In 2 days the Cornell vets had to remove 2 eyes, each from Eastern Screech Owls. Herodotus will also have to have his irreparable eye removed once his body condition is a bit more robust. As noted in my previous post, these little owls have been found to hunt and survive well with only one eye, as long as their hearing is intact. They have incredible hearing that they use to triangulate the exact location of prey. No studies have been done in Barred Owls, though the assumption is they can do well too. However, before any animals are released, they will go to rehabilitators with special enclosures where they can be tested on prey-capture skills.
The WHC at Cornell has its hands full with raptors at the moment. I miss Lucy Goosey who left yesterday. My taloning, btw, is healing well, though my thumb bone is still sore to the touch. It's amazing as the little incision marks are so innocuous looking, but one talon must have gone right down and hit that bone.
Meanwhile, the little flying squirrel is doing well. He loves sleeping the day away in his luxury hayball, and as soon as night falls he gets on his wheel and runs like a maniac for hours on end. I wish I could hook that wheel up somehow to generate electricity, as the electrical company would probably end up owing ME money! That would be such a cool way to generate green energy!
I worry about the salamander as he seems to be very quiet, but I assume that it what they do!
Btw, here is a picture of the female sapsucker (a type of woodpecker) who appears to be wintering around WTS. I had never seen one in the wild before. I apologize for the crappy quality of the picture...one day I'll get myself a good camera! But you can just about see her yellow belly and red head. Sapsuckers, as far as I know, leave this area during the winter to go to warmer climes, so I don't know what this little girl is doing here!
