Posts by jbird24
Fierce Predator of the Night
When people first see a saw-whet owl, their initial reaction is usually an exaggerated “awwwww,” similar to how one might respond to seeing a fuzzy kitten playing with a ball of yarn. There’s no doubt about it: saw-whets are adorable. Watch a video of this owl! But while these owls are tiny in stature, they…
Read MoreMoving Right Along
The bald eagle currently in our care after being shot with a shotgun is one step closer to the possibility of returning to the wild. See a video of the eagle being released into our flight cage. On Friday, we moved the eagle from his indoor enclosure into our large, outdoor flight cage. The fracture…
Read MoreA Fine Balance: Weighing an Eagle
Weighing a wild bird can be a challenge, but it is an important way for rehabilitators to monitor a bird’s health. We can see if she’s losing weight (which may indicate the bird is not eating enough, or has internal parasites), or if she’s gaining too much weight by eating too much. Watch a video…
Read MoreLook For It Now: Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a gem of a tree. The unique petal structure of the flowers and explosive pod-like fruits are only part of the shrub’s allure. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is so special because it is the last woody plant to flower, blossoming fully once the tree has dropped all its leaves. When the rest…
Read MoreBald Eagle Receiving Care
The VINS Wildlife Services department is currently treating a juvenile bald eagle, who was found grounded in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom Sept. 5. See local news coverage of our eagle patient:NECN»WCAX.com»FoxNews44» The bird was transported to VINS, and upon examination we found the eagle to have a fracture in his right wing. We also noted a…
Read MoreAnother Shot at Life
This Canada goose was brought to VINS August 24, spotted by a member of the public who noticed the bird was unable to fly. The bird came to us emaciated and weak, but with no apparent injuries. We suspected lead poisoning might be the problem and upon x-ray, the VINS Wildlife Services department found the…
Read MoreOwls Hit the Big Screen
At VINS, we already know owls are cool. So it was no surprise many of the staff here got more than a little excited when word of Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole got out. This animated film, which opens today, is about a group of kidnapped owls who join forces to save…
Read MoreGrown & Gone
One of the orphaned northern harriers brought to VINS in August was released back into the wild last Friday. We released her in northern Vermont, full of open land with rodents aplenty. While in our care, this harrier doubled in size and left a stunning, full-grown raptor. She spent time in our flight cage building…
Read MoreUpdate: Great-horned Owl
The great-horned owl that came to VINS drenched in whey is still receiving care from the Wildlife Services department. The owl’s feathers have been cleaned of whey, but we are still contending with a wound on one of her wing tips. Watch a video of this owl receiving wound care under anesthesia. The wound is…
Read MoreLook For It Now: Banded Garden Spider
Autumn is nipping at this summer’s heels, but don’t put your field guides away just yet! There’s still time to take in plenty of flora and fauna in our own backyards. The meadow here at VINS is full of bright and hardy flowering plants and flowers. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)…
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