My latest column for The Record and Herald & News is about a Saw-whet rescue involving The Raptor Trust, the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital, and my wife Patty -- four reasons for me to be thankful on this Thanksgiving Day.
The link is here.
(Photo above courtesy of Donna Pontrelli and the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital. Thanks, Donna!)
On Thanksgiving 2011, I posted this, still darned cool:
Barbara Dilger writes:
"It was such a pretty morning at the Celery Farm, and there were two special surprises today to be thankful for; a Red Fox near the parking lot and a fly over the lake by an adult Bald Eagle.
"I, along with so many others, count the Celery Farm as one of the things that we are truly thankful for throughout the year.
"And thank you to Stiles Thomas for his foresight and determination in preserving this wonderful place for all of us." (Thanks, Barbara!)
Liz Powers owns the Bark N Purr pet grooming shop on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, and one of her customers brought in a dazed woodpecker on Monday.
A friend suggested she call me (any port in a storm), and I suggested she call The Raptor Trust.
Long story short: The bird had only minor injuries, and Liz says that after the bird came to its senses later that day, it "had a bunch of crickets and wax worms...
"I spoke to someone at The Raptor Trust, and they said if he is eating and flying, he should be able to go... He is very cute!!"
Liz released him yesterday morning, and all is well. (Great job, Liz!)
A link to The Raptor Trust's webpage on dealing with injured birds is here.
The one question not addressed there is what to do if you see an injured bird. It has always been my thinking that if the bird is small, it's best to get it off the ground so a predator can't get to it. Any other thoughts?
P.S. (If the bird is a raptor or otherwise large, learn all you can about taking the proper precautions before you go near it.)
This is the Franklin Turnpike entrance to the Celery Farm looked until about nine years ago, with the old bridge and old kiosk.
The weathered lid to the old box now hangs on my living room wall. I saw the old kiosk being razed and scoffed up the memento.
Deedee Burnside identified the photo correctly. (Congrats, Deedee!)