IN THE NEWS~2015

kittenface · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 1:09 pm

Had to post this one it is so cool
Bird strike! Aggressive falcon takes down a GLIDER after it flies too close to its nest

Read more, video:

Tsusan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:40 pm

And the final score : Falcon 1, drone 0 !

kittenface · **Posted:** Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:39 pm

LAKEVILLE
Sickly bald eagles from Lakeville treated at Tufts Wildlife Clinic

LAKEVILLE — Three ailing bald eagles found Wednesday on the shores of Assawompset Pond were taken for care to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, said Middleboro Conservation Agent Patricia Cassady.
She told The Standard-Times on Saturday that she had a brief conversation with Lakeville Conservation Agent Nancy Yeatts, and learned the birds were being re-hydrated at the clinic, located in North Grafton near the Massachusetts Turnpike outside Worcester.
She had no further details, however, and Yeatts has referred all questions about the matter to the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, which in turn referred them to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
That agency issued a terse statement saying that "a total of three bald eagles (were) collected and transported for examination and care."
No one was available for comment Saturday afternoon at the Tufts clinic.
State environmental authorities are investigating the incident. The EEA speculated that the eagles might have been feeding on a farm animal that had been euthanized by drug, thus ingesting it themselves.
Bald eagles were virtually gone from the ponds in Lakeville two decades ago, but conservation efforts have paid off, and now there are 30 or more nests in the five-pond area, according to the 2013 bird count.

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:41 pm

THANK GOODNESS

Bald eagles escape after being trapped in tree :sum9:

Dunkirk, MD - On Jan. 25 at 7:40 a.m. Sammy Longfellow was leaving for work and heard what he initially assumed to be a hawk making a horrific "screeching" sound very close by. He looked in the direction of the sound and realized that it was not a hawk, but in fact a bald eagle which appeared to be lodged in the top of a tree by his yard.
Longfellow approached the tree and realized it was actually two bald eagles that had intertwined their talons during an apparent brawl and became wedged in the tree, unable to escape.
Longfellow contacted the Calvert County Animal Control Center who immediately dispatched the Department of Natural Resources to our home. Upon arrival of DNR officer, Justin Ball determined that a wildlife rescue was in fact necessary and officer Ball dispatched Dave and Shannon Edwards from a wildlife rescue organization in St. Mary's County, who arrived within the hour.
The iconic birds were assessed from the ground as best as possible by the wildlife rescue professionals, while waiting for a ladder truck to arrive to help gain direct access to the eagles for medical assessment and hopeful release after assessment.
Moments before the ladder truck was due to arrive, and after an estimated 7 hours that the birds hung intertwined upside down, both birds suddenly scuffled about, which was just enough to break themselves loose from one another.
Friends, family and authorities all witnessed the escape of these American icons as they flew into the rural sky over the farmland that surrounds us. Although the eagles were obviously shaken up, thankfully they appeared to be otherwise in good condition, reminding us why this fierce, proud and independent bird is the national symbol of strength and beauty for these United States of America.

More pictures here:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12703

Brawling or a mating that got out of hand? Breast to breast x 7 hours ... you would think we would be looking @ the "victor"! :furious:

Great story kittenface! :teehee:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63221

That was an amazing story....thanks for bringing it over from FB, KF!! (I never remember to do that. :girlcrazy:

..glad you do!! )

kittenface · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:43 pm

Eagles soar again after poisoning :sum9:

LAKEVILLE — Three bald eagles apparently poisoned by phenobarbital were released into the skies over Assawompset Pond in Lakeville Thursday, after about a week of treatment at Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton.
“They flew off very strongly when they were released,’’ said Dr. Maureen Murray, clinical associate professor at the clinic, who treated the birds and received that information from wildlife biologists at the scene. “We expect them to be just fine.’’
The release came 10 days after the first of the three birds was found ailing on the shores of the pond. Scott Harding of Acushnet discovered one of the eagles during a walk in the woods near the pond Jan. 21.
The bird was “really, really in bad shape’’ when he found it, he said. He thought the bird was dead and turned it over to determine if the eagle had a leg band. He was surprised and pleased when the eagle moved.
Harding asked to be present if the eagle was lucky enough to survive and be returned to the wild. “I felt a personal connection,’’ he said.
The eagle Harding discovered was one of a trio found on the shores of the pond on three consecutive days, Jan. 19, 20 and 21. The eagles may have been feeding off a farm animal that had been euthanized, causing the raptors to become sick from the contaminated meat, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Phenobarbital is frequently used to euthanize animals, Murray said. The eagles showed “classic’’ signs of phenobarbital ingestion, she said. The birds were unconscious, she said, when they were transported to the clinic.
Treatment involved keeping the birds comfortable and hydrated as the drug metabolized through their systems, Dr. Murray said. Within days, the eagles were bright-eyed and standing on their own, she said.
The outcome could have been worse if the birds had not been discovered when they were, she said. With no defenses, they could have fallen victim to cold weather conditions and predators.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police are assisting an investigation into the case by the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information was available Friday, according to Amy Mahler, spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Assawompset Pond is one of several areas in the state with a thriving eagle population, wildlife officials report.
The state began efforts to bolster the state’s eagle population in 1982. By 2013, there were 30 or more nests in the five-pond area around Lakeville. The bald eagle’s status in Massachusetts was upgraded from endangered to threatened in 2007.
“It’s a great success story,’’ Mahler said.
Pictures here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 5:14 pm

Its not really news, but there is a series of pictures of a Falcon going & getting a huge bird right out of the water.
Awesome shots.

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:11 pm

Pair of Bald Eagles Make Home on Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND — A pair of bald eagles have shacked up on Staten Island.

The bald eagle couple built a nest on an uninhabited island off the coast of Staten Island, the first bald eagles in at least 100 years to live in the city, according to the National Audubon Society .

The eagles were spotted moving material to make their nest on an unused dock early in January by a tugboat captain, according to the birder group.

The Audubon Society did not reveal the exact location of the nest for fear of poachers.

The couple aren't the first bald eagles to be spotted in the borough in recent years. Two young adult eagles were spotted last year practicing nest building in Prince's Bay, the Staten Island Advance reported.

Nearly 173 breeding pairs of the birds live in New York State and the population grows in the winter when the eagles from Canada and Alaska fly to find areas with open waters with fish inside, Audubon reported.

The population of bald eagles was nearly depleted nationwide due to the use of the pesticide DDT, according to Audubon. Since its ban in the 1970s, the population has gradually climbed and as it increases more eagles could pop up in the city as more birds look for food.

“Because eagle numbers are increasing,” Bob DeCandido, a Bronx-based ornithologist, told Audubon, “this is probably just the beginning.”

kittenface · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:19 am

Bald eagles injured last month on the mend at BEAKS

There is a short video and they have given them names. The first name is cute.

kittenface · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:44 pm

Bald Eagle shot and killed at Kansas lake :cryinggirl:

Picture & article here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:24 am

Bald eagles allegedly poisoned at Florida landfill after shelter dumped euthanized animals :gaaaaah:

This week, two dying bald eagles were found outside a Marion County, Florida landfill. One has died since they were discovered and the other is still being treated. In the last two years, there have been a dozen cases of bald eagles dying around the landfill:
The Animis Foundation alleges that the Marion County Animal Shelter has been dumping euthanized animals at the Marion County Baseline Landfill, which is located next to the shelter.
Whitfield said two years ago when a bald eagle was found dying at the landfill, Animis and Dr. Shannon Kennedy performed a toxicology screen on the eagle’s blood. She said the results were disturbing. Test results showed the eagle had been poisoned with phenobarbital, a drug commonly used by veterinarians to euthanize animals.

Because bald eagles are federally protected, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened an investigation.

Pictures & more here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:36 pm

Red Shoulder Hawk cam is coming soon this should be very interesting.
A reclusive red-shouldered hawk that has successfully nested in North Jersey for the past four years could soon become a web star.

Two environmental groups plan to install a video camera high in an Allendale tree this month to stream live shots of the hawk – an endangered species in New Jersey — on the Internet as the bird nests and tries to raise young this spring.

More here and picture of Laura the momma:

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:21 pm

Peregrine falcon nest box relocated
Feb. 10th 2015
With the impending demolition of Statesman Towers, biologists at Indiana State University have relocated the nesting box for a pair of peregrine falcons.
The new box was placed Dec. 18 on the southeast corner of the Sycamore Building, located downtown between Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue and owned by Sunset Harbor Inc., said Steven Lima, professor of biology at Indiana State.
The 6-year-old male falcon from Indianapolis and his mate have yet to use the new box, but their old Statesman Tower nest box was removed about a month ago.
"We hope they move when they start demolition over there soon. It should be enough of a disruption to get them to at least go someplace else," Lima said. "We do not know if they have found the new box or not. We'll see what happens."

Rest of the story & pictures here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:36 pm

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD: PEREGRINE FALCON NESTBOX INSTALLATION IN TRENTON, NEW FERSEY
February 11th, 2015

Pictures of the young female and she is GORGEOUS & story here:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12703

Can't believe she stayed on the corner of that roof for part of the time they were up there! Keep us posted Kittenface ... I see a new nest site in my future!!! Great story!!! :16val:

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:48 am

Great ending to this story!!!!!

Submitted / Sunshine Coast RCMP
February 23, 2015 12:00 AM

Story & picture here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:03 pm

The gall of this person to put it right outside.

Peregrine shot and found dead outside headquarters of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
By CarolineJones | Posted: March 02, 2015

more here:

kittenface · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:24 am

These kids rock

YOUNG LEADERS
Hampton Falls 4th-graders win State House fight for red-tailed hawk bill

CONCORD — A group of fourth-graders from Hampton Falls were just one vote away from a tough lesson in state politics.
But as their parents held their collective breath Tuesday morning, the Lincoln Akerman School students successfully moved a bill forward to make the red-tailed hawk New Hampshire's official state bird of prey, sending it to vote by the full House.
Eight LAS fourth-graders went to the State House March 3 with their teacher Jim Cutting and LAS Principal Mark Deblois to successfully tout their bill at its executive session before the Environmental and Agriculture Committee. The legislation would make the raptor one of two state birds of prey in the nation.
Elaine Andrews-Ahearn, a former Hampton Falls state representative who planned to sponsor the bill before losing her seat in the November election, attended Tuesday's session and said she was excited for the students. She’s stayed heavily involved with the bill since Rep. Renny Cushing, a Hampton Democrat, took over as sponsor.
“This was an incredible learning experience for the children,” Andrews-Ahearn said. “They did a gorgeous job, they really did. Really a perfect example of how this really works.”
Andrew Kriner, 10, acted as spokesman, joined by Casey Coleman,9, Joseph O’Connor, 10, Nathan Benish, 10, Daniel Blankenship, 9, Maia Delano, 9, Grace Vander Els, 10, and Addie Kinnaly, 9.
Andrews-Ahearn said she was surprised by how “contentious” the session was, and even got a little emotional when Rep. Christy Bartlett, D-Concord, motioned to designate the bill as inexpedient to legislate, which would have effectively killed it.
“I was really very heartbroken,” Andrews-Ahearn said. “My stomach went right down to my toes.”
The committee commended the children for their effort after hearing their presentation supporting the bill, which was accompanied by a live red-tailed hawk brought in by Kevin Wall, director of education for New Hampshire Audubon. The students outlined how the bird of prey is not only a “beautiful” bird that is common enough to be appreciated state-wide, but also that the species’ young are tended to by two parents that mate for life, both giving equal effort.
“Both the male and female are attentive to their young,” Coleman said. “They share in nest-building, incubation, feeding and raising of the chicks. This united parenting approach is an admirable example for New Hampshire’s families.”
The bill faced opposition, despite the age and innocence of the people presenting it.
Bartlett felt the red-tailed hawk was not the best choice for a state bird of prey, and that an endangered species, which the hawk is not, would be a better fit. She said there are five species in New Hampshire that are endangered.
Rep. Rebecca Brown, D-Sugar Hill, suggested the peregrine falcon, an endangered species that, like the red-tailed hawk, also mates for life and shares equal responsibility of its young.
The students managed to charm enough of the committee members into voting for their bill.
Chairman Robert Haefner, R-Hudson, said this wasn't the first bill he’d voted on that was proposed by fourth-graders. The last time, he went with the kids, he said, and he couldn't help but do it again Tuesday.
“I’m a pushover for fourth-graders,” Haefner said, saying he would oppose the motion to kill the bill.
After the vote, the students took a tour of the State House with Andews-Ahearn, Cutting, Deblois and their parents.
Jodi Kriner, Andrew Kriner’s mother, said she was happy with the trip.
“I thought it was fantastic," she said. "I think the students were well prepared. I think they were great advocates and showed why the state raptor should be the red-tailed hawk.”

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IN THE NEWS~2015

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