(Photos: 1-- Oliver enjoying last swim at hospital. 2-- The recovered Oliver swimming freely away at Harlem Mere. 3-- "White Face," Barnacle Goose at Central Park Reservoir. 4-- "Casper," safe at last at Wild Bird Fund.)
I am very grateful on this Thanksgiving Day to have made the acquaintance of fellow bird lover, Lianna this past year. Without her, the rescue of injured and needy birds in Central Park would be far more difficult, if not impossible.
I am also grateful for the existence of the Wild Bird Fund in New York City. Without this vital facility and all those who support it either financially or through volunteer work, the injured, sick and abandoned wild (or domestic) birds would have no safe place to go for treatment, sanctuary and healing:
Yesterday, I met with Lianna at the Wild Bird Fund to pick up Oliver, the wild mallard whose leg was damaged and nearly broken from embedded fishing line.
Oliver spent almost two weeks at the hospital during which he was treated with antibiotics (to prevent infection) and calcium to build up the fragile and weakened bone.
Oliver was speedily swimming in the small pool when Lianna and I arrived.
When for a moment, he stepped out, I was stunned to see him standing on both legs.
"Wow, that is amazing!" I said to Rita, the director of the facility. "He had not been able to put both legs on the ground before. He used to flop over and try to move forward on his belly and wings. Now there is just a slight limp. Incredible, the recovery!"
"Yes, he has healed very nicely," replied Rita with some pride. "You did a very good job in removing all the fishing line. There is no swelling or infection. He should do well now."
But, Oliver was not terribly grateful for all the concern and attention that had been focused on him.
When offering my hand to him, Oliver attempted to bite.
That was actually a good sign according to Rita.
It is obviously important for wild birds to maintain vigilance and wariness of people and other potential threats to their safety.
Nor, did Oliver cooperate when Rita tried to grab and put him into a carrier. She and a volunteer had to use a net.
But, once Oliver was securely inside the carrier, I spoke with Rita about the possibility of bringing in Casper, the debeaked, white Moscovy or Pekin duck recently dropped off at Harlem Mere.
Rita agreed that due to his tameness with people, debeaking, lack of flock and inability to fly, Casper should be rescued and found an appropriate home. She assured me she had connections for the responsible and humane placement of domestic, human-friendly ducks, provided the facility had room to temporarily house them.
While rescue was ideally suited for after Thanksgiving, I had concerns about getting Casper out of Harlem Mere as soon as possible.
The previous night when seeing him at the Mere, I noticed Casper was not capable of quickly flying into the water when a dog or other threat passed by.
Although the other domestic ducks cannot fly more than a couple of feet off the ground, they are capable of quick escape to water when necessary.
Casper, by contrast, could not fly at all and also walked and swam slowly presumably due to bow and somewhat misshapen legs.
Casper was quite literally, a "sitting duck" at Harlem Mere. -- A sitting duck that walked up to people.
I could not even be sure, Lianna and I would see Casper when returning with Oliver to Harlem Mere yesterday.
Considering the many owned dogs who run off leash in the early mornings, every day was a crap shoot for this vulnerable and easily trusting bird.
After making a donation to the facility and with Oliver safely in Lianna's Sherpa bag, we made our way to Harlem Mere by walking north through Central Park. We passed around the Reservoir where hundreds of Sea Gulls and a number of flocks of Canada geese and various ducks rested on the water.
I imagine many of the birds to be migratory.
If that be the case, the geese have migrated much earlier this year, than last -- perhaps signifying a cold winter ahead. (Last winter was unusually warm in New York City. I did not see migratory geese in appreciable numbers until the first week in December. This year they have seemingly arrived as early as October.)
Finally arriving at the Mere, there were few birds on the water.
It appears that many of the mallards and geese regularly seen at night at the Mere, fly to the Reservoir during the day as it is free from dogs and human activity.
For example, "White Face," the barnacle goose who flocks with a family of Canadas was observed yesterday at the Reservoir. At night, he and his flock are frequently seen at the Mere in recent days.
However, the four new domestic ducks were at the Mere yesterday and like, Casper, routinely walk up to people, including Lianna and me. (I worry too for these guys, though they are capable of quick escape when need be and are very organized and protective as a flock. )
Lianna and I opened the carrier and Oliver immediately popped out.
The healed drake stepped on the grass, took a quick look around and without so much as a glance back at us or the four domestic ducks chomping down cracked corn on the grass, took to the water.
"So much for gratitude!" I laughed to Lianna. "Look at King Olilver go!"
It was about then that we noticed on the other side of the lake, Casper.
Casper was alone near the Dana Center and apparently beseeching food from a passing man.
"Maybe we should go over there," Lianna said.
"No," I replied. "Casper should eventually see us and come this way. Let's just wait a bit."
Sure enough, Casper eventually noticed us and took to the water, slowly swimming in our direction.
Within minutes, Casper was on the grass in front of us. Like an expert, Lianna picked Casper up and placed him in the carrier without any struggle.
The entire rescue took less than a minute.
With Casper secured in the carrier, Lianna and I then walked back to the Wild Bird Fund.
Rita had apparently left for the day, but fortunately, several workers and volunteers were still there.
They were surprised to see us showing up with a new bird, but I explained the matter had already been discussed with Rita and that Casper was not safe to be left at the Mere.
The staff was even more surprised when noticing Casper's shortened and severed top bill and how short his wings had been clipped.
"Who would do this to a bird?" one of them asked sternly.
Without going into how debeaking is common in chickens, turkeys and some marketed "meat" ducks, we all agreed it was simply a cruel thing to do.
As for the wings, staffers informed me that eventually the wings grow back, though in domestic breeds, the birds are only capable of very limited flight (as noted, a few feet off the ground.)
Casper cheerfully walked around the reception area of the Wild Bird Fund and quickly endeared himself to everyone (though not being entirely "housebroken").
One of the workers prepared a roomy cage for him, complete with two hefty bowls of duck food, greens and fresh water.
I picked up Casper and we placed him in the cage. Within seconds, he was heartily partaking of the delectable treats.
Casper seemed to take no notice of the two injured Canada geese or Wild Turkey (with broken leg) housed in the same general area. He was too busy enjoying his "Thanksgiving" chow.
Casper was finally safe and out of danger -- perhaps for the first real time in his life.
Finally leaving the Wild Bird Fund with Lianna, I felt immensely grateful to everyone and how beautifully the day had turned out.
Every day that this compromised and vulnerable duck was at the mercy of the wild, so to speak, was a day I worried and could not feel comfort with.
I felt yesterday that a burden had suddenly been lifted from my shoulders.
The wild and healed mallard, Oliver, was happily back in his home again. And the domestic duck, Casper was on the first leg of his journey to a hoped and forever home to that which he has attachment to -- humans.
On this Thanksgiving Day I feel gratitude to the people who are able to see and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of our feathered friends for who they are and not what they are in terms of "food, trophy or ornament."
Thank you, Lianna. Thank you, Wild Bird Fund.
And thanks to all who are nurtured in spirit and soul by the beauty and sheer wonder of the nature around us. -- PCA
**********
1 comment:
I'm not quite sure how I found your page but I truly enjoy reading your page.
Post a Comment