The usual blog must be postponed as we have a critical situation that requires immediate attention. You may remember the little Barn Owl by the Pepsi can.

He appears to be dancing but his left leg is deformed from a fall. The x-rays reveal a dislocated knee and fractures in 2 places. The fall from the barn rafters had a severe impact on his soft bones.
He has been progressing well. Appetite is superb and growth is consistent with his age.
He may never see the wild again
unless surgical intervention takes place.

In this picture you can see the deformity of the leg. The index finger is behind the knee. From the knee move downward toward the thumb. Notice how the foot is not in alignment with rest of the leg. There is full function of the foot so the nerves were not damaged.
This picture was taken prior to the first intervention by Dr. Gardner.
The Barnie was carefully anesthetised so the leg would relax. Dr. Gardner then wrapped the leg using a specially designed splint she developed for this particular case.
We were hoping for complete realignment and healing of all fractures.
June 26 we excitedly removed the splints. The knee and one fracture healed. The other fracture did not.

Waking up fom anesthesia(oh wow!) This little guy is a good candidate for a proceedure called external fixation. It requires putting surgical steel pins through the bones and using an external unit to keep the pins positioned until they heal completely. This is his last best hope.

Why is so much effort going into one little owl? Barn Owls are rarely seen yet we know they are out there. Their numbers have been dwindling. This little guy came from a barn near Meansville, Ga. There are 2 younger siblings still in the nest in the rafters of the barn. If we can get this leg repaired we may still be able to get him back with his siblings and they can all fledge. This a very rare opportunity to get one of these youngsters back in the wild. Best of all this farm is in a perfect location for Barn Owls to thrive.
Well you ask yourself "what has this to do with me?" He needs your help. We need your help to get this procedure done. A ball park figure for this procedure is around $400.00-$500.00. Our wildlife has no insurance policies, only us. This summer we have been so overrun with juvenile Redtails, Red Shoulders, Owls, and vultures our resources have been depleted. We need your help. 
We have a very narrow window of opportunity to get this procedure done. if you can spare $10, $20 or even more we need it.
Send your tax deductible checks to: Bubba and Friends, Inc.
                                                    PO Box 103
                                                    Zebulon, Ga. 30295
Or to donate electronically: laurenswildliferescueinc.org. Specify your  donation is for "Barnie". Since we do not have paypal yet LWR has agreed to accept donations on our behalf.
                                  
 

He has a chance to rejoin his family. Won't you help? It may be a hassle to write a check but think about the hassle basic movements are for him.
This is a Barn Family we rescued and relocated in 2001. It was very succesful because we all worked together.

Thank you for your time. I know the economy is tough and I hate to ask but we are so close, so close. A little from all of us can make a big difference.

GIve me your attention! It's catch up time again. Remember the Red Tail Hawks from last time? One hatched and one didn't. In spite of the great work by Jim Davidson the new baby lasted less than a week.

Here is a picture Jim took of the baby shortly after hatching. The baby required assistance to exit the egg as the membrane was very dry and restrictive. The device in the lower left corner monitors temp and humidity. We know the conditions were correct for the 4 days we had the eggs.
The second egg was opened and the chick was dead.

Laurens Wildlife Rescue sent us another unique case. According to LWR Director Vonda Morton, this little critter came in to care after it walked up to a person and stared pulling at his pants leg. These stories are great. This little baby will grow up to very large , very brown, and have a redhead. Right now it is an eating machine.

In the previous picture you saw the white fluffy baby that was identified as a Turkey Vulture. This one is a Black Vulture. Notice the creamy yellow colored down. Best way I know to identify the vulture is by the color of it's down.
Paul Powers was on the ground with his camera trying to photograph Bucky ( this Vulture has a name) when Bucky decided to stroll over and cuddle. So Paul quickly handed me the camera and I snapped this picture. It was unusual to see a baby Black Vulture intiate contact.
Bucky is a creamy fuzzy eating machine.
We are going to follow the development of these two in subsequent blogs. So you say you don't like these incredibly cute highly intelligent vultures? Hang on then I believe I can find something..... 

These 2 baby screech owls arrive from 2 different locations, one from CNC and the other from LWR. They are about the same age and both are in fine health. If you haven't noticed neither of them are pleased with the camera, the box or the pepsi. Both just finished their morning trough, I mean meal, and wanted to go to sleep. They achieved their goal about 5 minutes after this picture was taken. Currently they are progressing well and we hope to continue with more cheery pictures as they get older.
Pepsi does not pay us to use their product. We have used the cans for years. Since most folks don't carry rulers or tape measures I figured a drink can would be an easy point of measurement. Most folks know the size of a drink can. If pepsi should decide to send a check our address is on the contact page.
Drum roll please!
Here is a baby you rarely see.............

A real live baby barn owl. He took a terrible fall in a barn. He and his nest mate were rescued from a feed bin. The nestmate did not survive. Notice the right foot is turned toward the pepsi. He sustained a dislocation in the leg as a result of the fall. Otherwise he is a perfectly gangly baby barnie. He is currently under the expert care of Dr. Jennifer Gardner, DVM. We are hopeful for his future. I am adding a second picture of him since the two go great together!

In other news around the mews.......
Groucho the Oprey continues to confound us all. I figured after his wing was unwrapped he would be trying it out. Not Groucho. " You folks just throw my fish in here and get out." We are continuing to encourage him but he ain't playing the game.

Here at Bubba and Friends we try to find humor in as many things possible. It helps alleviate the frustration. The heat has set in along with the skeeters so we are back to changing water pans out daily. Plans are moving along to begin the new flight pen, the big one, the REALLY BIG one. Invitations to construct will be forth coming.
The first week in June I have been ask to present the raptors and the reptiles at the UGA Experiment Station summer camp in Griffin. Barbara Harris and company always run a good camp, they are a pleasure to work with. After my last visit I thought they might not invite me back. We played the Owl Game, organized chaos is the best desciption, and the kids did not want to quit. But the staff was good sports and we got it done.
We have had to turn down a number of programs due to lack of funding. Gas prices are killing us as well as a 70% drop in donations. It is the most horrible feeling to tell a kid "sorry we can't come because of money." Hey if you have a business and want make an impact on lives contact me. I will be glad to tell the folks who helped us get there!
It was great having Mr. Paul Powers visit and take a pictures. Paul and Amyjon Rogers are the 2 photographers we allow in to photograph the birds. They don't pay for the privilege, they have earned it. We receive many requests from photography clubs and groups to come out and photograph the birds. These birds are in rehab and do not benefit from contact with large groups of people.  Maybe Paul and AJ can start tutoring individuals. 
If you are highly motivated and straight up honest person who wants to help and get some money in return B&F,I is going to reopen 3 fundraiser postions.
The Fundraiser will get 25 cents on the dollar. We get 75 cents on the dollar.
Records have to be kept to satisfy our fans in the IRS and the Ga. Sec of State office. If you are interested contact me via the contact page, email, or telephone and I will meet with you to discuss it more.
Anyway it's late and I have prattled on long enough.
Thanks for your attention, you can have it back now.  
Steve