Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

MONTHLY FLYER
A Volunteer Newsletter
June 2016

Celebrating 40 years of excellence in

wildlife rehabilitation and research
Photo: snyders/moonbeampublishing

Editor: Loretta Carlson

THE BABIES ARE HERE; WE NEED YOU!

Perhaps it was the warm temperatures of February that tempted the birds to start breeding early. Whatever
the reason, we are ahead of 2015 caseload levels and have already admitted the first young Blue Jays.
The three summer shifts are scheduled as follows: 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.,
1 to 6:15 p.m., and 6 to 10 p.m. The 15-minute overlap allows a smooth
transition between shifts. So please check Volgistics to see where we
need help mosttypically evenings and weekendsand then sign up.
If you cannot work a full shift, but you find yourself with some
unexpected free timeeven a couple of hourscall Julie at (302) 7379543, extension 102, and she will let you know how you can help.
Thank you!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED DESPITE THE SEA OF YELLOW
by Andrea Howey-Newcomb, Clinic Director

Carolina Wrens waiting for you to feed

them.
Staff Photo

It's that time of year again when our caseload soars from 20 to more than 150 birds. Incubators fill up with
hungry nestlings, fledglings bebop around baskets and playpens, and injured baby raptors and baby killdeer
demand special attention. All of these new hatching-year birds are in addition to the growing list of adults that
require our world-renowned care.
At this time of year, we need a minimum of 18 volunteers a day to help feed
babies, care for adults, administer medical treatments, and keep the clinic
running smoothly. The need for volunteers does not go away after our
interns arrive. On the rare occasion when we have too many people, we will
keep volunteers on bird-care duty and assign interns to projects such as
cleaning out the lower barn, changing sand, cleaning the lower-level
treatment room, filing paperwork, repairing perches, and the never-ending
cleaning tasks in the clinic. No matter how many interns we have, the interns
can never replace our volunteer family.

Volunteer Wendy Hubbard (left)

feeds Carolina Chickadee as intern
Caitlyn Hamill observes.
Staff Photo

So why do we need so many interns and why are they given certain tasks?
Because of our astoundingly high caseload and patients with complex needs,
we require a larger staff base. We hire seasonal staff and bring in both stipend
and volunteer interns. Because the clinic rarely has days that are fully covered,
we need to fill those holes with interns. Many of the interns are working
40 hours a week and can offer consistent care to our special species.

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

However, do you know what makes our internship program so successful and competitive? YOU! You have
knowledge, techniques, experience, and friendship to offer and share with our interns. Please be patient with
them. They are in the process of learning new life skills to help them make their mark wherever their paths
may lead them. Tri-State is playing an integral role in shaping the lives and careers of these young advocates
for animals, wildlife, and the environment.
If you ever have a poor experience with the internship program or if you wish to be more involved with the
care of certain species, please talk to a supervisor, Julie Bartley, or Andrea Howey-Newcomb (Clinic Director
overseeing the intern program). Our goal is to give both interns and volunteers an enriched learning
experience. We want you to feel fulfilled and utilized andof courseto leave with a smile knowing that you
made a difference.
CLINIC SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE REMINDERS
Wear closed-toe shoes when working in the clinic. Sandals, crocs, and other open-toe styles do not afford
protection should you trip or drop something on your foot.
Please remember that all volunteers and staff members should park in the upper lot. We need room in the
lower lot for transporters and members of the general public bringing in baby birds and other patients. If you
are working the third shift, you may park in the lower lot. Volunteers who have difficulty walking or other
health issues may park in the lower lot at any time.
Please do not use your cell phone while you are working around the birds. Not only could making and
responding to calls or texts distract you from your work and become a safety hazard, but the sudden ringing
or pinging of the phone also could be stressful for the birds. Keep your phone in your car or the Volunteer
Room. You may send and receive calls or texts in the Volunteer Room, breakout area, or any of the offices.
STILL LOOKING FOR FOSTER WILD BIRD FAMILIES
Whenever baby owls, finches, wrens, goslings, and ducklings come through our doors, we hope we can return
these youngsters to their parents. However, some of our patients will be healthy orphans. With your help, we
can place these youngsters with foster families whose nests are located in suitably safe locations. Contact
clinic supervisor Brie Hashem (bhashem@tristatebird.org) if you know of good foster family candidates for
goslings, ducks, or songbirdsespecially species that nest in boxes. If you know where we can find a good owl
or hawk family, contact clinic supervisor Aimee Federer (afederer@tristatebird.org).
RECENT RELEASES
We finally released one of our last-remaining patients from 2015. Broad-winged Hawk
15-2551 came to the Tri-State clinic on November 26 from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in
Massachusetts. The juvenile originally went to Tufts in July 2015 after an apparent
impact, sustaining injuries to both its right leg and wing. The orthopedic injuries had
stabilized, but the bird needed time in our flight cage as well as implantation of damaged
feathers before it could be released. With supportive care, the hawk steadily regained its
strength and by April was ready for flight conditioning and flight encouragement under
the guidance of Jackie Kozlowski. On April 28, we implanted new tail feathers, dremeled
its beak and talons, and affixed a band while the bird was under anesthesia. On April 30,
we released the Broad-winged Hawk onsite at Tri-State in time for it to migrate to its
summer breeding grounds.
Staff Photo
Spring migration is underway, and we have admitted a number of warblers passing through our region. Donna
Vickers of the Newark Police Department found an Ovenbird on Main Street in Newark on May 5. Quiet on
admission, the adult warbler had soft tissue damage and head trauma, indicating a likely impact. After two
days of cage rest and pain medications, the Ovenbird was bright, lively, and flying well. We released it on the
Tri-State grounds on May 7.
The Veery that came to Tri-State on May 12 from Hockessin was an apparent impact victim. The adult
presented with a head tic, bruising on its thoracic inlet and left eye, ear, and wing, as well as a possible
fracture of its lower beak. Radiographs revealed no other abnormalities. With pain medication, supportive care,

Monthly Flyer, June 2016

and treatment for parasites, the Veery was self-feeding fruit, crickets,
mealworms, and earthworms by May 16. As its condition stabilized and it
began attempting flight in the playpen, we moved the bird to an outside cage
for further exercise. With its weight up, beak and other injuries resolved, and
excellent flight skills, the Veery was ready for release by the presenter on May
22. Learn more about the Veery in this months Featured Bird article.
Another impact victim was the Coopers Hawk that came into our clinic on
Supervisor examines the Veery.
March 23. Found in the road in Newport, the adult male had sustained a right
Staff Photo
ulna fracture, puncture wounds, and feather damage. We cleaned and
sutured the punctures and wrapped the wing while this high-stress patient was under anesthesia. By April 9,
the fracture was stable and well aligned and the hawk was self-feeding. By mid-April, the hawk was gaining
weight and practicing its flight skills outside. After two weeks in the large flight cage, the Coopers Hawks
flight skills and stamina were excellent, allowing us to release it in Newark on May 3.
Each year, many healthy baby birds come to Tri-State because people have a strong urge to intervene when
they see a young bird alone on the ground. In fact, many of these babies can safely remain in the care of their
parents. Such was the case for the Great-horned Owlet we admitted on May 1. The concerned homeowner
found the brancher on the ground in his yard. A thorough exam determined the youngster was healthy and
uninjured. We reunited this young Great-horned Owlet with its parents in Wilmington that same day.
OTHER RELEASES IN MAY
In May, we also released a Bald Eagle, an Osprey, a Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owls, a Turkey Vulture,
Canada Geese, Mallards, a Great Blue Heron, a Clapper Rail, a Killdeer, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird,
American Crows, Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow, a Black-throated Blue
Warbler, a Common Yellowthroat, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker, a White-throated
Sparrow, a Gray Catbird, a Blue Jay, Carolina Wrens, House Finches, American Robins, a Common Grackle,
Northern Cardinals, and Mourning Doves.
FEATURED BIRD: VEERY
Celebrated for their beautiful, flute-like songs, thrushes live everywhere in the
world except New Zealand and Antarctica. Among the thrush species found in
our region is the shy and secretive Veery. Named for its ethereal, downward
spiraling call, the Veery is a medium-sized thrush that spends the summer in the
dense deciduous forests of the northern United States, along the Atlantic Coast,
and as far south as North Carolina. This neotropical migrant spends the winter in
Brazil.
The Veerys head and back are a warm shade of cinnamon-brown with faint
spotting on its buff-colored breast. With a plump body, round head, and narrow
bill, this birds profile is reminiscent of the American Robin, but at 7 to 7.5 inches
long, the Veery is a bit smaller.
Hopping through the forest understory foraging for insects, fruit, and berries, the
Veery also gleans food from shrubs and tree branches.
Photo by Hank Davis

The Veery forms monogamous pairs and has one or two broods per year. The
female builds a nest of grass, twigs, and moss and lines it with soft bark and dry leaves. She places the nest
either in a low tree or shrub or on a platform in a hidden spot on the ground and incubates three to five eggs
for ten to twelve days. Both parents feed and defend the young.

Listen for the downward-spiraling song of the Veery, especially at dawn and dusk. According to All About
Birds, the oldest known Veerya banded malewas at least 13 years old when researchers recaptured and
released him during banding operations in Delaware in 2010. Learn more about the Veery at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithologys All About Birds website, www.allaboutbirds.org, as well as in Birds of North America, published
by the Smithsonian Institution, or your own favorite birding book.

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

COLLECT ALL FOUR!

Dont forget to pick up your Tri-State volunteer service pins.
Four designs honor volunteers with five (Cedar Waxwing),
ten (Wood Duck), fifteen (Great Horned Owl), and twentyplus (Bald Eagle) years of service. If you have volunteered
for five or more years, please see Julie for your pin(s).
Volunteer Manager Julie Bartley and Executive Director Lisa Smith handed out the first pins at the April 10
Volunteer Appreciation Celebration.
VOLUNTEER ANNIVERSARIES FOR JUNE
28 years: Lisa Robinson 23 years: Fran Petersen 20 years: Helene Harris and Karen Wenner-Pedersen
13 years: Anne Kisielewski 12 years: Jan McCullough 11 years: Betty Jane Anderson 10 years: Katie
Bartling and Patti Root 5 years: Christine Perkins and Hinda Smith 4 years: George Christopher
Welcome to the new clinic and clinic support volunteers who joined us in May. Youve come at a time when
we need you most. Please introduce yourself and dont be afraid to ask questions. We all learn from one
another.
MANY THANKS TO OPEN HOUSE SPONSORS
We owe much of the success of this years Open House to the nineteen generous sponsors who supported us.

Presenting Sponsor: WSFS Bank

Partners
Bartlett Tree Experts

Kitchens By Design

Bath Fitter

Longwood Veterinary Center

Camp Bow Wow

Krista Rothwell, Artist

Chirp Kids Clothes

SpeedPro Imaging

Circle Veterinary Clinic

Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital

Concord Pet Foods & Supplies

Talleyville Frame Shoppe & Gallery

Concord Pike Veterinary Hospital

Vanguard ID Systems

Debbies Fund

VCA Kirkwood Animal Hospital

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

Wild Birds UnlimitedHockessin

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE

by Charles Robertson
Tri-State has welcomed four new board members this year. Below are photos and brief bios for three of them.
We will publish the information on Chip Little, Government Affairs Manager at Colonial Pipeline, in an
upcoming issue. Remember: If you would like to contact the board, please send an e-mail to
board@tristatebird.org.
Dr. Lisa Murphy received her bachelors degree in biological sciences from
Stanford University and her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University
of Pennsylvania. Her experiences include veterinary responses to the World Trade
Center disaster and Hurricane Katrina, and she was also part of a small U.S.
delegation that traveled to Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Lisa is
currently an associate professor of toxicology at the University of Pennsylvanias
School of Veterinary Medicine, the resident director for the Pennsylvania Animal
Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) at New Bolton Center, and the head of the
Toxicology Laboratory that provides critical testing services for Tri-State cases. She
co-chairs the Animal Decontamination Best Practices Working Group of the National

Monthly Flyer, June 2016

Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) and serves as an appointed member
of the Governors Invasive Species Council of Pennsylvania.
As a recently retired DuPont manager with more than thirty years service, Justine Tumas
brings considerable experience in finance and accounting to her Tri-State board role. Justine
earned a bachelors degree in biology from Simmons College, a masters of business
administration degree from Suffolk University, and a doctor of business administration
degree from the University of Sarasota. She also holds professional designations, in good
standing, of Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. For
the past ten years, Justine has served as adjunct professor of accounting in Wesley
Colleges associate, bachelors, and MBA programs.
Maryanne Yingst is a member of the Human Resources Committee and Volunteer Advisory
Committee. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Maryanne has been actively involved with
Tri-State for more than twenty years in a variety of roles, including work as a bird-care
assistant, oil spill volunteer, relief supervisor, and transporter. Maryanne is involved with her
communitys bluebird nest box program, the Inland Bays Horseshoe Crab Volunteer Program,
and the Citizen Osprey Monitoring Project. She also volunteers with Clothing Our Kids, a
non-profit group that helps elementary children in need of clothes in Sussex County.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Volunteer Upgrade Sessions are for volunteers who have been trained in adult bird care only and who
would like to continue working in the clinic through the summer. We hope you do! At the peak in July, we
could have as many as 300 birds in-house. In response to demand, we added two dates:

Friday, June 3, 1:30 3:30 and Monday, June 6, 5:307:30

Giant Yard Sale. Saturday, October 1. Details to come in future issues of The Flyer. The trailer will be in
the upper parking lot in June. Start cleaning out your basements and attics now.
Benefit for the Birds. Friday, October 21. For information, contact Duke Doblick in the Development office
at (302) 737-9543, extension 108.