SOAR needs mice to feed all the raptor patients admitted due to gnats.
From SOAR's FB page:
SOAR - Saving Our Avian Resources
May 29 at 4:08pm
~ We do not like heat and gnats ~
From 22 May to 1:30p 29 May... 22 hatch-year (HY) 2018 raptors admitted from across central Iowa! It was noted by rescuers that several of the young birds had gnats on them at rescue! These hatchlings are dehydrated and thin to emaciated.
2 HY18 great horned owls
13 HY18 screech owls
3 HY18 barred owls
1 HY18 bald eagle
This unusual heat and humidity (and not always strong winds) have contributed to a bump-up in the gnat population. These gnats seem to be especially attracted to birds, and young birds are easily impacted. We've read reports of young chickens dying in the last week... and then there is the loss of the two eaglets at the Decorah North Nest. We suspect our admits bailed from the nest...
On a side note, we humans are bothered very little by these gnats and the SOAR team's collection of mammals don't seem to be greatly bothered either (dogs, horses, mule, cats).
SOAR - Saving Our Avian Resources
3 hrs
~ more ~
Thirteen (13) more hatch-year raptors were admitted since the post mid-day on 29 May. Since 22 May that is 35 hatch-year raptors admitted. Have a good picture of bite marks from the black flies (AKA buffalo gnats) and will try to post that soon with more info...
Right now I need to check on everyone here and get evening chores done! ~Linette
SOAR - Saving Our Avian Resources
50 mins
~ Now we need mice! ~
Kay texted this pic (yes, not the best quality, but...) this morning and said, "Getting more rats in the freezer to feed patients is extremely helpful!" Thank you to everyone that helped put rats in raptor tummies.
The hatch-year raptor count at SOAR keeps growing and since just 22 May alone (i.e. there were hatch-year birds admitted before then) we have 2 great horned owls, 7 red-tailed hawks, 1 kestrel, 18 screech owls, 2 eagles, and 5 barred owls. I also know that more not in this count are being transported to SOAR tomorrow and this weekend... YIKES!
Do you know that a screech owl and a kestrel can eat one mouse a day? The owls and hawks can each eat 4-5 mice each day! While we have food on hand... this is an unexpected surge in our numbers!
Our preferred supplier is RodentPro and this company has a flat-rate shipping of $29 per box... so it's a better deal to "fill the box." 600 large dark mice fill one box and that totals to $479! From the rat / grocery request and then the order I placed (to be shipped next week) I have $43 left and then another 'grocery' donation of $50 came in after that order to get us started toward a box of mice!
I know we ask much of our friends and supporters, but this need is here, now. Can you help us feed these hatch-year birds? PayPal with a note that your donation is for "groceries" or you can purchase a gift certificate from:
http://www.rodentpro.com/catalog_certs.aspI'll take care of the ordering! Thank you friends.
~Linette
Black flies invade Iowa town -
http://www.wwlp.com/world/black-flies-invade-iowa-town/1208547457Swarms of black flies killing animals in Central Iowa -
https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2018-05-30-swarms-of-black-flies-killing-animals-in-central-iowa/McMurray Hatchery Alert: Black Fly (Buffalo Gnat) Poultry Deaths -
https://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2018/05/25/mcmurray-hatchery-alert-black-fly-buffalo-gnat-poultry-deaths/Black Fly -
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/black-flyDonate to Saving Our Avian Resources SOAR -
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PayPal Giving Fund to Saving Our Avian Resources SOAR - PayPal only
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SOAR
25494 320th St
Dedham, IA 51440