Newsletter Aug 2009 Final

Sea Biscuit Sentinel Volunteering is a thread woven into the fabric of Americana. It is what folks do to improve our neighborhoods one block at a time. My wife Dinah is a huge proponent of volunteering even when I am not so keen on some of the varied opportunities she discovers. For example, early in 2005 my wife and I were wandering down the beach with our two dogs. Dinah spotted a volunteer planting sea oats along the dunes and before you could say “Holy Moly,” we were planting sea oats from April through to the harvest in late September. We planted twice a week as we worked our way to the west end of the island. So be careful what your partner volunteers you for.

another beach stroller and we had that pelican surrounded, with no chance he would escape. Five minutes gave way to ten and as I looked across the dunes I could see a huge net over the shoulder of a petite figure coming towards us on the beach. I thought that this surely must be the individual who will take this docile beast off our hands, and we waved her over.

Recently as we were again strolling on the beach, we came upon a pelican that seemed dazed and confused. He was just sitting there on the beach minding his own business, which we thought was odd because pelicans can probably go an entire week without setting a web foot on a beach. Uncertain of the next step, we did what any concerned citizen would do: we called the law, or in this instance the Town of Oak Island since we actually were across the line of demarcation from Caswell Beach where we reside. The individual we spoke with took our cell phone number and said that “Someone will be in contact with you directly.” We gave the operator our 10-20 (nifty police jargon for our location) and sure enough like magic the phone rang within a few minutes. The person on the other end was very precise and clear with her instructions. “Don’t let the pelican get into the water. Surround and cut off his access. I will be there in ten minutes.” We enlisted the aid of July 2009

“Cut him off from the beach as I move in from the rear,” she instructed, a most clever stratagem to bag this bird. As we moved closer and before the net could capture the critter, he winged off towards the west barely above the waves, seemingly headed to the Yaupon Pier (now the Oak Island Pier but us residents of the east end prefer the former designation). I felt sheepish and so did Dinah; the bird could fly after all.

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thought, what have you gotten us in to now?

As I attempted my best apology I heard the net lady say, “Too bad we missed that opportunity to catch him. Did you see he is favoring his left wing? He may have an injured wrist.” What? How could she tell that? I looked at my own wrist. Wow, pelicans have wrists too? “I’ll most likely get him before it all said and done,” our net lady said. She thanked us for being concerned and gave us a brochure outlining the attributes of the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter. And within a blink of an eye she was gone. As we were walking back to our condo, Dinah, who had been looking at the brochure, offered this nugget, “You know, I think we should volunteer at this facility, the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter.” Oh-oh, would this be like planting sea oats?

The first time we volunteered we met four pelicans, a couple of loons, a gannet, a laughing gull, an owl and several other of nature’s feathered friends. We were introduced to the pelicans’ private pool, a converted hot tub someone had donated, as well as pens which were built with volunteer assistance. We were amazed at the facility inside: an examination and evaluation room, a dormitory for the more severely injured and lots and lots of animal carriers or crates that had been donated to the shelter. Dinah and I are not the only ones who volunteer at Sea Biscuit. Mary Ellen has a dozen or so folks who will readily appear at her door to render assistance when needed. We clean cages, muck the swimming pool and hot tub, make repairs, assist in feeding and evaluation, care for the injured, and do a lot of praying. Mary Ellen has also enlisted the aid of a couple of veterinarians in the area for x-rays and counsel, and she has folks donating towels, cages, liquid soap, newspapers, fish (pelicans can eat 6-8 each daily), brooms, mops, tweezers, gauze, just about anything a clinic would require.

It took about a month for us to get our minds right to call the Shelter and Mary Ellen Rogers, the curator, ringmaster, ornithologist, and orchestrator of this menagerie of feathers and talons. She was delighted that we would offer our services. We had to sign several disclaimers that we would not hold Sea Biscuit liable for any injuries or damages should we become incapacitated in handling the birds. Dinah, I 2

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The real joy is the release of a healthy bird back into the wild. Even though they are coaxed to fly free there is still one released bird who resides in the surrounding trees. He swoops down and lands on your head, hoping for a free snack, and he will eat out of my hand.

Creatures large and small - our feathered friends from all over eastern North and South Carolina - are brought to the facility each week for care and rehabilitation. Mary Ellen has cared for pelicans, wood ducks, pigeons, blue-jays, wrens, grackles, mocking birds, woodpeckers, owls, gannets, laughing gulls, loons, hawks, and an occasional unidentifiable creature, all of whom need aid.

Our volunteering at the Shelter has its moments, like the time Mary Ellen asked us to take some “ice” to the Wildlife Center on Yacht Drive on our way home. We thought nothing strange about the request until Dinah peaked in the bag and discovered “mice” for the owl that had been transferred to the Center!

Volunteering with the “Bird Lady” has its rewards. We knew we had the confidence of the ringmaster when we arrived recently to volunteer and Mary Ellen, who was late for her part time job, exclaimed to us, “You know what to do, see you later.” That endorsement pales in Just so you know, in 2008 Mary Ellen, whom comparison to the satisfaction Dinah and I get we affectionately call the “Bird Lady,” took in upwards of 300 birds and was able to rehabilitate when a bird is released and takes its place back and release more than 50%. Unfortunately birds in the wild, somewhere over the rainbow! in the wild do not adapt well to captivity even Rick and Dinah Rucker though the alternative would be certain death. It is traumatic to witness so many birds expiring although the best of care has been administered. Many very young hatchlings barely weighing in at 10 grams are brought to the Shelter in the spring and we do our best to care for them and encourage them to eat and thrive. Sadly for us and for the hopeful bird-loving folks who bring baby birds, many are unable to survive. July 2009

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SHELTER STATISTICS AS OF JULY 1, 2009 storms at sea. We had 11 loons and 5 young gannets. Most of these died within a few days There were 107 incoming birds after Jan 1. of arrival either from starvation or a disease that Fifteen were in such bad shape they died the affects waterfowl known as aspergillosis. same day. Orphaned spring hatchlings make up the other Of the 92 that survived the first 24 hours: category of birds found at the clinic every spring. 33 were released There were 10 tiny doves, 7 mockingbirds and 5 6 were transferred little wrens, plus chickadees, starlings, sparrows, 7 are still in care and bluejays 10 had to be euthanized 36 died in care There were 36 different species.The rest of the new patients included 14 gulls, 4 Died in Care pelicans, 5 frostbitten herons, several wood ducks, hawks, owls and little Euthanized songbirds. Still in Care

Over 30% came from Oak Island. Southport contributed 11, Wilmington had 10, and Caswell Released and Carolina Beach each had 6. Died Same Day The rest came from places as diverse as the species: Ocean Isle, Holden & Sunset Beaches, Boiling Spring Lakes, Leland, Lumberton, Whiteville, Kure Winter arrivals, if not injured, are mostly in two Beach, Supply, Varnumtown and Sunset Harbor. categories: Emaciated migrating shorebirds such as loons and gannets are severely impacted by winter Transferred

As a camera buff I gravitated to Flickr as a place to learn more about photography from folks of a similar bent. I took out a paid account to allow me to store backups of a number of pictures off my computer. I take pictures of a variety of subjects and among them the Shelter’s transient residents. To share the pictures with Mary Ellen easily I created a group for Sea Biscuit on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/seabiscuitshelter/. If you are reading this newsletter you are more than welcome to join the group and add your photos of Sea Biscuit. I add a link to the Sea Biscuit Blog(http://seabiscuitshelter. blogspot.com/) to pictures in the group. Recently Flickr has donated paid accounts to Sea Biscuit through the Tech Soup organization (http://www.techsoup.org), a clearing house for tech resources for non profits. Gus Grosch 4

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PELICAN BRIEFS It seems strange to walk or drive by the Sea Biscuit and NOT see pelicans in the backyard. Three have been transferred to a Florida sanctuary because they couldn’t be released into the wild. Another was released against his will! FROSTY arrived at Sea Biscuit Shelter from Sunset Beach on Feb 10. Diagnosed with frostbitten feet, her incoming weight was 4.5 lbs. She had hot tub therapy, medications and care in both inside and outside enclosures until release on April 2 at a weight of 6 lbs. On April 7, she returned to the shelter with a broken beak from a location 20 miles from the release site . Dr. Alyssa Travis stabilized her beak with splints. Meds included metacam and clindamycin. Her beak appears to be healing and has good blood flow, but will never be able to withstand the impact of an aerial dive from on high.

BERT arrived at Sea Biscuit Shelter from Oak Island on January 19, with a weight of 7.8 lbs Dr. Travis found a possible dislocated elbow but no broken bones on radiographs. Bert was given clindamycin and metacam for 10 days. His wing continues to droop and he is unable to fly.

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ERNIE was previously treated at the Sea Biscuit Shelter for a fish hook injury and arrived again at the shelter on April 5, 2009 from Oak Island weighing 8.2 lbs. The original leg damage from fishing line gave him a pronounced limp. His flight is adequate but he is imprinted after so many months in care. Though he was released, he displayed aggressive behavior to fishermen and beach visitors, He expects humans to feed him. He was in care for 7 out of his first 12 months.

SID VISCIOUS was transferred in to the Sea Biscuit from another shelter. He had also spent most of his first year in care. On arrival, he did not fly or dive for his fish. He chased or bit his caregivers bearing food. We observed his flight and his ability to compete for live fish. He had no physical problems. After conferring with other pelican rehabbers who suggested that he be released, Jim and Karen Freeze gave him a boat ride on the Cape Fear River. He is on pelican island with a lot of other juveniles – and no humans!

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The Sea Biscuit Support System 2009 They Give Their Time and Energy: They Made Large Donations: Volunteers who stepped up and helped when New supply cupboards, a functioning outdoor needed include Gus Grosch who spends his sink, partitions in the newest enclosure, a free time photographing and giving technical microscope, a conference in Raleigh and support so that we have this newsletter. Diane reference books were funded by Hope From Butzin, Linda Carver, Perry Grosch, Jane Helen Foundation, Jim Fowler, John Ennis, Kulesza, Janet Kurz, Jenny and Micah Kurzer, John Mayer, Rick and Dinah Rucker and Kayla Tom and Libby Steffens and the Snarr Family. I’m so proud of my Stine have all done hands on clinic work. Anne family and I must Corrao, Carol Hasty, Barb McLain, Allen acknowledge the Harrison, Jen Metzler, Mary Lynne Meissner, big contributions Jo O’Keefe, Dawn Olmstead, Mike Romano, of money, supplies Tammi Smith, Randy and Lisa Weller and and labor from: Carmel Zetts rescued and transported the Rick and Melody birds needing help. Dr. Alyssa Travis and Rogers; Garry and Terri Bruce; Andrew, Joshua and Kristina Bruce; and Kelly and Tessa Rogers. They Contributed Food, Money or Services: Shana Grisset, Beverly Guerre, The Kurzer Family, Richard and Edith Edwards, Gail Capel, Deborah Fosbury, Ardith Luke, Dave Mullaney, Bob and Alice Seidel, Royce Potter, Blackburn Seafood, Thomas Baldwin, Andrea Burchette, Betsie Lytton, Mary Goldfeder, Ann and Jim White, Jo OKeefe, Robert and Frances Jones, Randy and Lisa Weller, John and Mary Ellen Shadid, Southport Sail and Power Squadron, Sally Buchanan, Pam Rainey, Maxine Ray, Penny Chestnut, Mark Albert, Lee Baird, her professional team at River Road Animal Christine Alexander, Catherine Cheek, Thomas Hospital have donated their services to give Kuzenko, Mary Snead, Jill Jones, Patricia much needed expertise, medications and Roseman, Michael and Jennifer Albrycht, radiographs. Dr. Flint King and his Anita Vigorito, JoAnne Harrelson, George and staff at the Oak Island Animal Hospital assist in emergency cases Marilyn Emery. in a humane and caring manner. 6

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HAPPY ENDINGS the feisty guy. On arrival at SBWS, though his head was skinned, bruised and bloody, he hissed and growled at his keepers. After 3 weeks of healing and gobbling down crickets, he was released near the Southport Ferry Landing at the woods bordering the freshly plowed farm fields at the end of the road.

5 TINY WOOD DUCKS were orphaned near the Lumber River State Park on April 1st. Ranger Privette drove them down to Shallotte where they had a second transport to Oak Island. They are notoriously hard to keep alive and weighed from 19 to 23 grams (less than 1 ounce). After conferring with Jennifer Gordon at Carolina Waterfowl, they were put in a heated aquarium and given lots of mealworms. Two did not make it but the 3 survivors gained weight rapidly. In June, the little female was transferred to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the two boys are paddling around on Greenfield Lake in Wilmington.

An apartment complex in the city is not where you’d normally find a CHUCK WILLS WIDOW. But this bird kept flying into the atrium windows on the second story of The Colonial Apartments. Frank Wright captured July 2009

YELLOW SHAFTER FLICKERS get orphaned too. This one was brought to the River Road Animal Hospital on May 27th. He was not fully feathered and had a funny way of sticking out his tongue when eating. When he started to hammer on the walls of his cage a week later, we realized that it was a woodpecker. After gobbling up crickets and mealworms for the next three weeks, he was returned to River Rd., given another day of food in captivity on the back porch and finally released. But he chose to stay close by gradually getting his own food but being supplemented by staff feedings.

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To: Sea Biscuit Shelter 1638 E Beach Dr Oak Island, NC 28465 WISH LIST Cash donations will be used for food and veterinary supplies Things needed every Foodstuffs: Mealworms, crickets, day: fish under 12” long Mops and brooms, scrub brushes, live or fresh or frozen. detergents and vinyl Bird seed, sunflower seeds, rice baby cereal, gloves, paper towels, Food storage zip lock chicken baby food, bags. frozen chicks, frozen Office supplies, copy mice, live mice. paper, envelopes, Other stuff: Medical needs: A sand filter for the hot tub Scalpels, black light flashlight, molding Blender plastic for casts and Shelving splints. Call Mary Ellen Rogers at 910 278-7871

Mission Statement The Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter cares for injured or orphaned wild birds. We provide minimum medical care, safety from predators, food and shelter from the elements. When an animal is able to care for itself, it is released to the wild. We do not keep nonreleasable animals nor use heroic methods to sustain the quality of their life. However, the Shelter does make every effort to rehabilitate an endangered species and every animal brought here is treated with respect and caring.

Board of Directors Mary Ellen Rogers, President Diane W. Butzin, Secretary Jane A. Kulesza, Treasurer