http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/falcpix/images/hugesize3.jpg

http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/falconcam.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1258956/Sick-parrot--Woman-says-sad-farewell-bird-paying-50-000-cancer-treatment.html   

Thousands of minks are marauding through the Brandenburg countryside, killing chickens and woodland creatures after suspected animal activists released thousands from a fur farm.

Police said they are still searching for those responsible for the break-in at the farm in Frankenförde, which resulted in the release of 4,000 minks last Sunday evening.

About 2,000 of the weasel-like carnivores have been captured, but the other half have been snacking freely on local farm fowl, wild birds and other small animals, police reported.

Meanwhile the mink farm owner Alfons Grosser has filed charges for €180,000 in property damage and unlawful entry while saying there was no way to measure the impact to the region's ecosystem.

According to Grosser, the rampaging pack of mink requires about one tonne of food in just three days.

German nature protection association (NABU) said the release of so many mink is an environmental catastrophe.

LAS VEGAS -- Hundreds of rare and exotic birds were killed in an early morning fire at the Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary near Durango and Racel.

The two alarm fire broke out just after 5 a.m. Friday. Dozens of people have come to help clean up and lend their supports.

The sanctuary is a landmark for animal lovers. It's been around since the 1970's.

Firefighters couldn't do anything to save two buildings at the sanctuary housing nearly 300 birds. The fire just spread too quick.

"Oscar Gilcrease was actually here and he heard the fire and the popping noise and he ran out and he tried to contain the fire. They called the fire department, but the wind picked it up and moved from one building to another," said Director Sandra Salinas.

Clark County Fire Investigators are still looking for the cause, but witnesses believe the wind played a role.

Volunteers came from all around the community to help anyway they can.

"I'm an out-of-work union worker and just doing nothing, so I came over here to help," said Harold Morgan.

"We heard on the news this place had burned down and we were like, 'Wow, we've got to help,'" said Darel Ferguson.

Over 1,500 animals of all kinds were at the sanctuary.

Employees estimate their loss at more than $2 million, but right now their concern is the birds lost in the fire and helping those that survived.

If you can help out or make a donation, call (702) 645-4224.

A plucky golden eagle who has survived despite being electrocuted, hit by a car, and poisoned is set to join the ranks of raptors at Woodland Park Zoo after April 1, 2010.

The regal bird's trials began in 2008, when he was brought to the Raptor House Rehabilitation Center in Yakima, Washington, with injuries to his wings and legs consistent with suffering electrical shock and collision with a car.

Blood tests revealed that the eagle was also afflicted with lead poisoning, which harms the nervous system and causes disorientation, lethargy, and muscle weakness. Lead also harms the kidneys and the digestive system. Without chelation therapy (which uses chemicals that bind with lead to help flush it from the body), a bird with lead poisoning will die.

The golden eagle, dubbed Ranger, was subsequently treated and rehabilitated at Raptor House. He arrived at Woodland Park Zoo this year and underwent a thorough medical exam on May 17 as part of his 30-day quarantine period. While anesthetized, the bird was weighed, measured, and X-rayed. Blood tests were performed as well.

Ranger's injuries, however, were so severe that he could not be rehabilitated for successful release into the wild. Instead, as a resident of the zoo's Raptor House, he will serve as an educational ambassador for his species and raptor conservation, including threats posed to these birds by lead poisoning.

Raptors accumulate lead in their bodies when they consume animals that have been killed by lead bullets or feed on offal ("gut piles") left behind after hunters field-dress deer and other game. Lead ammunition produces fragments and dust that are left behind in a carcass and end up in the tissues of the raptors that scavenge them.

Studies by the Peregrine Fund showed that on average, 56% of all bald eagles admitted to wildlife rehabilitators in Iowa had abnormal lead levels. Lead poisoning has also been found to be the leading cause of death in highly endangered California condors; lead ammunition is now banned within a designated California Condor Recovery Zone. Another study, the Fall Migrating Golden Eagle Lead Project, revealed that 50% of eagles tested showed high levels of lead in their blood. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in conjunction with the zoo, also conducted a four-year study of golden eagles in Washington that showed increased lead levels in this species.

Lead ammunition has been banned for waterfowl hunting nationwide since 1991 to protect not only the animals that eat waterfowl, but also the waterfowl themselves (many, such as ducks, consumed lead shot as they fed on pond bottoms). But lead ammunition is still permitted for upland hunting on non-federal lands by most states .

In some states, proposals to phase out lead ammunition are moving forward (for example, California Assemblymember Pedro Nava's recent proposal to ban lead shot in state wildlife areas). Those opposed to phasing out lead usually point to the higher cost of bullets made from alternative metals; a minority link the issue to a supposed shadowy plot to put restrictions on gun rights or ban hunting altogether.

Yet a study by the Peregrine Fund found that respondents to a hunter ammunition survey were overwhelmingly in favor of phasing out lead (83.4%) and were satisfied with the performance of ammunition made from copper or other metals. In addition, the hunters were not only aware that lead fragments harmed wildlife but also that such contaminants harm people, too.

At this time, hunters can alleviate the potential for lead poisoning in raptors and other wild animals by removing carcasses and gut piles so that they can't be scavenged and by using shot made from copper, tungsten-alloy, or other materials. 

About Golden Eagles:

The golden eagle is a cosmopolitan raptor--it's found not only in North America but also in northern Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. In Washington, golden eagles primarily nest in the eastern part of the state in montane and shrub-steppe areas; a few pairs nest in western Washington.

Its main prey is small ground mammals, such as rabbits, though it will also snatch up snakes and lizards and can grab a bird in midair. Like the bald eagle, it will eagerly scavenge as well.

Ranger, who is approximately 5 years old, can look forward to a long and healthy life at the zoo. According to The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds, one captive golden eagle lived to the age of 46. One wild bird was known to survive for at least 30 years.

But contrary to expectation Alby is no night rider - instead he displays his wheely good skills in front of stunned shoppers in Folkestone, Kent.

Brian Maxted, 73, who runs Folkestone Owl Sanctuary, said he discovered Alby's unusual talent during a trip to the local shopping centre.


He said: "I often take some owls into town to try and get some donations from shoppers.

"I had the owls out one day last week and a young lad stopped to look at them.

"He put down his skateboard and Alby, who'd been fast asleep, saw it and jumped on.

"Someone pulled it along the ground and he loved it so much, we had to get him one of his own."

Alby, who is 13, has now developed his technique, which involves him swooping onto the board, using the momentum from his flight to push him along.

When the board comes to a stop, Alby takes off and flies in a small circle before re-landing on the board, pushing it along again.

Student Paul Lendon, 17, from Folkestone said: "I was stunned when I saw him riding along on his miniature board.

"I'm aware of the famous skateboarder Tony Hawk, but I've never before heard of Tony Owl."

"Where is he? I'm sitting here waiting for him." 

I know right? Where are all the guys? Too many females and not enough males.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/mar/19/humpback-whale-and-its-calf-are-distress-treasure-/

Not sure why they turned away!

Here's the pic of the man surrounded by Boars

http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/2909

Aren't they like DANGEROUS???   Forest cam 2

http://www.beleefdelente.nl/torenvalk This poor nest has had it's share of problems. Suppose to be a Kestrel nest...but pigeons took over and laid a few eggs. A fight broke out and the eggs have been consumed, so it says. Who knows what will nest there. very sad for the Kestrels.

Godfather of swelled, working party birds of prey the Netherlands (WRN) 09:08, Friday 19 March 2010 And it is concerning. As from vanochtend early were always 2 chew in the cupboard which constantly tried catch the eggs. The running stud in the cupboard defended the nest considerable and time on time dripped chew finished. Outside it got them to the stick with the other stud. But eventual it has then nevertheless succeeded them and the eggs have been consumed. The stud tale is provisionally concerning. What go there now does event? To the behaviour of to chew to see, it seems that they want occupy the cupboard. We wait.

This is babel translation...???

http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp any time now

get every bit