How Can Feathers Be Waterproof?

Pi enjoyed his mist bath!

The Raptor Center is holding a summer camp on Biomimicry for the first time.  Biomimicry looks elements of nature for inspiration to solve human problems or address human needs.  The evolution of plant and animal adaptations, for example, shows they have "solved" problems by being able to survive.

The exercise our campers engaged in was to see how feathers have evolved to be waterproof, among other things.  Camp leader Erin A. gave Pi the bald eagle a mist bath, so the campers could see how his feathers did deflect water.  (Though he did thoroughly enjoy his bath!)

Design work for the rain jackets!

Then, the campers devised their own ways to create waterproof "rain jackets" with various human-made materials.  The test was to see if they got wet after being in their own mist/rain bath for ten seconds.

This opportunity to be able to teach this topic would not have been possible without the support of our donors and friends in the campaign to build the new structures.  The new space for our education birds was built to allow for easier public gatherings and presentations.  The addition of many water spigots in the new space allowed us to use water hoses in different areas, including being able to go outside the bird courtyard to conduct the experiment.

This camp is just one example of many in which we are again grateful for the opportunities to better serve the public with our new space.

Where is an Eagle's Elbow?

Raptor anatomy is something we love talking about, but sometimes a little difficult to show with our education birds.  Here is a photo of Maxime at a Raptor Release event; she was sunning/drying out after a dip in her bath pan.  Her wrist (marked with a 1), elbow (2), and shoulder (3) are marked with arrows.  The other photo is showing her wrist, when she is perched. 

Young "Veterinarians" at TRC

This week was our "Raptor Vet" summer camp at The Raptor Center, for ages 9-11. Our campers learned the process of raptor rehabilitation from admission to release.  In the first photos, Dr. Devin Tunseth, one of TRC's clinical interns, used a stuffed bald eagle to demonstrate some of the parts of a raptor patient that are examined.

Clinical Intern Dr. Devin Tunseth

The last two photos are drawings from our campers.  The activity was intended to encourage observation skills, which are very important to a veterinarian who is examining a patient.  Some of our education winged ambassadors were used as the "models."  The campers came up with some very detailed drawings, as well as very skillful perceptions of the birds' anatomy. 

Meet Violet - TRC's Education American Kestrel

Meet Violet the American kestrel.

Many of you might have already met Violet, one of our education ambassador American kestrels.  She now has a name!

Quick facts: 

• Hatch year 2012
• Weight: 115 grams
• Found near Superior, Wisconsin
• Fractured right coracoid and elbow trauma
• Injured in collision with vehicle
• Female

Violet was admitted to The Raptor Center’s clinic in August of her hatch year, 2012. This timing means she was not out of her nest cavity for more than a few weeks. She was unable to fly after a collision with a vehicle. In addition to a fractured right coracoid, she also had trauma to her right elbow and was dehydrated.

Violet’s name refers to a very unique adaptation that American kestrels might have, as referenced in several professional papers, to assist in finding their prey. Mice and small rodents are a part of a kestrel’s diet. These mammals will often leave a urine trail that could reflect ultraviolet (UV) light. A visual pigment in the cones of kestrels’ retinas absorbs UV light, perhaps allowing them to see this part of the spectrum.

You can read about Violet and "meet" our other education ambassadors on our website.
 

TRC Clinic Census July 6, 2015

Young Cooper's hawk

Our clinic has admitted 326 wild patients this year.  We currently have 63.  We post the census weekly here on our website.

Some of our patients are in individual patient cages while their injuries heal. Others are in large flight rooms or in managed areas for exercise before their release.

As of July 6, 2015, our census is:
Eagles
Bald Eagle	16
Golden Eagle	1
Hawks - Buteos
Red-tailed Hawk	9
Broad-winged Hawk	1
Hawks - Accipiters
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1
Cooper's Hawk	7
Falcons
American Kestrel		7
Peregrine Falcon		1
Owls
Great Horned Owl		9
Barred Owl		6
Eastern Screech-owl		5

Rain or Shine . . .

You might remember our June 23 Facebook post of Jamaica, one of our red-tailed hawk ambassadors.  We featured a photo of her standing half-in/half-out of the sunlight in her new education housing.

It was quite rainy in the Twin Cities this morning.  As you can see from photos, Jamaica and Strix the barred owl chose to get their feathers wet!  Whisper the barn owl, however, chose the cover of her hutch under which to continue dozing. 

Answer to Skull Post

Thank you to all who took some guesses at the raptor skull featured yesterday. It is a Northern saw-whet owl skull. What may have helped many of you are the asymmetrical ear openings (shown with arrows in photo here), and the bony structures in the skull called sclerotic rings.