2017 rescues

10 Apr 2017 - Bald Eagle.  Jami Belt received a report from Brandon Lawrence about an adult Bald Eagle unable to fly at West Creek in Dyea.  Jami, with Joanne and Andrew Beierly, and Deb Boettcher, mobilized to Dyea and joined Dorothy Brady (who lives nearby) to observe the eagle.  The bird didn't seem in distress, so Dorothy agreed to keep an eye on it and the eagle would be re-evaluated the next day.

UPDATE:  11 April - Dorothy reported the eagle was still unable to fly.  Jami consulted with the Juneau Raptor Center (JRC) - an intervention was recommended.  Jami, Dorothy, Deb, the Beierlys, Justin Kennedy and Shawn Jones worked together to capture the eagle and settle it into a kennel.  Alaska Seaplanes transported it to JRC in Juneau.  JRC moved it to a larger kennel, stabilized with IV fluids, and arranged to send it to the Alaska Raptor Center (ARC) in Sitka.

UPDATE:  18 April - ARC said that the eagle is in ICU but is eating on her own and appears to be stable. They couldn't see any injury to wings on an x-ray, but she is not flying to the higher perches, but rather staying low, so they are not sure why. They also said she had some facial injuries which are healing.

UPDATE:   28 April - the eagle (named Roo) had an infection which has been cleared up with antibiotics.  She is a female, about 7-8 years old.  Her wing is healing and she's now flying to higher perches and in with other eagles. 

UPDATE:  26 May - Roo had a fractured corocoid (part of the shoulder bone) but it is healing slowly and she is slowly flying up to higher perches.  They think it will be a few more weeks before they can evaluate whether she is releasable and when it is likely to happen.

 UPDATE:  28 June - Roo is still being held in the "main flight".  The rehabilitators are impressed with her Improvements to her ability to fly.  She seems to be healing well, and may be evaluated for release soon.

UPDATE:  3 August - by early July, the rehabilitators could tell that the beak healed with a permanent deformity at the base of the beak. Roo's flight was slightly crooked, but overall good.  She is still a candidate for release, but probably not this year.

UPDATE:  2 November - Jami visited Roo in Sitka! and sent this report:  she is in a large flight training enclosure with about 17 other bald eagles and is perching higher but still has some healing to do on her fractured corocoid . I didn't get a look at her exactly because, well frankly, the eagles all kind of looked alike and we couldn't see their id tags from outside the enclosure and couldn't see their faces well enough to notice the scars on her bill that make her unique to the others. But it was good to see the facility and know she is recovering.  We will be in touch with them in the spring for an update.

UPDATE:  mid March 2018 - Dorothy was in Sitka and was able to visit Roo!  Staff told her Roo was recovered and they are planning to release her at the end of March, so that she will be able to take advantage of the spring fish runs.  They said she should easily be strong enough to fly back to Dyea, and expect that she will show up there soon after she's released.  They will put identifying band(s) on her legs, so we can recognize her if we see her.

30 May 2017 - Cassin's Auklet.   AK Seaplanes contacted Elaine Furbish about a sea bird given to them by Cruise Line Agencies.  Elaine picked up the bird, which was alert and energetic but not frisky.  Assisted by Ken Russo, it was identified as a Cassin's Auklet.  A quick exam found no broken bones, blood or other signs of injury.  The feathers were disheveled and looked somewhat waterlogged.  Alexia with JRC suggested that unless it had a bony keel (indicating malnourishment), the best course of action would be to release the bird.  She recommended a place near the shore, but not too close to the water so that the bird wouldn't be tempted to "run away" into the water before having a chance to preen.  The keel had good fat around it, so the bird was released below the rocks at the mouth of the Skagway River.  We withdrew and watched for a short time, the auklet was calmly looking around and did not seem distressed.  A couple of hours later, the bird was gone and there were no signs of disturbance or predation on the ground where it was released.

31 May 2017 - Northwestern Crow.  Karl K. contacted Elaine about a young crow on the ground, unable to fly, under the outdoor tables at his Inn/Restaurant.  Other crows were swooping at people, both his patrons and the passersby on the boardwalk in front of the Inn. This had been going on since the day before, and people were being driven away from his businesses.  Elaine and Andrew B. responded and after a few minutes looking among tables and being swiped in the head by 2 adult crows, they found a nearly fledged or recently fledged crow between two planters.  The young crow was aware of us, but was not alert, and seemed weak and slow.  Two people emerged from the restaurant, one said they had observed the young crow spreading it's wings, which seemed to have normal feathers.  Elaine and Andrew easily captured the bird, with help from the two people to shoo away the adults so that fewer head hits were received.  The young crow was settled into a kennel, Alexia at JRC agreed to take the bird, and Alaska Seaplanes transported the bird on their noon flight - thank you AK Seaplanes!

UPDATE:  Alexia reported that is was a young, fledged crow, without any obvious signs of sickness or injury.  It was dehydrated and hungry, but was taking water and a few small amounts of food, recovery seemed likely.

       UPDATE:  2 June - the crow was unable to keep down much food, and because of it's failure to thrive, it was euthanized.

7 July 2017 - Northwestern Crow.  Police dispatch contacted Elaine about an injured crow at Sgt. Preston's.  Chris & Teri V. had the bird in a cardboard box, with some food and water.  It was holding a wing askew, but seemed otherwise healthy and alert.  A boy caught the bird since it couldn't fly, and brought it to Sgt. Preston's.  This bird had been seen by a number of people in the general area over the 3-4 days, with drooping wing and not flying.  JRC agreed to take the bird, and AK Seaplanes transported it later that day.  

        UPDATE: the crow was euthanized

28 July 2017 - Bald Eagle.  Shelby S. passed on a report from C. Jared about a BAEA trailing a balloon tangled around it's talons.  When she looked at the location, the eagle was not found.

29 July 2017 - Northwestern Crow.  C. Williams called police dispatch about a crow behind City Hall, not flying and with a possible injured wing.  Elaine found a young crow at the creek across the street from City Hall.  It's feathers were roughed up, and it was calling loudly and almost constantly.  It hopped around, drinking from the creek and eating bugs;  it made a few short flights of 4-8 feet.  It seemed healthy and alert, perhaps it was just recovering from a tussle with other crows.  

2 Aug 2017 - Dark-eyed Junco.  Steve B. found a small bird in the alley behind his house, that appeared to be drenched in motor oil.  Dispatch contacted Elaine, who collected the young Junco.  It was not responsive, panting, and couldn't hold itself upright.  About 10 minutes later, the junco died.

14 Aug 2017 - Northwestern Crow.  Teri V. contacted police dispatch about a young injured crow at Sgt. Prestons.  Elaine got the call and connected with Teri, who showed her the crow at the base of some shrubs.  The left wing and leg were not working, and there may have been sign of injury.  Teri said the parents were still feeding it, and it occasionally flaps it's wings but doesn't really fly.  When the parents are not nearby, it usually rests under a shrub for protection from other crows that try to pick on it.  Since the parents are still caring for the young crow, we decided to monitor it for now.

15 Sep 2017 - Common Raven.  Police dispatch contacted John Hischer, and later Jami B., about an injured raven reported by Scott S. on the boardwalk in front of the Skagway Outlet Store.  Scott said it had blood around its eye and there was blood on the boardwalk near it.  Joanne got phone calls from both John and Jami, and looked for the bird but could not find it.  Also Jami searched for the bird and could not find it.   John went to the site, and saw a small, possible juvenile raven with an injured eye.  The CORA was lethargic and bleeding from the left eye.  He contacted JRC and placed the raven into a travel kennel for transport.  Alaska Seaplanes took the raven to Juneau that afternoon -- THANK YOU to AK Seaplanes !

21 Nov 2017 - Pine Grosbeak.  Police dispatch contacted Elaine about a gray bird that couldn't fly, called in by Heidi L.  in midtown.  The bird was a female Pine Grosbeak, which had been placed in an arctic entry to protect it from magpies and crows that were picking on it.  The bird had only one tail feather, and tufts of feathers sticking out in the neck and shoulder area.  It seemed alert and energetic, and was feeding on some mountain ash berries provided to it.  However, it didn't attempt to fly and was weak and did not struggle much when picked up and put in a padded box for transport.  Elaine put it in a mildly warm place to calm down for examination.  After a few minutes, the box was opened and the bird started to jerk and shake, then stopped breathing.  Examining the body, pecking wounds were found in the neck area, and one wing seemed to be dislocated.