Meet The BirdTLC Team: Katie Thorman, Rehabilitation Program Coordinator

Author: J.K. Ullrich, Bird TLC volunteer

BirdTLC couldn’t support its patients and ambassador birds without a dedicated crew of humans. Get to know one of them in this Q&A session with our Rehabilitation Program Coordinator, Katie Thorman. She’ll discuss her surprising journey into bird rehabilitation, her favorite patients, and the rescue of one very sticky raven!

How did you get into wild bird rehabilitation?

I started my career in a totally opposite direction, thinking I wanted to work in the hospitality industry. I lasted about three months at a luxury hotel and I hated it and I wanted to do something else entirely. I had always loved being outdoors and wildlife, but the idea of a science degree sounded overwhelming—I was terrified of the chemistry and calculus, and hadn’t been a great student in high school. I finally decided to just go for it. I quit my job and started a degree in biology.

From there, I started looking at how I could get involved in more hands-on wildlife experience. I found the Savannah Wildlife Rescue (SWR) and applied to volunteer. After my first shift, I was hooked! SWR was a seasonal wildlife rescue that mainly dealt in rehabbing orphaned baby wildlife. I spent many hours helping care for raccoons, possums, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and river otters. I spent two and half years with SWR, thinking “this is something I can see myself doing forever.” 

Midway through the third year, in July 2020, my husband and I found out we were moving to Alaska. While I was researching wildlife rehabilitation opportunities in Alaska, my search led me to Bird TLC. I had always loved birds of prey and it was an area I didn’t have experience in, so I thought I would give it a try. My first shift at Bird TLC was in August 2021, and once again, I became hooked! I volunteered in the rehabilitation clinic, which eventually led to a job offer in June 2022. Working somewhere like Bird TLC was (and still is!) my dream job. I now work full-time as the rehabilitation program coordinator as well as with the education team, helping care for our wonderful collection of ambassador birds.

Are there unique challenges and rewards in working with birds, as opposed to other animals?

There are so many different types of birds! The diversity among species can sometimes be challenging, especially if you have never had a certain type of bird in a rehabilitation setting before. That being said, this is something I also love about wild bird rehabilitation: there is always something new to learn.

Katie assists Dr. Karen Higgs with the examination of a Great Horned Owl.

There is a special kind of magic around being able to help a bird regain their flight. Because we see birds of all species in our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to become desensitized to just how uniquely adapted they are to fly. To help restore that and see the bird you spent your time caring for take flight at the finish line is so rewarding.

Katie releases a rehabilitated juvenile Bald Eagle.

Tell me about one of your most memorable cases.

My very first day as part of the staff, I got a call about a raven stuck to the top of a restaurant’s roof. After going on top of the roof, I found a huge grease pit that this raven had likely flown into. The grease acted as an adhesive, and the raven likely became covered after struggling to get out. I brought him back to the clinic and, after many baths and de-grease treatments, he was released without damage to his feathers. 

Is there a species you like to work with the most or the least?

Each species is unique and interesting! If I had to pick, I really enjoy my time with bald eagles and northern saw-whet owls. Bald eagles are the raptor we see the most, and I have gained a lot of experience in caring and handling these birds. With that experience has come an appreciation and love for the species.

Saw-whet owls are my other favorite because how can you not love a tiny owl? They are tiny, but mighty! Owls will clack their beaks when they feel threatened and want you to stay away from them. When you have to handle a saw-whet owl for medical treatments, their beak clacks sound like a small and adorable typewriter. While they are doing their best to be fierce and tough, they often come off looking very silly and cute. These behaviors have only endeared them to me more. 

Katie dons an owl mask to feed an orphaned Northern Saw-whet Owl.

What can people do to help wild birds thrive?

There are lots of things!

• Keep your cat indoors

• Dimming lights and outfitting windows with visual patterns to prevent window strikes can be helpful for our songbirds, especially during migration.

• Throw away trash and fishing lines to prevent entanglements

• If you are a hunter, switch to lead free ammunition, avoid the use of lead sinkers when fishing, and bury entrails when field-dressing a carcass. 

• Plant native plants in your garden 

• If you have chickens, make their living area predator proof. We’ve had raptors get tangled up in netting—I suggest wire mesh instead. 

• Stay informed about what is going on in your community! It’s a great way to get involved in conserving important wildlife habitats in your area.

My Feathered Valentine: How Three Alaskan Bird Species Woo Their Mates

Author: J.K. Ullrich, Bird TLC volunteer

If you lavish someone special with candy, bouquets, or shiny objects this Valentine’s Day, you’re courting like a bird. Bird species around the world woo their intended with treats, present prospective mates with flower petals, and even bring their partners pebbles to help build a nest (more like giving your true love a brick than jewelry). Alaska’s chilly climate doesn’t cool this avian ardor. Our native lovebirds win their valentines in some extraordinary ways.

The Dancers: Sandhill Cranes

Photo courtesy of Paul Arneson

Springtime turns Alaskan marshes into ballrooms for cranes who perform a famous pas de deux. The male and female exchange bows, then perform a sequence of moves. Leaps. Struts. Bobs. Aerial pirouettes with long legs dangling. The cranes might toss tufts of grass into the air, frolicking with their six-foot wingspan extended. Although dancing is often associated with courtship, it can occur year-round: once a pair starts a dance, the entire flock may join in!  

Dance moves aren’t the only measure of a partner’s appeal. While humans may fret about baldness, sandhill cranes find it an attractive trait. Their distinctive red caps aren’t feathers, but a patch of bare skin that recedes as they age. A bigger bald spot indicates the bird has survived multiple migrations, telegraphing experience and good health to potential mates.

The Troubadours: Great Horned Owls

Photo courtesy of J. Hunter Photography

Not all Alaskan birds need to strut and sway: music alone is enough to get them in the mood. A basso croon late at night might not be Barry White, but a Great Horned Owl. Nesting earlier than any other North American owl species, their courtship begins in autumn, often with a duet. According to Audubon, “the female usually hoots first, and the male replies at a lower pitch.” Females are about a third bigger in body size, but males have larger voice boxes. Listen carefully to distinguish their parts in the song.

Great Horned Owls usually pick their mates by December and begin nest-hunting in January. Notoriously unfussy  homeowners, they have been observed nesting in tree cavities, abandoned buildings, and old eagle nests. When the owlets have fledged and winter comes again, the same ballads ring through the frosty woods. Even though most Great Horned Owl pairs mate for life, they engage in courtship behavior each year to reinforce their bond and establish their territory. 

The Showoffs: Grouses

Several species of grouse call Alaska home, and these gaudy Galliformes attract mates with elaborate performances. Sharp-tailed Grouse gather at open display areas called leks. Up to 20 males may occupy this love arena at once, competing in the avian equivalent of speed dating. They spread their wings, rattle their tails, and and execute fancy footwork. Violet throat sacs inflate to coo and gobble at their female audience, showing off their best features.

The Ruffed Grouse prefers a solo act. With a stump or log as his stage, he fans his wings to compress the air, making a ‘thump’ sound. He accelerates until the noise becomes a drumroll that carries up to a quarter mile. Ornithologist Arthur Cleveland Bent described this sound as "the throbbing heart of awakening spring.” It’s a loud advertisement to females in the neighborhood, and also warns other males away from his territory, which can extend to ten acres.

Show birds some love with a wildlife-friendlier Valentine’s Day:

• People exchange an estimated 180 million cards on Valentine’s Day, and most end up in landfills. Recycle cards—even better, choose cards with recycled paper—to preserve trees for birds.

• February is too cold to grow roses in most of North America, so many iconic red roses come from South America in refrigerated trucks that use 25% more fuel than regular trucks. Rather than accelerate the greenhouse gas emissions that threaten bird habitats, consider giving a houseplant or potted herb.

• Cacao cultivation often involves deforestation and pesticides that harm wildlife. Avoid chocolate with rainforest-destroying palm oil, and use reputable resources like the Chocolate Scorecard to choose sustainable candy products.

Resolve to Help Alaska's Wild Birds in 2024

Author: J.K. Ullrich, Bird TLC volunteer

Should avian acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Not at Bird TLC! As we turn our calendars to 2024, here are five bird-friendly pledges to round out your New Year’s resolutions.

1) Feed Birds in Winter

More than 100 bird species stay in Alaska for the winter. Many native species cache food in the fall, and survive on these supplies along with natural offerings  such as birch and alder seeds. However, our feeding stations can support them during extreme weather events. Before committing to feed birds during the winter, read about the pros and cons of backyard feeding.  And remember to be bear aware: feeders should come down in the spring and not go back up until November! If you decide to feed winter birds, set feeders near shrubs and trees that shelter birds from predators. To avoid birds colliding with windows, the National Audubon Society recommends placing feeders and birdbaths within three feet of the nearest window or more than 30 feet from the house. If you’re worried about collisions, there’s more you can do.

2) Prevent Birds Colliding With Windows

Window collisions kill as many as one billion birds in the United States every year. You might have already experienced this tragedy at home. Strikes often occur on large windows or glass doors that reflect trees and sky, or windows across from bird feeders and food plants. Fortunately, there are simple and inexpensive solutions to make problematic windows more bird-safe. Cords or adhesive decals can help birds distinguish the glass. You can even paint a design of your own! Ensure the pattern is clearly visible from ten feet away, allowing birds enough time to recognize the window and change course mid-flight. The American Bird Conservancy offers detailed guidance on reducing window collisions. By redirecting birds from mirrored habitats, you’ll help them thrive in the real ones.

3) Cultivate Native Plants

Birds rely on plants for more than just food. Plants provide shelter from elements and predators; sites and materials for nests; and even vantage points for hunting. Growing native Alaskan plants supports a healthy ecosystem for wildlife. For bird habitat, the Alaska Native Plant Society recommends berries, asters, dragonhead mint, goldenrods, sedge, and myriad trees. Layered landscapes—a mix of ground cover, shrubs, and trees—will attract the greatest diversity of wildlife. Got a brown thumb? Let a patch go wild! Birds love to hide in thickets and untamed grasses. And don’t rush to tidy the garden at summer’s end: drying seed pods and fallen leaves offer valuable forage for birds in colder seasons. Treating your outdoor space as an ecosystem can create a bird sanctuary, and a laboratory for citizen science.

In the photos above, birds take advantage of the native plants in a wild area in a yard. Photo credit: Bird TLC staff.

4) Participate in a Citizen Science Project

Unleash your inner wildlife biologist in 2024! Several participatory science projects—popularly known as citizen science—collect reports from birdwatchers. Researchers use this data to track species’ populations, migrations, and range. If you’re new to these programs, a good place to start is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. For four days each February, people across North America observe and count birds in their neighborhoods. This year’s event takes place from February 16-19 2024. For a longer program, consider Project FeederWatch, which surveys birds from November to April on a schedule of your choice. Birdwatchers can also use the eBird platform year-round to tally sightings anywhere in the world.

5) Keep Habitats Hazard-Free

Birds and humans alike revel in Alaska’s magnificent outdoors, but we aren’t always considerate of our winged neighbors. Wherever your adventures lead, respect nesting and conservation sites (imagine how you’d feel if a noisy flock of birds barged into your bedroom)! Also consider the impact of your recreation on wildlife. Anglers should know the dangers that lead tackle and discarded fishing line can pose to waterfowl, including Alaska’s beloved loons. Although the United States banned lead shot for hunting waterfowl in 1991, using it on other game can still harm raptors that eat carrion. Find out more about hunting without lead and resolve to make the switch this year! 

6) Support Bird Rehabilitation and Conversation

The staunchest bird lover’s resolutions might waver against the threats of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. But non-profit wildlife organizations like BirdTLC work to improve stewardship of nature, one bird at a time. Volunteering time or donating funds or resources to your favorite conservation effort can help ensure Alaska’s birds will thrive for many years to come. And remember, if you see an injured, ill, or orphaned wild bird, call us for assistance. 

We at BirdTLC wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!

Wings of Winter: Rehabilitating a Northern Hawk Owl

While summertime rescue birds are primarily orphaned chicks who need dedicated human foster parents, like those we introduced in August and September, a change of seasons brings different patients to Bird TLC. “In the winter, there are no healthy orphans. Every bird that comes in is a medical case,” says Avian Care Director Dr. Karen Higgs. Bird TLC’s 458th bird of the year was no exception, although it was rather exceptional: a Northern Hawk Owl, one of only two diurnal owl species in the world. They’re more common in Alaska’s interior, where open forests and bogs provide an ideal hunting environment, but this one was struck by a car along the coastal Seward Highway.

First taken to the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, the owl transferred to Bird TLC for rehabilitation. X-rays revealed a fracture in the wrist-like bone of his right wing. Bird bones heal much more quickly than human bones—sometimes in only 7-10 days—so breaks can fuse crookedly without prompt intervention. This lucky owl arrived in time for treatment. Two weeks in a splint repaired the wing enough for physical therapy. Since birds can’t follow an exercise program, initial sessions take place under anesthesia, with a rehabilitator manipulating the limb. Once the injury stabilizes, the birds further strengthen their muscles through natural movement.

Flapping around an enclosure made the owl strong enough to fly again. Before discharge, Dr. Higgs performed a final checkup. She weighed the bird and assessed the wing’s range of motion. Except for a naughty finger nibble, the patient cooperated. This tolerant nature makes Northern Hawk Owls vulnerable to poaching. Vehicle collisions, entanglement with power lines, and predation from larger raptors also pose threats. Our owl had survived one such encounter, and the exam concluded that he had recovered well.  He’d gained a few healthy grams (and tried to cache part of his rodent lunch for a later snack, normal behavior in the wild). Vibrant yellow eyes stared around the surgical room. After tidying a few damaged tail feathers, Dr. Higgs deemed the owl ready to return home.

But where was “home”? Rehabilitators try to release birds in the area where they were found; however, this owl was rescued along a highway, leaving his territory unclear. Tasha DiMarzio, a waterfowl biologist from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, analyzed local geography for a suitable spot. “Since this is a hawk owl, he likes the boreal forest habitat, which is black spruce mixed with some aspen and birch. Seward is a rainforest,” she explained. That meant balancing the region of origin with a habitat where the owl would thrive. DiMarzio scouted locations between Seward and Anchorage, evaluating conditions. 

Winter weather complicated the decision. Ice crust atop the snow could inhibit the owl’s hunting technique: like their namesakes, Northern Hawk Owls spot prey from a high perch and pounce on it beneath the snow. Short daylight also left little time for the owl to find a roosting spot before nightfall. On the first day of December, DiMarzio and the owl raced the sunset back along the Seward Highway. With a beat of restored wings, the owl took off into its new landscape, carrying the hopes of Bird TLC’s dedicated crew. “There’s a lot of energy from the staff that goes into rehabilitation,” says DiMarzio, “so I try and think of the best habitat I can put this bird into, to give it its best chance.”

Bird TLC is grateful to all those involved with this bird’s rehabilitation - staff, volunteers, the Alaska Sealife Center, and Tasha DiMarzio. 

Story and photos by Bird TLC volunteer J.K. Ullrich

You can help more birds be rehabilitated and released into the wild with your donation. Thank you.

The Story of Lady Swan from Lake Lucille, Wasilla, Alaska

Once upon a time, there was a Trumpeter Swan who could not fly. She was living life as best she could on Lake Lucille in Wasilla, while the community watched after her and worried about her.

Caring residents contacted Bird Treatment and Learning Center (Bird TLC) and Alaska WildBird in Houston, AK, asking what either rehabilitation facility could do to help this swan. Alaska WildBird agreed to try to capture the swan, and Bird TLC agreed to take the swan in and assess her situation.

For better or worse, the swan had become habituated to people, so she was easy to lure into a garage with food. Alaska WildBird placed her in a kennel and transported her to Bird TLC, where Dr. Karen Higgs, Avian Care Director and Veterinarian, examined her. Dr. Higgs found that her left wing had been broken and fused in place, preventing her from flying.

We settled the swan into the outdoor waterfowl area, and staff and volunteers began the daily tasks of caring for her. Meanwhile, a search for placement was launched.

Alaska WildBird knew of a facility in Washington that was interested in a male swan as a companion to their female. However, biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) determined that the swan was a second-year female. So, the search continued.

Tasha DiMarzio, Fish and Wildlife Biologist with ADF&G contacted Tiffany Mayo, Area Lead Hospital Keeper and Trumpeter Swan SSP Coordinator with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, hoping Tiffany could help find a permanent home for the swan.

In the meantime, volunteers at Bird TLC discovered that "Lady Swan," as they called her, was lonely. Because she enjoyed the company of humans, they spent as much time with her as possible and placed a mirror in her enclosure so she could see "another" swan when she had to be left alone.

On October 12, a month after Lady Swan arrived at Bird TLC, placement was found. Shane Good, Senior Director at the Akron Zoo, said they would be thrilled to give the swan a home.

Bird TLC would transfer Lady Swan to Lake Erie Nature and Science Center (LENSC) in Bay Village, OH, another rehabilitation facility to expedite the process. From there, she would move to the Akron Zoo after all in-state paperwork was completed. Two Bird TLC supporters stepped in with a generous donation to cover transport costs.

We booked Lady Swan on an Alaska Airlines cargo flight to Cleveland, OH. The poor swan had to fly a red-eye - her flight left at 2:55 am! And poor Dr. Karen had to be at the clinic at 10 pm to kennel Lady Swan and drive her to the airport. Bird TLC's Rehabilitation Assistant, Katie Thorman, would meet up with Lady Swan at the Cleveland airport.

An Ohio native, Katie had family nearby, so she enlisted her mother to meet her and the swan at the airport and drive them to the LENSC. While en route, her mother kept saying, "I can't believe I have a swan in my car!" Thanks to Katie's mom, Lady Swan arrived safely at LENSC, the first stop on her way to her new home at Akron Zoo.

Thank you to everyone involved in Lady Swan's story for caring about her and helping her find her new home.

Become a recurring donor to help more wild birds in need throughout the year!

Photos and video by Bird TLC volunteer, R. Liu

Raising Orphaned Baby Birds

Last month, we featured Cindy and Dave Schraer, Bird TLC volunteers who raise orphaned waterfowl. This month, we spotlight another passionate volunteer, Karen Coady, who raises orphaned songbirds.

Raising young birds, especially songbirds, is no easy feat. It requires round-the-clock care - feeding and watering, cage cleaning, monitoring health, and eventually flight testing before release. Despite all this, Karen single-handedly raised over 20 orphaned songbirds this summer.

Karen provides a heat source to babies who can't yet thermoregulate, gives Pedialyte to combat dehydration, feeds, feeds, and feeds until the little ones can eat independently.

Karen takes on the responsibility of raising these orphans without complaint or hesitation. She is a rockstar volunteer who gives every young rescue 100% of her attention and care. If that weren't enough, she is also part of Bird TLC's Education Team and presents conservation education programs to the public.

One of Karen's favorite releases this year was three young Violet-green Swallows who came to her late in the summer. With only a short window open before all the adult swallows had left for migration, she worked hard to encourage these little ones to fly, but to no avail.

Fortunately, friends of Bird TLC's had a second clutch of Violet-green Swallows in a nesting box. One of the babies was reluctant to leave the safety of the nest, so the parents were still feeding him.

Karen and another volunteer placed the three orphans in the nesting box and waited anxiously to see what would happen. The parents swooped in immediately and began feeding. By the next morning, all the babies had left the box! These moments inspire Karen to dedicate her summers to raising and releasing orphaned songbirds.

We are grateful to Karen for all of her hard work on behalf of the wild birds of Alaska!

Orphaned Waterfowl of Anchorage and the Volunteers Who Care for Them

As our short Alaskan summer comes to a close, our work at Bird TLC slows but doesn't stop. And while the summer may have been short, it sure was busy.

Baby birds were the majority of Bird TLC's intakes from May-August, including over 100 orphaned waterfowl. We want to introduce you to our waterfowl-loving volunteers, Dave and Cindy Schraer, and highlight their incredible work.

A family of Green-winged Teals orphaned when their mother was struck by car.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (Read about HPAI and Bird TLC's preventative protocols at the end of this post) has made caring for orphaned waterfowl challenging. Because waterfowl are asymptomatic carriers of HPAI, they are cared for in a quarantine area, allowing us to rehabilitate them safely and responsibly. This area has been affectionately coined "Gullville" by Dave and Cindy.

Dave has volunteered for Bird TLC for over a decade (since 2008!). He has worked with raptors, corvids, and songbirds and now specializes in caring for orphaned waterfowl. Cindy has volunteered at Bird TLC since 2019, getting her start by hand-feeding baby gulls. Now she's hooked on gulls!

The hard-working Schraers, both retired doctors, are invaluable volunteers who manage the set-up and running of Gullville throughout the summer with the help of other volunteers and staff. They are involved with every step of caring for orphaned waterfowl - from the initial care to release back into the wild. They spend their days cleaning, feeding, and monitoring the health and behavior of each of their charges. At the height of the season, the Schraers can have up to 60 baby birds at once!

Cindy and Dave estimate that in the summer of 2022, the first year of HPAI, they worked 8-10 hours daily in the waterfowl quarantine area. But before the waterfowl arrived, they spent a month and a half constructing the quarantine area with the assistance of other volunteers and staff. This year, they were grateful for additional help from the Alaska Chapter of the America Zoo Keepers Association.

Operating Gullville, as Cindy describes, is no easy feat; it requires a lot of work physically, mentally, and emotionally, but the reward of releasing rehabilitated young waterfowl into the wild makes it worth the effort to them.

An orphaned Common Goldeneye and Canada Goose gosling cuddle together.

We can't begin to express how much we appreciate all the Schraers do for Alaska's wild birds and Bird TLC.

Next month, we’ll meet the volunteer who raises baby songbirds.

About HPAI and Bird TLC's preventative protocols:

HPAI is a highly contagious and tough virus that can survive freezing temperatures and remain viable in aquatic environments. Raptors, like Bald Eagles, are highly susceptible to contracting the virus.

With the significant outbreak of HPAI in 2022, many avian rehabilitation centers across the country temporarily closed their clinics or stopped admitting waterfowl to keep their resident education birds safe from the virus. Waterfowl are asymptomatic carriers and can pass the disease to other birds simply by shedding the virus in their saliva, nasal fluids, and feces.

Bird TLC has remained open to all species of birds throughout the HPAI outbreak. We implemented and continue to follow strict protocols to keep our Ambassador Birds safe and prevent the spread of the virus from an infected wild bird to an uninfected bird.

Baby Birds: To Help or Not to Help?

It’s summer and that means many Good Samaritans are calling about an all-too-common situation that appears worrisome but is typically not a cause for concern: young birds, called fledglings, on the ground, making their first attempts at learning how to fly. 

This period when fledglings are "grounded" is a natural part of the growing-up process. Sometimes fledglings will be grounded for a week or longer while trying to learn the ropes. Meanwhile, the parents remain nearby, keeping a watchful eye and tending to their young when needed. 

One common bird you might encounter as a fledging is a Black-billed Magpie. Magpies are omnivores that nest in trees, forage on the ground, and are found throughout open woodlands across the state. They frequent urban, human-developed areas because of the excellent foraging opportunities these areas provide. It is common to come across adults and fledglings throughout the trails and city of Anchorage. You can read more details about Black-billed Magpies, including their species range and how to identify them, here.

Several magpie fledglings have come into the clinic this summer. When caring for these fledglings, we must ensure they do not imprint on us. Imprinting occurs when a young bird is exposed to humans at a crucial age while learning how to be a bird. When wild birds imprint on humans, they look to humans for food, care, and social bonding since they no longer think of themselves as birds.

Rehabilitation Assistant, Katie Thorman, feeds a fledgling magpie.

The unfortunate result of imprinting is that the bird's chance of surviving in the wild is significantly reduced. 

Magpies and other corvids, such as ravens and Steller's Jays, rely on social connections and bonds with other birds, so they are more susceptible than other bird species to imprinting on humans.

Bird TLC's Ambassador and social media darling, Shavila, is a magpie that we could not release back into the wild because she had imprinted on humans. Because she is imprinted, she is comfortable living her life under human care. Shavila still has many magpie traits - she is chatty, smart, inquisitive, and excellent at caching.

When Shavila came to Bird TLC, she had the blue eyes that all young magpies have.

The best chance of long-term survival for fledglings is to learn how to be a bird from their parents. Humans should only get involved if a fledgling has been orphaned or injured.

You can help keep wild baby birds stay wild by waiting and watching from a distance to see if parents are coming to care for them. If you don't see parents in the immediate area, you can approach the fledgling and see if parents suddenly appear, letting you know they would like you to back away. If the parents are tending to the grounded fledgling, then all is good, and there is no reason for the fledgling to come into human care.

Alaska's Wild Birds Need Alaska’s Native Plants

In 2022, the Garden Club of America began a nationwide initiative to promote native plants. Their goal was to establish a Native Plant Month in every state. 

Led by the Alaska Native Plant Society, several organizations, including Bird Treatment and Learning Center, came together this year to ask Governor Dunleavy to proclaim a Native Plant Month in Alaska. Elsewhere in the United States (or the lower 48 as Alaskans say), National Native Plant Month occurs in April, but with winter slow to loosen its hold on our northern state, May was chosen as Alaska's Native Plant Month. 

Why is Bird TLC invested in National Native Plant Month? Because the birds we love depend on native plants for their survival. 

Birds rely on plants in various ways - for shelter and shade, protection from predators, nesting material, nesting sites, and perching.

With some observation, it's easy to see the connection between birds and native plants. As snow fell and a cold wind blew on a wintry April day, we watched a newly-arrived robin perch in a White Spruce to take cover from the inclement weather. See movement in an alder thicket? Stop to look and you’ll see migratory songbirds flitting among the dense cover, staying safe from predators. And that bird going head first down the spruce tree outside your window? That’s a Red-breasted Nuthatch searching for insects.

Birch, aspen, cottonwood, black spruce, and willow are other woody plants that benefit wild birds. They offer food (sap, seeds, and insects), nesting materials (bark, leaves, twigs), and nesting sites to wild birds. Berrying shrubs, such as blueberry, red elderberry, and red raspberry, sustain birds with their fruits. 

Familiar backyard birds that utilize these plants are numerous, including woodpeckers, Black-capped and Boreal Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Bohemian Waxwings, Dark-eyed Juncos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, sparrows, warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers.

Native perennials and ferns are also crucial to Alaska's wild birds. Common Redpolls enjoy fireweed seeds, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Dark-eyed Juncos gather nesting material from this well-known flower. Lady Fern provides shelter to Black-capped and Boreal Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and several sparrow species, to name a few. 

Photo credit: Rob Tappana

You can help Alaska's wild birds by including native plants in your landscaping and planting in layers - adding groundcovers to perennial beds and planting understory shrubs beneath trees. Let a patch of your yard retain some wildness - let the alders, cow parsnip, raspberry, and elderberry grow. And leave your garden clean up for spring. Birds will take advantage of flower seeds and forage for insects among the fallen leaves.

The birds will thank you and may see new birds in your yard who come to capitalize on those resources! 

Read more about gardening for birds and other wildlife in "Landscaping for Wildlife" by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Other sources:

https://nationalnativeplantmonth.org/

https://www.migratorybirdday.org/

Thank you to Bird TLC volunteer Lisa Pajot for the information on which native plants are important to birds.

A Saw-whet Owl’s story of rehabilitation and release in Anchorage, Alaska

We received a call from a Good Samaritan about an unusual patient at Providence Hospital. They weren't sure if he wanted to go inside or was just passing the time and admiring the landscaping. They told us he was about 8 inches tall, had yellow eyes, and mottled cinnamon, brown, and red feathers. Feathers? Yes, feathers. This patient was a Northern Saw-whet Owl that refused to leave the safety of the bush he was perched in, despite being surrounded by a small crowd. 

As the group stood around the owl, wondering how to help, a woman approached to see what was happening. Because she had volunteered for Bird TLC, she could assess the situation and knew how what to do for this tiny owl. She instructed an onlooker to get a box and towel. After safely securing the owl in the box, she contacted us. A rehabilitation volunteer hurried to the hospital and brought the owl to the clinic.

The owl was unusually quiet and was squinting one eye, so Bird TLC veterinarians suspected their new patient had suffered head trauma. 

We treated him with pain medication and eye drops and placed him in a quiet, dark enclosure.

In the wild, Northern Saw-whet Owls eat primarily small mammals so we fed him pieces of rat. Initially, we used tongs to feed him to ensure he would eat and maintain weight.

Once the owl had recuperated and shown us that he could eat independently and all signs of head trauma had resolved, we coordinated his release. 

Dr. Karen scouted for a release site close to where the owl was found. We wanted to return him to the territory where he had likely been raised the previous year. The wooded area also met the preferences of Northern Saw-whet Owls. These owls like to forage in a forest with an open understory, nest in deciduous trees, and roost in conifers.

Other staff coordinated with the family who had won an owl release at a recent auction. They were particularly excited because their young sons, especially their 6-year-old, are fascinated by owls. 

Within 48 hours of determining the owl was ready for release, everyone had gathered on a Saturday evening, ready to set the owl free.

Dr. Karen instructed the young boys on how to help with the release. They held the carrier as still as possible and patiently waited for the owl to fly out. With some encouragement from Dr. Karen, the owl flew from the carrier, landed on a tree in front of the group, watched us for a few moments, and then flew off into the woods.

We loved sharing this special moment with this family of owl admirers. Their mother told us, “The owl release was an absolutely amazing experience for our family!  My sons talked about Northern Saw-whets for the rest of the weekend, and my middle son, the owl-enthusiast, told me that the Northern Saw-whet is now his favorite owl.  Many thanks to you and your team for making it such a memorable moment for us.”

Releasing our rehabilitated Northern Saw-whet Owl.

You can read more about the biology of Northern Saw-whets and find tips for identification here.

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How to Determine a Bird's Age

Determining the age of a bird can be tricky, but with the help of UV light Avian Care Director Dr. Karen Higgs and Rehabilitation Assistant Katie Thorman determined that this owl had hatched just last year. Under UV light, porphyrin, an organic compound in newly molted feathers, becomes fluorescent, allowing the differentiation between one-year-old and two-year-old feathers.

A Look at Bird TLC's Bald Eagle Patients

Welcome to the Bird Treatment and Learning Center blog!

This monthly blog will delve into what's happening with rehabilitation patients and our Ambassador Birds. We'll also dive into topics pertinent to the rehabilitation of wild birds and the training and care of our Ambassadors. Let's get started!

In the first two months of 2023, we've been busy with Bald Eagles. All of our eagle patients have moved from the clinic to the flight center where we test their flying ability. The eagles will stay there to build their strength before being released.

Because eagles are social birds, all our patients are living together in a 100-foot flight lane. We suspect the single adult did not plan on babysitting three juveniles! Volunteers visit daily to deliver food. They also watch the birds fly and report concerns to Dr. Karen Higgs, Bird TLC’s Avian Care Director and Veterinarian.

One of our eagle patients had elevated lead levels in her blood when she arrived at the clinic in December. She had also sustained a wing fracture from being shot. After confirming that the injury did not prevent her from flying, she returned to the clinic to undergo chelation treatment for lead toxicosis. Chelation, essentially “scrubs” lead out of the bloodstream to be excreted. Chelation can be successful, but only if intervention is timely.

All birds are at risk of lead toxicosis, but loons, vultures, bald eagles, and condors are the most susceptible. They may ingest lead fishing tackle or eat from carcasses that contain spent lead ammunition. You can read more about the effects of lead on eagles in this article on Science.

Symptoms of lead toxicosis can include ataxia, seizures, and limb paralysis. Lead affects all major organs and eventually can work its way into the bone. When a bird ingests lead, small amounts are absorbed into the GI tract and released into the bloodstream.

We can prevent birds’ exposure to lead by using substitutes for lead ammunition and fishing tackle. The use of copper-based ammunition is becoming a more popular choice and some states have taken measures to phase out the use of lead ammunition. Hunting with Nonlead’s website is an excellent resource for more information.

Thank you to Bird TLC volunteer Katie Verbarendse for the photos of the eagles at the flight center.