In recent years recreational drone use has skyrocketed, reflecting a nationwide trend. This in turn has led to increasing disturbances to birds, marine mammals, and other wildlife. Such disturbances have been documented to negatively impact nesting success of many bird species.
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Vulnerable birds, like threatened Snowy Plovers, that use our coastline have evolved over thousands of years to deal with the hazards of near-constant wind, rip tides and storm surges, hot and cold weather, and predators stealing eggs and young. Only in the last century have they had to deal with a high volume of people recreating directly within their nesting areas.
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A Red-tailed Hawk had arrived at the Wildlife Care Center after colliding with the glass side of a sporting goods store. After nearly two months of rest and rehabilitation while the hawk’s injuries healed, we were so happy to be able to release the hawk back out into the wild with a handful of volunteers cheering her/him on.
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The search for a new Wildlife Care Center site is well underway and running strong. Finding a site within the metro region that meets the complex specifications of a wildlife rehabilitation center is undoubtedly a challenge.
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On June 17, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission took a major and long overdue step forward in reforming trapping regulations in the state. After a marathon hearing that extended more than three hours, the ODFW Commission voted 6-1 to require trappers using live-animal restraining traps, such as leg-hold traps, to check the traps every 48 hours.
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The Bureau of Reclamation has announced another year of severe water shortages in the Klamath Basin. Endangered sucker fish in Upper Klamath Lake, endangered salmon in the Klamath River, farmers, and the refuges will all compete again for scarce water, estimated to be less than a seventh of what is typically allocated in a wetter year.
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Drone disturbances have been documented to negatively impact nesting success of many bird species. To minimize such impacts we need to ensure drone rules are informed by the best science and take a precautionary approach given that recreational drone use is a relatively new phenomena and impacts are just beginning to be understood.
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There are a number of ways we can each contribute to helping safeguard birds on their journeys but one of the easiest things we can do is turn off unnecessary overnight lighting—especially during peak migration—to reduce the fog of skyglow that clouds the skies over our cities and towns, drowning out the stars and luring birds into lit areas.
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Every winter we get reports of Pine Siskins affected by salmonella. Pine Siskins are a flocking bird that frequent feeders during this season.
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We received two Cedar Waxwings from different locations: One of them had struck a window, and wasn’t able to fly and the other was caught by a cat, and had sustained multiple injuries. Thankfully they were both brought to our hospital soon after they were found, which gave them the best chance of survival and release.
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