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!
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!
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