Feeding Great Blue, with gruesome leg injury
Apr 24, 2018 13:18:43 #
We were out at the nearby Yolo bypass on a rare bird alert this past weekend and I was shooting Great Blue Herons, as the Marsh Sandpiper and Ruff were scarce. The first GBH was beautiful. The second one was very cooperative and was hunting crawdads. As I shot the photos, I saw something odd with its leg. It makes my skin crawl to observe it up close. Somehow the bird is still standing upright, looks healthy, and is feeding. Any vets here? Any idea how this bird is still upright? Does it look like a new injury?
Apr 24, 2018 13:56:51 #
looks as if it had reached adult plumage/size, so it must be relatively recent. If it non-infectious it may be replaced by scar tissue. Since the brd is feeding and looks healthy otherwise, it may not be life threatening.
Apr 24, 2018 13:57:33 #
Did you call the local wildlife authority? They may know about this one. Or, hopefully, they can catch the bird and treat the injury.
Apr 24, 2018 17:56:38 #
DebAnn wrote:
Did you call the local wildlife authority? They may know about this one. Or, hopefully, they can catch the bird and treat the injury.
No, I didn't, DebAnn. I know what a large area the bypass covers and how hard it is to capture a bird that can fly away. There is also the worry of it causing further damage. It seems like a real dilemma.
Apr 24, 2018 21:54:53 #
I think this bird will survive. It can fly, that's most important. It is feeding so it probably is not ill.
Apr 25, 2018 01:46:58 #
kpmac wrote:
I think this bird will survive. It can fly, that's most important. It is feeding so it probably is not ill.
I sure hope so, Ken. They are so beautiful and graceful and gentle.
Apr 25, 2018 05:58:15 #
Katydid wrote:
We were out at the nearby Yolo bypass on a rare bi... (show quote)
Nice captures Katy and I sure hope the GBH survives.
Apr 25, 2018 09:40:53 #
Looks very serious. I hope it survives ok to live a long life. I hate to see animals that are injured and feel so bad for them. Maybe he will be ok as long as there is no infection. Nice photos.
Apr 25, 2018 10:56:57 #
Katydid wrote:
We were out at the nearby Yolo bypass on a rare bi... (show quote)
Nice set. If you know a vet maybe you can show them a picture of the leg. I hate to see animals of any kind hurt....Rich
Apr 25, 2018 14:14:39 #
Katydid wrote:
We were out at the nearby Yolo bypass on a rare bi... (show quote)
Wow Katy you have caught one of nature's tough moments here. The wound looks like he has been living with it for some time and your observations indicate he is functioning but.....I doubt that any useful intervention is possible. Good photos of a difficult event.
Apr 26, 2018 01:39:08 #
J-SPEIGHT wrote:
Nice captures Katy and I sure hope the GBH survives.
So do I, Jack.
Apr 26, 2018 01:40:27 #
Goober wrote:
Looks very serious. I hope it survives ok to live a long life. I hate to see animals that are injured and feel so bad for them. Maybe he will be ok as long as there is no infection. Nice photos.
Thanks for your comments, Goober. Yes, it is very difficult to witness. I am hoping for the best, too.
Apr 26, 2018 01:42:03 #
bigwolf40 wrote:
Nice set. If you know a vet maybe you can show them a picture of the leg. I hate to see animals of any kind hurt....Rich
Rich, I do know a vet and will email the photos just out of curiosity. I also hate seeing injured animals, they are quite helpless.
Apr 26, 2018 01:43:28 #
rockdog wrote:
Wow Katy you have caught one of nature's tough moments here. The wound looks like he has been living with it for some time and your observations indicate he is functioning but.....I doubt that any useful intervention is possible. Good photos of a difficult event.
Thanks for looking, Phil, and commenting. It is always a difficult thing to observe.
Apr 26, 2018 03:19:31 #
rdrechsler
Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA
Ouch Katy, nasty looking injury. It's a wonder the bird seems so healthy otherwise. I'm so blessed to see them right out my window. I was just commenting that this is the week for GBHs. I posted two shots of them in flight and yours is the 4th other post I've seen. You captured that poor bird well, but it's hard to look at.
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