neighdoctor

Author

By Bald Eagle Rescue

BALD EAGLE RESCUE in Wake County and WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN INJURED BALD EAGLE. First: my heartfelt thanks to Jim Stafford and his crew, Keith Megginson, Barbara Driscoll and the Carolina Raptor Center. A week ago I got a call from Jim Stafford of Gaines and Company Inc. of Knightdale. He was trying hard to get information on how to rescue an injured bald eagle that he and his crew found the day before while working on a construction site. They called NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and left information asking for help with the bald eagle but regretfully did not get a reply from them. Jim then reached out to the local wildlife rehab facilities – American Wildlife Refuge and CLAWS – and again got no responses. Jim was bewildered and upset as he wanted to help the eagle. By Thursday afternoon, as the eagle was visibly losing the fight to stay alive, his friend Barbara Driscoll had suggested that he call me. After much discussion and a lot of phone calls back-and-forth we got it arranged for Keith Megginson, (a monitor for the breeding bald eagles program for the US Army Corps of Engineers at Jordan Lake) to help with the actual capture of the bald eagle. I talked through the capture process with Keith and Jim. Keith gathered up the equipment needed and went to the site to help safely capture the bald eagle and get it ready for transport. Jim dropped everything in his busy schedule to transport the eagle from the capture site in Wake County to the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. There were many hours spent by Jim and Keith with their only concern being the attempt to help the eagle. Regretfully, after the veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center examined the eagle it had to be euthanized. All of us involved wondered what might have been the outcome if knowledgeable help had been available the day the eagle was found. Tomorrow I will post WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU FIND AN INJURED BALD EAGLE. Please read and keep the information handy.

By Green Herons & Scary Fish Crow

Jordan Lake. Green herons, when they are frightened, resort to making themselves look like a reed by standing up very tall and straight and the feathers down their neck make them blend right in on a shoreline. However, that trick does not work when you are up in a tree and a fish crow has decided you are too close to his territory. Watch the herons try the trick anyway.

By Correction!

A correction!!!!! Thankfully one of my readers brought to my attention that the species in my photo shown here – the Passiflora incarnata – is indeed native to the US. So am trying to make sure everyone has the right information. Whew!

By Passion Fruit … Not Native … But …

Jordan Lake. An example in clarity. This beautiful flower is a passion fruit-the same passion fruit that sometimes flavors our drinks. I don’t make a habit of posting non-native flowers – this one is native to Brazil. I used these photos as an example for a student about how to study the structure of a plant or an insect or a bird. The conversion to black and white allows you to see with greater clarity the structures involved.

By Might Nigh Perfect…

Jordan Lake. I sometimes find that the transition between 3.5 into 4 years of age for the bald eagle presents a quite striking appearance. This eagle has not been injured … he is molting. Even though he might look a little ragged and tattered to us he is very sure that he is might nigh perfect.