Bubba and Friends, Inc.

 I have to post more stuff. The discussion on Tom Roger's facebook page has solicited a mass of emails!!!
First I have to say hello to the guys in BSA Troop 4 in Griffin, Ga. Good scouts and great troop! Now get off the internet and help somebody!!

Received the juvenile Bald Eagle necropsy report today. This was the Bald Eagle that arrived here the Sunday before Christmas. He, yes it was a male, died of Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy(AVM). This is a neurodegenerative disease contracted by the eagle from eating coots(a water bird). The Bald was picked up on the Henry County-Spalding County line, slightly northeast of Griffin, at the new Towaliga Reservoir. We received him about 3 pm. He was dead before dawn inspite of hours of fluid therapy, we suspected lead poisoning so fluids were run. This is the first case of AVM we have seen. It is a horrible death to see because the Eagle's nervous system is destroyed fairly quickly. Unfortunately I don't think it will be the last. We are already working on a protocol.
Program requests for 2011 are already coming in. Unfortunately we are having to procrastinate on confirmation because of funds. As Director I have always said " I will never deny kids a program because of money" because it is their wildlife too. In the past we managed to almost break even most of the time but we never said"no". In 2010 for the first time in 15 years I had to say no. The massive influx of 128 raptors in 2010 has strained, drained, and devoured our resources. In the winter of 2009/2010 we lost 2 of our 4 freezers, they basically wore out in perfect cadence with Murphy's Law. The same winter brought much destruction to flight pens, made of untreated wood, rendering them marginally useable. Fundraising attempts were quickly shelved as the flood of hungry orphans, injured wings, and concussions flowed into the mix. Volunteers like the Rogers and Paul Powers used  their photographic skills, at their own expense, to try and raise enough sandbags of money to stem the flood. Their futile efforts are worthy of praise and I respect them all(many of their pictures are on the website). 2011 has left us empty. For this reason I am unable to confirm dates for any kids programs.
Quick background explanation on programs. Let's say you want a program on Saturday at the Library. On Wednesday we start setting up the curriculum for the program(we don't do shows!). Everybody learns their parts and then we start weighing the birds who will participate. By the time Friday night arrives 20 plus manhours have been put into preparation for our 1-2 hour program with you. Our programs are focused and loaded with information(and fun too!). All this effort requires funds even for preparation. One teacher was amazed at how much money we saved the school system when we went to the school instead of buse loads coming to us.
Anyway kids, teachers, librarians, keep the faith. I am working on it. We are working on it. Kids please don't think you aren't worth it because of funds. You matter and I will figure something out.
Let me put a big sharp object in a common illusion- We are not employees of the federal or state governments, their agencies, or their vendors. Inferred in that statement is the rest of the message- we don't receive any funding from the employers we don't work for! All our funding comes from you. Your donations. We even got tax exemption status just for you so we can take care of your wildlife!

 A New Year is here and we are already behind. No holiday break as the injured continue to arrive. The Red Tailed Hawks, Barred Owls, and Screech Owls are hunting along the highways and getting hit.
Thanks to Dr. Duke for procuring a microscope for us. It will be extremely helpful and save us a few trips to the Veterinarians office.
A beautiful Great Horned Owl arrived here from Laurens Wildlife Rescue. Imprinted by selfish humans. Vonda Morton did a great job recovering this GHO as it ran along the ground instead of taking flight. She did a thorough exam and followed it up with a visit to her Vets. The GHO was transfered to us for evaluation and flight conditioning. The future is bleak as imprinted GHOs usually have to be euthanised.
The wild owls should be nesting. Freezing cold & windy but they are sitting on eggs. 
We have been getting calls about hawks getting people's chickens. Folks chicken are a prey species. Free ranging chickens are a good idea in Norman Rockwell pictures. In real life they are ideal prey for coyotes, foxes, racoons, weasels, and bobcats. This time of year food for the wild critters is at a premium as they all try to survive this cold winter. You might consider a structure called a Chicken coup to keep Foghorn Leghorn and the girls safe. 
More to come.....  

 Thanks for all the feedback! We are going to fly right before long.
As of this posting we have taken in 120 raptors and released 88 back into the wild. For people who follow numbers these numbers are somewhat deceptive.
Our release success reflects the lack of severe injuries, ie crushed bones etc, that have appeared in intake this year. The vast majority of the injuries were legitimate injuries, but were correctable.
I have heard of organizations that pick and choose their intake patients so their numbers will look good. This organization does not. We are not rehabbing 24/7 365 for numbers. Our efforts are directed at keeping OUR wildlife in the wild. I learned years ago that you can't make a decision about a raptor until you have it in your possession.
The migration is in full progress. Notice the numbers of hawks on powerlines and power poles. If you look carefully you can see Kestrels, the smallest falcon, sitting on power lines. Around central Georgia Kestels usually show up just about the time winter hits.(Did you notice the temps today?)
With these temps it is a daily struggle to keep water pans thawed out. Food intake has double as the in house raptors struggle to maintain normal body temperatures.
It is now warm enough so I can get out here and start all over again.
Later

 Our website is finally up ! Special thanks to everyone who assisted us technologically challenged folks.
It's December and the owls are preparing to nest. It's time to get your screech owl nest boxes up.
This blog will answer questions you submit about raptors-their behavior, their life histories, and their distribution. Also we offer ideas to keep your place raptor friendly.
We will try to follow a few cases on this blog. Keep in mind sometimes they don't make it.