Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 18:26:11 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John & Cathy Messina Subject: Bird Injuries MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Today I saw a woodcock in a truly bizarre spot, sad to say--a stunned bird was sitting on the marble entryway to the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building where I work, which is across the street from Union Station in D.C. The bird obviously had run into the huge glass windows in front of the glass atrium. Fortunately, after an hour in a closed shoebox, the woodcock was ready for release. An exceptionally bird-friendly and knowledgeable animal control officer from D.C. checked it out. I spoke with him about how I and a co-worker have been collaborating with the building maintenance crew to capture and assist injured birds that collide with the building. The animal control officer said that he desperately needs volunteers to take wounded birds and/or other wild creatures to wildlife rehabilitation facilities in MD or VA (DC has none), as these facilities cannot always send someone into the District of Columbia. Today I was lucky enough to take an extra hour at lunch to set the woodcock free in a safe spot, but my job demands won't let me do more than help out the birds that hit my building. If anyone reading this would be available at times to do such volunteer work--or knows someone who would--the D.C. animal control personnel would love it. I didn't think at the time to get the officer's card, but I believe that his name was Scott (I am not completely certain). At any rate, a call to the D.C. animal control office would likely get routed to the right guy. Also, this officer told me that he has been spending increasing amounts of time dealing with birds injured by monofilament line that was used for kite string. After kites have broken free or been cut lose after getting stuck in trees or other objects, large amounts of line end up all over trees, buildings, railings, etc., acting like giant, invisible, strong spider webs. Birds fly into these, breaking bones and getting entangled. He said that cotton string has seldom caused such problems, and he would be grateful if we would help spread the word that kite flyers should use old-fashioned cotton string rather than fishing line. He added that he would love it if someone could videotape him climbing up a tree to get to a bird in distress. If anyone can help him with this or has other ideas about publicizing this problem as we go full-speed into kite-flying season, please call the animal control office. Happy birding! Cathy Messina ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================