FRIENDS OF THE FEATHERED AND FURRY WILDLIFE CENTER

Missy Runyan is an amazing wildlife rehabilitator in Greene County, NY.

Wildlife Watch called her the other day about lead’s impact on wildlife as lead is still legal in NY for hunting and fishing in spite of the fact that lead shot, bullets, and sinkers have a devastating  effect on wildlife.

Missy asked if I’d seen her latest Facebook page, and I hadn’t, but I immediately went to it. You should, too! https://www.facebook.com/fffwildlifecenter.  WOW! It’s one thing to hear about lead’s impact on raptors, including eagles, and another to see what a wildlife rehabber sees as the birds succumb to the toxicity.

The video of Clinton, the eagle, incapacitated and shaking from lead poisoning is agonizing to watch. If it’s hard for you to view, just imagine what he’s going through!

Missy has been doing her best to help his recovery, and reports with some optimism that he has crossed a threshold and now stands a shot (sorry) at getting back to normal life.  To follow his progress, please stay in touch with Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center’s Facebook page. 

If you would like to see lead bullets, shot, and sinkers, made illegal in NYS, please let us hear from you. 

Peter Corey examining our starling

A DARLING STARLING 

Peter Corey is a wonderful wildlife rehabilitator in Ulster County, NY. 

 He is one of Wildlife Watch’s “go to” rehabilitators whenever we have calls from the SUNY New Paltz campus.  The students are so sympathetic to wildlife.  Many of our local calls come from the campus, mainly in the spring and summer when babies arrive.

In September I came across a beautiful starling who was desperately trying to get out of an EZ-pass lane that I was entering.  She clearly couldn’t take off, though she was hopping and fluttering her wings.  I stopped my car, picked her up, jumped back into my car, turned her over to my husband to gently hold till I could get her to a rehabber.  Making matters more hectic was that my dog was in the back seat, but fortunately seemed unaware of the drama (and trauma from the bird’s perspective). 

Peter Corey came to the rescue and we met for the first time.  He was the perfect person to help, for in addition to being a wildlife rehabilitator, Peter is also a vet tech.  He checked the bird and discovered that his wings were fine, but he did not have a foot!!  It certainly wasn’t congenital or he wouldn’t have survived at all.  I tried to find someone who specialized in prosthesis without success.  Peter and I wanted to give the starling a chance to see if he could compensate with his other foot, but sadly his other leg grew just weaker from trying to bear the weight.  That affected his ability to fly, and the decision had to be made to humanely euthanize.  While we agonize over the plight of one starling, we need to stay mindful of the plight of starlings in general, which you will see here.

A.M.

THE SAD OFFICIAL STATUS OF STARLINGS

Starlings are killed in large numbers by the Dept. of Agriculture through the Wildlife Services division.  They are so beautiful that it’s unfathomable.  This nightmarish division of the USDA has clearly stated the following:

“Small populations of starlings have become established in the south-east of WA. These birds are subject to continual control work … to achieve the eventual eradication of starlings from WA.”

They are killed by the thousands with poisons.

If you believe this should stop, please let us know: wildwatch@verizon.net