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Today was Hectic as hell, I'm tired.
12 years ago
General
So I got to the center at 9. I figured it would give me time to get ICU taken care of before I have the first of 3 programs at 10. All 3 programs are for groups of second graders. There is me and 1 volunteer in today.
So I'm getting ICU worked on, feeding the nestling that came in last night and cleaning cages, treating injured birds (one is on antibiotics and another needs wounds cleaned). The rest just need to be put into clean cages.
I finish up about 9:40 with ICU and as I'm cleaning up and getting ready to grab the kennels and table for the program birds someone rings the bell. ANOTHER NESTLING OWL IN HER ARMS.
So I grab the baby give her info to call and check up on him and go back in ICU. He's healthy but hungry so I ask a volunteer to grab the kennels and set up for my program while I gut and cut up a few mice and begin stuffin kiddo with food.
First program 10-10:45. Second program 11-11:45... 12-12:30 lunch.
Then I go and get the birds for the 3rd program ready and stuff the 2 nestlings with a small rat after gutting and chopping it up. 1-1:45 consists of the 3rd program. After the program I clean up kennels and put birds away. 2pm hits and I'm feeding the rest of the birds in ICU, most can self feed but we have a Great Horned Owl with 2 broken legs who needs to be hand fed as well as 2 more almost fledged babies who need a few rats cut up for them.
The owl fledgling with broken legs by the way has splints on them and is literally floating in a bin with packing peanuts while they heal.
ICU is taken care of and it's time to prep food for all the rehab and resident birds. Again most get whole food but there are also 3 more fledgling owls in the rehab area with the foster mom who need their food cut up still (the 2 almost fledged owls in ICU will probably go outside tomorrow).
Feeding and everything is finally done about 3:30 and I chop up one more small rat and stuff the nestling owls one more time before I close everything down and put things away (the center has public hours from 11-4).
At almost 4:30 it's time to go home.
I'm beat, usually I have time for an hour lunch and a few breaks to stop and do paperwork and rest my feet.
Not today, the only time I sat down was my 30minute lunch.
Btw, if you lost count we have 8 baby owls, 3 fledglings outside, 2 fledglings going outside tomorrow one fledgling with 2 broken legs and 2 nestlings.
ICU right now besides great horned owls also has, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Swainson's Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Prairie Falcon, 1 Saw-whet Owl, and an adult Great Horned Owl.
Outdoor rehab besides the owl fledges with the foster mom has 3 Red-tailed hawks, 1 ferruginous Hawk, 1 Raven, 1 crow, 4 Mississippi Kites and there are 2 more adult great horned owls outside as well.
We also have 21 resident/education birds. (3 Golden Eagles, 2 Bald Eagles, 2 American Kestrels, 2 Screech Owls, 2 Great Horned owls, 1 Barred Owl, 2 Swainson's Hawks, 1 red-tailed Hawk, 1 Raven, 2 Turkey Vultures 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Mississippi Kites) and oh also the barn cat who doesn't catch mice and a room of breeder rats and a room of breeder mice that all have to be given fresh water and fed during the day as well (we clean on rotations so only mice had t be cleaned today).
*breathes, drinks more water* did I mention it was over 90 degrees today on that bluff the center is on and programs are held outside?
I'm a little dehydrated and sunburnt.
I miss being paid to do this stuff lol.
It was a good day and I will probably sleep pretty damn well tonight after a few beers lol.
So I'm getting ICU worked on, feeding the nestling that came in last night and cleaning cages, treating injured birds (one is on antibiotics and another needs wounds cleaned). The rest just need to be put into clean cages.
I finish up about 9:40 with ICU and as I'm cleaning up and getting ready to grab the kennels and table for the program birds someone rings the bell. ANOTHER NESTLING OWL IN HER ARMS.
So I grab the baby give her info to call and check up on him and go back in ICU. He's healthy but hungry so I ask a volunteer to grab the kennels and set up for my program while I gut and cut up a few mice and begin stuffin kiddo with food.
First program 10-10:45. Second program 11-11:45... 12-12:30 lunch.
Then I go and get the birds for the 3rd program ready and stuff the 2 nestlings with a small rat after gutting and chopping it up. 1-1:45 consists of the 3rd program. After the program I clean up kennels and put birds away. 2pm hits and I'm feeding the rest of the birds in ICU, most can self feed but we have a Great Horned Owl with 2 broken legs who needs to be hand fed as well as 2 more almost fledged babies who need a few rats cut up for them.
The owl fledgling with broken legs by the way has splints on them and is literally floating in a bin with packing peanuts while they heal.
ICU is taken care of and it's time to prep food for all the rehab and resident birds. Again most get whole food but there are also 3 more fledgling owls in the rehab area with the foster mom who need their food cut up still (the 2 almost fledged owls in ICU will probably go outside tomorrow).
Feeding and everything is finally done about 3:30 and I chop up one more small rat and stuff the nestling owls one more time before I close everything down and put things away (the center has public hours from 11-4).
At almost 4:30 it's time to go home.
I'm beat, usually I have time for an hour lunch and a few breaks to stop and do paperwork and rest my feet.
Not today, the only time I sat down was my 30minute lunch.
Btw, if you lost count we have 8 baby owls, 3 fledglings outside, 2 fledglings going outside tomorrow one fledgling with 2 broken legs and 2 nestlings.
ICU right now besides great horned owls also has, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Swainson's Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Prairie Falcon, 1 Saw-whet Owl, and an adult Great Horned Owl.
Outdoor rehab besides the owl fledges with the foster mom has 3 Red-tailed hawks, 1 ferruginous Hawk, 1 Raven, 1 crow, 4 Mississippi Kites and there are 2 more adult great horned owls outside as well.
We also have 21 resident/education birds. (3 Golden Eagles, 2 Bald Eagles, 2 American Kestrels, 2 Screech Owls, 2 Great Horned owls, 1 Barred Owl, 2 Swainson's Hawks, 1 red-tailed Hawk, 1 Raven, 2 Turkey Vultures 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Mississippi Kites) and oh also the barn cat who doesn't catch mice and a room of breeder rats and a room of breeder mice that all have to be given fresh water and fed during the day as well (we clean on rotations so only mice had t be cleaned today).
*breathes, drinks more water* did I mention it was over 90 degrees today on that bluff the center is on and programs are held outside?
I'm a little dehydrated and sunburnt.
I miss being paid to do this stuff lol.
It was a good day and I will probably sleep pretty damn well tonight after a few beers lol.
