Archive

18 Sep

Lassen & Spirit

Lassen and Spirit made their way into CALM through US Fish and Wildlife and CALM’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center after it was determined that their injuries would make it impossible for them to return to the wild. Lassen has been with CALM since 1990 and Spirit joined the ranks in 2003. In captivity, Bald Eagles have been recorded to live 30+ years. When visiting Spirit and Lassen at CALM, you can often hear their high pitch chirping when one of our keepers enters their enclosure. They are very vocal and know who their favorite people are! Trying to tell the difference between them? Spirit is missing an eye, but that doesn’t stop her from being one of the world's most majestic birds! Habitat: The bald eagle occurs during its breeding season in virtually any kind of American wetland habitat such as seacoasts, rivers, large lakes or marshes or other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish. Studies have shown a preference for bodies of water with a circumference greater than 11 km (7 mi), and lakes with an area greater than 10 km2 (4 sq mi) are optimal for breeding bald eagles. The bald eagle typically requires old-growth and mature stands of coniferous or hardwood trees for perching, roosting, and nesting. Tree species reportedly is less important to the eagle pair than the tree's height, composition and location. Perhaps of paramount importance for this species is an abundance of comparatively large trees surrounding the body of water. Selected trees must have good visibility, be over 20 m (66 ft) tall, an open structure, and proximity to prey. If nesting trees are in standing water such as in a mangrove swamp, the nest can be located fairly low, at as low 6 m (20 ft) above the ground. In a more typical tree standing on dry ground, nests may be located from 16 to 38 m (52 to 125 ft) in height. In Chesapeake Bay, nesting trees averaged 82 cm (32 in) in diameter and 28 m (92 ft) in total height, while in Florida, the average nesting tree stands 23 m (75 ft) high and is 23 cm (9.1 in) in diameter.[44][45] Trees used for nesting in the Greater Yellowstone area average 27 m (89 ft) high. Trees or forest used for nesting should have a canopy cover of no more than 60%, and no less than 20%, and be in close proximity to water.[41] Most nests have been found within 200 m (660 ft) of open water. The greatest distance from open water recorded for a bald eagle nest was over 3 km (1.9 mi), in Florida. Bald eagle nests are often very large in order to compensate for size of the birds. The largest recorded nest was found in Florida in 1963, and was measured at nearly 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Diet: While at CALM, Lassen and Spirit receive a variety of foods! Fish, meats and BOP diets (Birds of Prey). Keepers often put food throughout the exhibit to enrich Lassen and Spirit’s curiousity sides.

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18 Sep

Betty

Species: American White Pelican Betty joined CALM in December of 2008 after a wing injury kept her from being releasable. CALM partnered with US Fish and Wildlife officials to ensure that Betty was able to heal and be given sanctuary at CALM. Often you will see Betty strutting her stuff in our shorebirds enclosure. She enjoys getting to know the variety of shorebird species that call CALM home; from Canada geese, to mallards to cranes, Betty has had a variety of housemates over her many years at CALM. Her blue eyes and strong nature make her a favorite of many guests at CALM. Did you know that American White Pelicans are a protected species?! The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 keeps birds like Betty from being hunted, traded/sold or killed in the wild. Habitat: American white pelicans nest in colonies of several hundred pairs on islands in remote brackish and freshwater lakes of inland North America. The most northerly nesting colony can be found on islands in the rapids of the Slave River between Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta, and Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Several groups have been visiting the Useless Bay (Washington) bird sanctuary since 2015. About 10–20% of the population uses Gunnison Island in the Great Basin's Great Salt Lake as a nesting ground. The southernmost colonies are in southwestern Ontario and northeastern California. Nesting colonies exist as far south as Albany County in southern Wyoming.They winter on the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts from central California and Florida south to Panama, and along the Mississippi River at least as far north as St. Paul, Minnesota. In winter quarters, they are rarely found on the open seashore, preferring estuaries and lakes. They cross deserts and mountains but avoid the open ocean on migration. But stray birds, often blown off course by hurricanes, have been seen in the Caribbean. In Colombian territory it has been recorded first on February 22, 1997, on the San Andrés Island, where they might have been swept by Hurricane Marco which passed nearby in November 1996. Since then, there have also been a few observations likely to pertain to this species on the South American mainland, e.g. at Calamar. Wild American white pelicans may live for more than 16 years. In captivity, the record lifespan stands at over 34 years. Diet: American White Pelicans eat over 4lbs of food per day! At CALM, Betty enjoys a wide variety of fish!

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18 Sep

Beatrix & Juniper

Species: Mule Deer Beatrix was brought to CALM after a run in with a dog. Unfortunately, the dog pulled her away from her momma and she sustained injuries to her abdomen. After some much needed rest and care, it was decided that Beatrix would be part of our CALM family. Beatrix is as sassy as they come and loves interacting with our other mule deer Otis, Radar and her bestie Juniper. Within days of Beatrix’ arrival, Juniper came to CALM. Her momma had been struck by a car. Juniper fit right into CALM and is a confident, spunky doe. Although her name is Juniper, some staff nicknamed her laces because she was obsessed with going after people’s shoe laces! Both Beatrix and Juniper were raised by our keeper staff and are such a joy to the public! Habitat: mule deer are only found on the western Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the southwest United States, and on the west coast of North America. Mule deer have also been introduced to Argentina and Kauai, Hawaii. Diet: At CALM, mule deer eat a variety of grains, hay, fruits and vegetables and browse. Beatrix and Juniper love apples and can often be seen sharing their food bowls with some of our pesky squirrels.

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