| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| EastTXFarmgirl |
Posted - Dec 05 2009 : 7:27:11 PM
Over the past 3 years I have had the pleasure of watching a Blue heron grow up. He first showed up on our pond when he was a very young bird, 3 springs ago. The first winter he migrated but came back the following spring. That was the only time he left. After that he stayed year around. He would spend the days on the pond with our ducks. That all came to a sudden hault yesterday. I was caught up in the activities of the day, busy sewing the last of the ski cap stocking stuffers for the kids and hot gluing dozens of ribbon angels when the phone rang. It was my nephew calling to thank me for sending a box full of christmas ornaments to him and his boys (recent divorce and lost his christmas stuff in the transition). I was in my sewing room looking out at the pond while we talked and it started snowing. Of course I giggled and threw on my coat to rush outside. My newphew, a postman, did not think it was so wonderful because he was only half through his walking route. When I opened the front door the heron did not fly to the big oak tree as he had done for the last 3 years. He did not look right. By now our phone conversation had ended and I went back in to get my binoculars. I did not want to walk up on him if nothing was wrong. But something was wrong. His wing looked like it was broken. I thought he had been hit by a car. I called the wildlife dept and was given a number to a bird rescue center close by. I called but there was only a recording that said to leave your name and number, put the animal in a box or carrier, and do not feed or treat the animal until contacted by the rescue or a vet. I left my number, then went to the pond to catch the bird. I had to throw my coat over him to actually pick him up but did get him in a large box. I waited and waited but no return call. He did not look good at all. I started calling vets but none would take him. I finally called the animal shelter and they said to bring the bird to them. When I arrived they had already set up transport for the bird to go to a vet in the next town and then to a rehab center in Dallas. What I did not know until the worker at the shelter examined the bird was that he had been shot two times, once in the wing and once in the chest. They immediately took the bird to the vet. I assured them that if he made it and if he could be released into the wild again he could come back to our pond. They said they would keep me updated. I did get a call late last night that the bird is alive but they may not be able to save him. The gunshot to his wing had shattered the bone. He is a federally protected bird and there is a federal mandate that if the bird's wing can not be saved he must be put down. I have been very sad today. I hope ya'll don't mind me sharing. It just makes me so mad. Why would someone shoot such a gentle beautiful creature? What is even more concerning is the pond is about a 1/2 mile off the road and the nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile to the side. The lady that called last night to give me an update said that there was no way the bird could have flown any distance with the injuries that he had and the bird had to have been shot while on or close to the pond. Our house is only about 50 feet from the pond. That means someone is shooting toward our home. There will be an investigation but chances are the shooter will not be found.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ga Girl |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 05:38:17 AM
Sorry to hear about you bird friend. That is so sad and scary that someone shot him and being so close to your home. I hope they can catch whomever shot him. Blessings,Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10
www.KKJD1.etsy.com
http://farmgirlingastyle.blogspot.com/ |
| Annab |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 03:13:02 AM
Sorry to hear this
You did the best you could and that's admirable
Maybe another heron will take its place |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Dec 07 2009 : 6:58:12 PM
I'm sorry they weren't able to save your heron. I rescued an owl earlier this year and it had to be euthanized due to a ruptured eye. Birds are beautiful, but fragile as well. A thorn to the person who shot your bird.
Cindy |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Dec 07 2009 : 5:17:37 PM
Victoria:
Such a sad story. Shame on whoever shot the Heron. Idiot! Thanks for having a big heart to find care for the Blue Heron.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Dec 07 2009 : 2:10:30 PM
I am so sorry. I know you were attached to that big guy. You did all the right things for him. I hope they are able to find whoever did this and prosecute them. That's so sad.
Maybe one day you'll look out there at the pond and see another heron.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| EastTXFarmgirl |
Posted - Dec 07 2009 : 2:02:15 PM
Got an update from the vet this morning they were not able to save the bird due to the damage of the wing. The amputation would have had to be above the elbow and as I mentioned earlier the federal mandate will not allow it. At least he was able to die with some dignity and not torn apart by a pack of coyotes. I still catch myself going to the window to watch him. Something I have done several times a day for the past 3 years. I did learn some valuable lessons on how to give temporary care of an injured wild animal and the process of surrendering that animal to the proper authorities. I was told by the wild bird rehab that everything I did was correct and that the lose of the bird was in no way related to any steps that I took. I was very glad to hear that because I was concerned that had I not waited for the rescue center to call me back and contacted the animal shelter sooner would he have survived. They assured me that was not the case. The bird would have lived but because the gunshot was so high on the wing they could not allow him to do so. It's sad but true.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
| Annab |
Posted - Dec 07 2009 : 03:29:25 AM
Very interesting story.
Poor bird.
They are so magestic
Not sure why anyone on earth would want to shoot one
They harm nothing
Will also be interested in hearing what happens next |
| EastTXFarmgirl |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 7:25:55 PM
I won't be able to get an update until tomorrow morning. The last have heard was that the vet was researching to find some way they could mind the wing without having to amputate. The federal mandate states that they can not amputate wing above the elbow. I will call as soon as the vet opens in the morning. I will let everyone know as soon as I find out something. Hey Kathryn I was raised in Magnolia. Went to school there from 1st grade to graduation.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 4:50:52 PM
That is scary that someone would shoot so close to your house. I'm glad you were able to help the heron. Even if it can't be saved you kept it from being killed by coyotes or what have you. Herons are beautiful and occasionally one will fly over my house. I don't know why someone would shoot a federally protected bird. We have bald eagles here in the winter and every once in a while, some idiot will shoot one. I hope they can save it--and find the person who shot it.
Cindy
"Dog is my co-pilot"
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| Diane B Carter |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 1:27:58 PM
That is so sad I too am a heron lover, they are beautiful and worth a prayer. Its nice to know that you both stopped and helped God's creaturers. I'm sure at least the bird felt more calm knowing he was being helped.
Hope all your days are Sunnydays.
dianebcarterhotmailcom.blogspot.com |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 06:41:50 AM
We have a blue heron that lives in the marsh behind our property and vists our pond at the back of our property quite often. It is so pretty, I have wlaked up on it in the pond (about 30 fett away) and I stop and let the bird make the next move. One day I was blessed it kept on feeding for about 30 minutes before it flew away. Awesome! Let us know about "your" bird's health.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 06:31:46 AM
Victoria, have you heard any news yet? I sure hope the big guy makes it. That is so horrible. I don't understand how anyone could just shoot a big bird like that. They can't have a conscience for sure. If they can do that to a bird, imagine how they treat people.
You were so good to do what you did.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| StarMeadow |
Posted - Dec 06 2009 : 02:27:56 AM
That is awful! I love herons! Always have. Rescued one of my own one summer. I had slowed down to watch it take off from this pond and it didn't get enough lift and crashed right into some overhead wires. It did a spiraling somersault right back into the pond. I was out of my car and wading into that pond so fast. Got it out of the pond and it had practically torn it's wing right off. The people who owned the pond said the wires had only been up a while (we were in the middle of upstate NY in the wilderness). We called around and the nearest vet who would take it was over an hour away. We bundled up the bird in newspaper and an old towel and I put it in my front seat and away we went. It was an amazing hour plus drive I would have to say. The bird was obviously in pain but I just kept talking to it. It sort of "panted". I pet it and talked very softly. You think they are grey but they are a lot of different colors.... The vet was great. He did the best he could and he let me help too. Luckily he and his wife had a little farm and she took in all kinds of animals. It would never fly again but it would have a home and food. --- That is interesting about the wing....I'm not sure what the vet did about the wing. He had tried to save it but didn't think he could. It was torn up pretty badly. But he didn't say anything about it needing to be put down. Maybe that was for my benefit? I was pretty upset.
That whole shooting towards your house is awful isn't it? I hope you can figure it out. We live in a very rural area. My new house is in more of a cul-de-sac but before there was a lot of open field around our house. I had the neighbor follow through on a shot of a deer running for our back yard and shot right at the house!!! I banged pots and pans every morning to scare the deer and he was furious. I told him if he'd stop shooting at my house I'd stop banging. The next time he was out (on his property) but looking at our house, I called the police. He was not happy. BUT, I had little ones and a big reddish golden retriever. The deer would come right into the yard to eat the dropped apples off our trees. Neighbor seemed to think it was some sort of buffet. I'm not a big hunter-person, but my brother was...I don't have any issues with it....just don't endanger my kids or pets. |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 05 2009 : 9:26:15 PM
Oh my gosh! I hope they are able to save him!! I am so sorry that some one was so horrible as to shoot at him!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
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| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Dec 05 2009 : 8:13:49 PM
I am so sorry, I do hope they can save him, we have a couple of snowy egret's that hang around here for a day or 2 during migration, they are so beautiful to watch.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Dec 05 2009 : 7:33:50 PM
OMG!!! that is terrible and scary to think of a person shooting so close to your home. I know a 22 bullet will go for over a mile. I hope he can come home to his/your pond. Keep us updated too. MB
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"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
