2012 rescues
8 to 13 January 2012 - Common Murre die-off event. 44 dead and 6 disoriented Common Murres were found in Skagway and Dyea. Carcasses were sent to the USFWS National Lab, where necropsy indicated starvation. Weather in the weeks leading up to the event was mild (for winter). More details here.
26 April 2012 - SEAPRO training. Most of the Bird Rescue Group members and some other interested townfolk attended two SEAPRO training courses: how to haze birds away from hazards, and how to capture and treat injured/sick birds. Avian veterinarian Dr. Scott Ford taught both courses. The Bird Rescue Group would like to thank SEAPRO and Dr. Ford for a wonderful training opportunity, as well as the Klondike GRNH Park for letting us use their auditorium for lectures, and the Skagway Police Dept. for letting us use the firing range for pyrotechnics demonstrations.
May 2012 - one-legged Northwestern Crows. About 4 lame NWCR have been seen about town, each with only one leg, but all seem to be doing OK with the help of their flocks. One NWCR was seen with a white, swollen, rotting leg - probably caused by some fishing line or something similar tangled around the leg. The leg will probably self-amputate.
NWCR with white leg (photo:CEFurbish)
11 June 2012 - trapped Rufous Hummingbird (female). Rick Bannerman responded, Elaine Furbish assisted. Hummingbird inside Kirmse's store, flying about near ceiling. Rick and Elaine worked with Cara and other Kirmse's staff to guide hummingbird toward open doors with brooms, cloths and a net. It took awhile, but after the hummer was tired out, she was partially caught in net near a door, moved towards the open door, then flew outside.
12 June 2012 - fledgling Steller's Jay. Courtney at Temsco reported capturing a baby STJA hopping about the parking lot. Deb Boettcher and Joanne Beierly picked up the jay soon after 4:30pm and transferred it to Joanne's fenced yard for observation. The little jay walked around the yard and squawked loudly. When Joanne approached it with a dish of puppy chow soaked in water, the jay flew over the fence and landed in the alley. It's loud squawks attracted a pair of our neighborhood adult jays, who seemed very interested. Within 15 minutes, they were feeding the fledgling and coaxed it into a tree. Happy ending for all concerned. Joanne phoned Courtney the next morning and reported our success.
1 July 2012 - immature Bald Eagle. Deb Boettcher, Elaine Furbish and the Beierlys responded to a report of an eagle in distress at the Gold Dredge. An immature Bald Eagle was found sitting on the ground next to a parking lot, near some trees. It was being pestered by seagulls, and was in a place where people often walked their dogs. The BAEA was not moving much, but seemed alert. Its legs and wings seemed uninjured. However, its feathers looked wet and it could only move awkwardly by waddling or hopping on the ground. When approached closely, it was alert and energetic, went into a defensive posture with talons extended, then walked across across Klondike Highway, where it settled in a sheltered spot under trees. Juneau Raptor Center advised that it had probably eaten too much to fly and needed time to digest. The group monitored the eagle into the evening to keep people or dogs from getting too close. It eventually crossed back over the highway, crossed the parking lot, and crossed the Skagway River to a small, vegetated gravel bar. It hunkered down in the bushes to avoid swooping gulls. Andrew and Joanne returned the next day at noon - the eagle was still under trees on gravel bar. It had left when they checked again at 4pm.
immature BAEA waddling (photo:A.Beierly)
2 July 2012 - wet Bald Eagle. A Skagway Float Tours guide reported an injured eagle sitting on rocky bank of Taiya River near the road. Samantha Richert and Jessica Willbarger responded, and were soon joined by Andrew and Joanne Beierly. The eagle was not at reported location, so the group searched along the roadside and the river bank. Sam spotted the adult BAEA sitting in a tree on the other side of the road. The eagle showed no sign of injury, but its feathers looked wet and it was holding one wing askew. The BAEA was monitored for about half an hour, during which time many tourists noticed the group watching the eagle and stopped for photos. The group concluded that the BAEA had been swimming but was otherwise OK, and decided to leave the area so the eagle could remain undisturbed. Sam and Rick Bannerman checked on the eagle that evening. Rick and Elaine Furbish checked the next morning, but only saw one adult BAEA out on the low-tide mudflats.
wet BAEA (photo:A.Beierly)
12 July 2012 - stranded baby swallow. Jamie Welfelt called Deb Boettcher midmorning about a baby swallow on the ground in the parking lot behind the Mascot. Two adult swallows (probably violet-green) were nearby and seemed interested. Deb took a shoebox lined with paper towel over and Jaime put the swallow in the box with the top open and placed it in the shade so the baby was somewhat protected but available to the adults. Unfortunately, when Jaime checked later that afternoon the baby was dead.
13 July 2012 - stunned Belted Kingfisher. A SMART shuttle driver reported an injured BEKI at 7th and Alaska. Deb Boettcher visited the site, but could not find the bird. Workers at the S.O.S. shop said it had hit a shop window or sign, then sat on the boardwalk for about a half hour, then flew away.
14 Sept 2012 - Harlequin Duck. The Back Alley Rock Shop contacted Sam Richert about a duck found near their shop. Sam and Jaime Welfelt collected the adult female Harlequin Duck, which had been put in a cardboard box with food and water. They transferred the HADU to a preassembled carrier with shredded paper. There were no visible signs of injury but the duck was slow to move and did not try to fly. The duck was left in the Beierly's fenced-in yard, the door to the carrier was removed so she could get out. When Jaime returned the next morning, the bird was in the grass beside the carrier. Juneau Raptor Center advised that the duck should be sent to them for rehabilitation since she seemed unable to fly. Jaime sent it to Juneau via Wings Air Service later that morning.
UPDATE: JRC reports that the duck is feeding and getting more active, a full recovery is expected.
Harlequin Duck (photo:J.Welfelt)