WERC Volunteer Frank Fantozzi and Zorro the Turkey Vulture.

 By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
 

It’s official…..the Turkey Vulture, formerly known as “No-Name, has been approved by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to become the newest member of W.E.R.C.’s educational animal team!  This is the young bird that basically admitted himself to the care of the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center two years ago—read his story at  http://www.morganhilltimes.com/lifestyles/249518-werc-animal-of-the-month-turkey-vulture.  He has been given the name, Zorro, an apt appellation for this magnificent bird with his outstretched wings looking like a swirling black cape.  We realize he isn’t quite as handsome as Antonio Banderas or Guy Williams, but he is an inspiring addition to W.E.R.C.’s educational animal ambassadors and will be making his debut public appearance at the Taste of Morgan Hill, Sept. 25-26.  Come visit him and the other members of W.E.R.C.’s team.

My name is Amy Behnke and I am a summer intern at the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center. I am currently pursuing a career in veterinary medicine to become a wildlife/domestic animal veterinarian. That’s why when I first heard news that WERC was looking for a summer intern I quickly jumped at the chance to take part in this exciting opportunity.

The job came with some major perks: Getting to help rehabilitate some amazing animals, learning to handle the educational animals, and becoming a bobcat mom, just to name a few.

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by Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
Orphaned bobcat “Stanley” was only 4-weeks-old and 2 pounds when he was rescued in Stanislaus County in May and brought to WERC for rehabilitation. Stanley is now 4-months-old, very healthy (he has had all his feline vaccinations), and a robust 9 pounds.

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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

This male Kestrel was just released at a large field in Gilroy. He was an orphaned fledgling when brought to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center two months ago (see June 17 blog). Eating up to three small rodents a day, he grew strong and healthy in WERC’s outdoor aviary.

Kestrels, the smallest falcon in North America, find their prey either by sitting on a perch or by hovering – also called “kiting” – flapping their wings in a way that lets them remain suspended in the same place.

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By Sue Howell, werc@werc-ca.org
Last week, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center admitted 18 nestling cliff swallows after a homeowner washed their nests down. Not only is it a federal offense to remove occupied nests of migratory birds, it’s also tragic loss to the area where they were located.

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by Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center’s float at Morgan Hill’s 4^th of July Parade was a big hit with spectators, who cheered and applauded the proud volunteers and WERC’s educational animals. Many thanks Gary Ponzini’s Community Towing & Garage and all the wonderful WERC volunteers who decorated the float and took part in the parade. A great time was had by all!

by Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
The Barn Owl was already extremely weak when it was brought to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center last week by a Santa Clara Co. Animal Care & Control officer.  The bird had been found on the ground in Gilroy, unable to fly.  Soon after its arrival at WERC, it began having tremors and then lost control of his neck muscles.  His head rolled back and within minutes, he was dead.
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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

For over 13 years, Wapeka, WERC’s educational Red-Tailed Hawk (left) has had a “second job” as a foster mom to orphaned Red-Tails to help them avoid becoming imprinted on humans.  The fledgling shown perching with Wapeka was originally found in late May on the ground in Gilroy and was brought to WERC.

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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

Just arrived at the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center—a 9” long, fledgling American Kestrel that was found in Gilroy.  It’s not known whether the little bird was truly orphaned or whether it was actually on the ground because it was just learning to fly and was still being cared for by its parents.  The original finders were concerned that the bird might be killed by predators and so brought it home.  The bird was then handed off to another person, who then called WERC.

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by Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

A word of caution to flower and vegetable gardeners:  We recently heard from a person who was checking the sticky whitefly strips she had hung out to control the insect pests and was startled to find all of a hummingbird’s tail feathers inadvertently stuck on it, too.   The hummingbird may have been eating the whiteflies for a protein-filled meal and/or may have been sipping nectar from the flowers that were infested with the pests. Hummingbirds are truly a gardener’s best friend, providing a natural method of pest control while gifting us with their iridescent beauty.

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Photo courtesy of Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
This bird was rescued from the 2007 spill in San Francisco Bay.
by Sue Howell, werc@werc-ca.org

The recent Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast brings back memories of many years ago when WERC was asked to help with an oil spill off the California Coast. The area we were assigned was at the old PG&E plant at Moss Landing. For over 30 days, we treated more than 1250 oil-soaked birds in a wildlife recovery facility that had been built to accommodate less than 200 birds.

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Government inspections of wildlife rehabilitation center facilities help ensure the health of orphaned or injured native wildlife, such as this Peregrine Falcon. Its broken wing healed well and the falcon was later released, soaring high in the sky.

By Colleen Grzan, wer@werc-ca.org

Last week, a representative of the California Dept of Fish & Game (CDFG) visited the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC) for an inspection of the facility. WERC is licensed by the CDFG, as well as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (migratory bird rehabilitation and educational birds) and the U.S. Dept of Agriculture (educational mammals).

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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

Help WERC choose a name for this magnificent, red-headed bird with a 6-foot wing span. Read his story at http://www.morganhilltimes.com/lifestyles/249518-werc-animal-of-the-month-turkey-vulture then vote (email werc@werc-ca.org or go to Facebook “Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center”) for one of the names below that you think fits him best. Deadline for voting is June 15.

Conan: Another red-head (Conan O’Brien); also Conan the Barbarian
Sequoia: Majestic California redwood tree that reaches the sky
Suli: Cherokee name for Turkey Vulture
Hercules: Hero of Greek & Roman mythology, shown as redhead in Disney version

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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

It was apparent that the Mourning Dove found fluttering on the road had been sideswiped by a vehicle at the busy intersection in Morgan Hill. It wasn’t able to fly and its exam at WERC showed it was missing all the feathers on its left thigh and had small wounds on its leg. It was also suffering from a concussion.

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By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org

The downy little Barn Owl nestling (on left) was rescued after it fell from its nest in Morgan Hill and was brought to WERC last Friday. To prevent it from imprinting onto its human caretakers (volunteers who feed it and clean the enclosure), it has joined “Toby”, the Barn Owl fledgling that was rescued in Gilroy on Easter after it also fell out of its nest. They’re not siblings, but the older owlet appears to be very protective of the younger one, cradling it with his wing. Both owlets hiss and sway whenever a person approaches their enclosure.

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