had for him. After about an hour or so, he needed to be put back in his kennel home to warm up and rest.

We soon found that he enjoyed eating bugs, small slugs and worms that we caught for him. The whole family got involved in finding and feeding Petey bugs.

He has grown to over twice the size since we've had him and he is not as comfortable around humans as he used to be.  This is a good sign since we do want to release him one day. His real feathers are starting to grow in now, so hopefully when he is fully feathered, he can be released in a pond with wild ducks that a member has abutting her property.

Yellow billed loon (Gavia adamsii): On April 17, 2010, a group of Juneau Audubon members got more bird watching than they had expected.  While out on a morning bird walk they found a yellow-billed loon stranded above the high tide line near Fish Creek on Juneau’s Douglas Island.  These experienced bird watchers realized the loon was in distress and contacted the Juneau Raptor Center.  A JRC volunteer provided some information on handling the bird and then headed out to collect the bird. 

The Audubon group was just arriving at the trailhead with the bird wrapped in a blanket and being carried by two people when JRC drove up.  The bird was quickly transferred into the care of JRC and taken to a volunteer’s home for treatment.   Loons are not a bird normally seen by JRC and require some special housing arrangements such as being placed on a net and have access to running water for maintaining their waterproof coat. 

JRC contacted the Alaska Sealife Center (Seward, Alaska) for treatment information and to make arrangements for transfer to their care.  The bird was examined and tube fluids for two days to stabilize the bird before transferring it to the Sealife Center on April 19th.  The volunteer housing the bird was thrilled to hear the haunting call of a loon in his house.  This made it a very special weekend for the JRC.

Update:  The Sealife Center staff contacted JRC to say the bird arrived in excellent condition and was doing well; the bird even caught and ate a fish.  The medical exams indicated a possible avian pox infection or fungal infection in the air sack.  The bird remains under treatment.

Update:  As of 5/2/2010, the Alaska Sealife Center reports that for a loon in captivity, the bird is eating great and is doing well. The problem seems to lay in the use of his right leg. Multiple x-rays have been taken and are currently being sent out for further evaluation.  It seems as if some dislocation has caused muscle atrophy. While they are not 100% positive he will regain use of that leg, they are leaning toward deeming him non-releaseable. Since he is doing so well, they have started the process of seeing if there are any facilities interested and have had two responses within a few hours: one from Central Park Zoo and the other from Denver Zoo. The Minnesota Zoo is also interested. The Sealife Center will be doing some final evaluation and tests this week and making a decision. The Juneau Raptor Center did a fantastic job with the stabilization process and shipping. Thanks to the Audubon Society for reporting and rescuing him and thanks to you for your fine work.  If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks again and have a great day. Tim Lebling, Stranding Coordinator. Work: 907-224-6399; Toll free: 800-224-2525 x6399

6/1/2010 update from Seward Alaska Sealife Center:  Unfortunately this weekend we had to euthanize the loon due to the bird testing positive for Avian Influenza and wanting to maintain human safety and that of other animals..  Thanks to all the staff and volunteers involved from the original pick up.  Mellow Yellow (name given to bird by Alaska Sealife Center staff) will be missed by all.     

Solomon (adult bald eagle) (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): On April 8, 2010, JRC volunteers responded to a call about an adult bald eagle in Juneau's Lemon Creek area.  Upon arrival they found the bird on the ground and feeding on a dead raven.  The bird waseasy to capture.  Examination revealed a thin, not buggy bird.

He was kept in a large door kennel for several days, standing/perching and expressing his displeasure.  He ate well and based on his lively nature was placed in the flight mew.  It didn't take long for him to reach the high perches.  Now that we have water to the flight mew, we have filled the large bathing pool and several of the birds have already used it.  Solomon will greatly benefit from bathing as his tail feathers and face are quite dirty.  This bird's chances for release appear to be good. 

UPDATE:  Solomon.  We're happy to report that Solomon was released back to the wild in mid May 2010. 

Bunny (adult bald eagle) (Haliaeetus leucocephalus):  On March 19, 2010, JRC volunteers responded to a call about an adult bald eagle standing on the side of the road in the vicinity of AEL&P on Glacier Hwy.  Upon arrival, they found two Juneau Police and one Naval officer there guarding the bird.  He had been hit by a car.  When approaching the bird, he flew a few feet and was then captured.  
 
Examination of both wings revealed no apparent breaks but there appears to be some minor bruising of his right wing. His pupils dilated slowly but are now normal; there was no blood in ears and his crop (pouch where food is stored before digestion) was full.  He was given medication for a possible head injury and placed in a large dog kennel.  He’s perching and is quite feisty. 
 
The exam also showed a previous beak injury on the left side so this area is a bit deformed but this is an old injury and not related to the car strike.  
 
He is being treated for a possible head injury and is currently being given fluids orally as he does not take food yet. 

UPDATE:  Because the bird is now eating solid food, he was recently transferred to the flight mew and has already reached the high perches.  We hope he will be released soon.  Check back for updates.   

UPDATE:  We're glad to report that on May 19, 2010, Bunny was released back to the wild; a crowd of about 40 witnessed this happy event!

Unnamed barred owl:  Received on February 6, 2010. The car was traveling out-the-road as it is referred to in Juneau when the headlights lit the owl on the side of the road.  But this owl didn’t move when the car approached.  The people stopped and it was immediately obvious that the owl was injured but there was no way to tell what had happened.  These good folks picked up the owl and delivered it to a local falconer associated with the Juneau Raptor Center. The next day the owl was brought to the home of one of the Center’s rehab specialists for initial treatment.  The owl’s right eye was closed and it had all the symptoms of a severe head injury; based on the location where it was found it is assumed the bird was struck by a car.

Treatment was started and the waiting game began.   Head injures bring numerous complications and we didn’t know what was in store for this bird.  A visit to the vet revealed an eye injury but no broken bones.  Slowly the bird rallied and is now showing the inquisitive nature of the owls.  He watches the person who provides his care and food and seems to be interested in everything going on in the garage that is now his temporary home.  The bird can feed himself (he was initially hand fed during the early stages of his treatment) and is getting stronger every day.   If this bird can be released is still a question.  There is a problem with the right eye and he may be blind in that eye.   The person caring for the bird has been in contact with the Owl Foundation in Toronto, Canada about the potential for releasing this bird.  But there is still some treatment and observation needed before a decision can be made.  Check back for an update!

Wings (Rough-legged Hawk): We were quite excited to learn that we are now caring for a rough-legged hawk.  In early November 2009, this bird was found standing on a fence post along the road in Haines, Alaska.  The person that discovered the bird was able to walk right up and pick it up.  A local biologist cared for the bird for two days by feeding him ground turkey and a sports drink.  As they most generously always do for JRC, Wings of Alaska transported the bird to Juneau for free.  Examination revealed a very thin first year bird - probably a "failure to thrive."  X-rays by SE Alaska Medical Clinic revealed no broken bones.  This bird is now eating on his own and we are optimistic about his chances for release.  Having a rough-legged hawk is a first for JRC!

UPDATE:  Wings will be spending the winter in Alaska with plans for a spring 2010 release.

4/4/2010 UPDATE:  This is the time of the year for rough legged hawks to migrate.  We are glad to report that Wings was released today in Sitka to begin this journey!  Like all raptors, he was banded with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife numbered leg tag; the tag is specific to this bird for identification purposes.