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SO THIS IS A LITTLE AMERICAN ALLIGATORS, NOT A CROCODILE.
ONE OF THEM JUST FLU
TOM MURPHY HAS WATCHED THIS SPECIES GO FROM ALMOST EXTINCT TO PRETTY ABUNDANT, TOM, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BIRDS FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE 40TH SEASON THAT I'VE BEEN STUDYING BALD EAGLES HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE FLEW FOR TWO YEARS DOING AERIAL SURVEYS, LOOKING FOR NES, AND WE COULD ONLY LOCATE 13 PAIRS OF EAGLES IN THE STATE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 13 PAIRS IN 1977.
AND, UH, WHEN I RETIRED A FEW YEARS AGO, WE WERE UP TO 253.
AND YOU IMAGINED TO SEE MORE THAN THAT NOW.
YEAH, WE THINK THERE'S PROBABLY 400 NESTS IN THE STATE NOW.
OH, THAT'S A GREAT SUCCESS STORY IN THAT.
YEAH, IT'S A HARD TO, TO REALLY REALIZE HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO LOSING THE BIRDS AS A NESTING SPECIES.
WHAT WERE THE REAL CAUSES FOR THE BIRDS DISAPPEARING IN THE BACKGROUND? IT WAS, IT WAS A LOT OF SHOOTING MORTALITY, PREDATOR CONTROL MENTALITY, BUT THEN WHAT REALLY TIPPED IT OVER WAS, UH, CONTAMINANTS FROM DDT, UH, CAUSING EGGSHELL, SENDING AND, AND NO CHICK PRODUCTION.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS TRUE IN OUR PELICANS.
WE DIDN'T DON'T HAVE ANY DATA FOR, FOR THE EAGLES, BUT WE ASSUME THAT THEY HAD THE SAME THING.
SO TOM DDT WAS A REALLY COMMON PESTICIDE USED ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT? IT WAS, IT WAS DEVELOPED DURING WORLD WAR II.
AND AFTER THAT, IT HAD WIDESPREAD USE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S REALLY PERSISTENT.
IT LASTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HAS MANY BYPRODUCTS.
AND ONE OF THOSE BYPRODUCTS CAUSES THE CALCIUM APPARATUS AND BIRDS TO A MALFUNCTION.
SO YOU GET VERY THIN SHELLED EGGS, WHICH USUALLY ARE BROKEN BEFORE THEY EVER HATCH.
SO TOM, WE HAVE AN ACTIVE EAGLE MASTER RIGHT BEHIND US DELI, RIGHT? WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE NESTING SEASON THIS TIME OF YEAR.
AND, UH, THAT'S A VERY TYPICAL NEST AND YOU SEE IT'S VERY LARGE.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THE CHICKS ARE DIFFERENT AGES BECAUSE THE FEMALE STARTS TO INCUBATE THE EGG AS SOON AS THIS LAID.
SO THERE MAY BE A WEEK DIFFERENCE IN THE AGE OF THE CHICKS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE SMALLER CHICK HAS TO BE ABLE TO GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE OTHER CHICK THAT IT DOESN'T GET PECKED.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR HAVING THE LARGE NEST.
EVENTUALLY EACH WILL HAVE A SIX AND A HALF FOOT WINGSPAN.
SO YOU'VE GOT 13 FEET OF EAGLE WINGS IN THAT NEST AND WHEN THEY PRACTICE FLY AND THEY CAN KNOCK EACH OTHER OUT.
SO AGAIN, THE LARGE NEST, UH, FACILITATES KEEPING THE BIRDS IN, ALONG WITH MOM AND DAD, WHAT WOULD YOU GUESS THIS NEST WAYS? UH, MOST OF THESE NEST LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR OR 500 POUNDS, BUT, UH, THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS RECOVERED AFTER THE NEST TREE FELL.
THAT WAS OVER A THOUSAND POUNDS AND THE, THE ADULTS CONTINUE TO PUT NEW MATERIAL IN THEM EVERY YEAR.
THEY'LL STAY IN THE SAME NEST IN THE SAME TREE, AS LONG AS THAT TREE IS HEALTHY AND THEY ADD A STICKS EVERY YEAR AND THEY ADD STEAKS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NESTING SEASON, BUT THAT'S, UH, A FLAT PLATFORM ON THE TOP OF THAT NEST, TONY.
IT'S NOT LIKE A ROBIN'S NEST, IT'S CONCAVE.
AND, UH, IT'S ALL LINED WITH SPANISH MOSS AND GRASSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
TO, UH, WHEN WE, WHEN WE WERE BANDING, YOU COULD SIT IN AN EAGLE NEST AND FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE, SIR, TOM YOU'VE ACTUALLY CLIMBED WHAT WELL, A LOT OF THESE TREES TO GET INSIDE THE NEST, RIGHT? THE CLIMATE TO THE NEST IS ACTUALLY RELATIVELY EASY GETTING AROUND THE NEST.
AND, UH, ONCE YOU'RE IN THE NEST, IT'S QUITE COMFORTABLE THEN OF COURSE, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS MONITORING THE NAS, CHECKING ON EGGS AND IN GAINING IMPORTANT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF EAGLES.
YEAH, WELL, WE WERE DEALING WITH FOR SIX YEARS, WE'VE ABANDONED, UH, EAGLE CHICKS.
AND WE WERE DOING THAT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE HOW OLD THEY WERE WHEN THEY FIRST REPRODUCE.
AND THE OTHER THING WAS TO KNOW WHETHER OUR BIRDS, THAT FLEDGED HERE WILL ACTUALLY COME BACK HERE TO NEST.
UH, WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.
THEY COME RIGHT BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA, EVEN AS JUVENILES AND EVENTUALLY WOUND UP NESTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
WELL, TOM, I KNOW THIS NEST IS ACTIVE, BUT I DON'T SEE MUCH ACTIVITY RIGHT NOW.
THE CHICKS AREN'T LARGE ENOUGH TO BE SEEN, UH, QUITE YET ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS WE COULD, BUT THERE ARE OTHER NESTS ON THE PROPERTY AND WE CAN GO CHECK THOSE OUT.
LET'S GO CHECK ONE OF THOSE YEAH, TONY, THIS WAS THE ONLY NEST ON THE PLANTATION THAT GOT BLOWN OUT DURING THE HURRICANE AND THE BIRDS HAVE REBUILT ANOTHER NEST NOW.
SO THESE ARE NOT EGGS, BUT PROBABLY CHECKS, RIGHT? YEAH.
WELL, SHE'S SITTING UP SO HIGH AND INDICATES THAT SHE'S BROODING CHICKS RATHER THAN INCUBATING EGGS.
AND SO WILL SHE ACTUALLY SIT AND COVER THEM UP OR WILL SHE SHE'LL SIT OVER THEM? SO SHE'S PROTECTING
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THEM FROM HOT OR COLD.SO THESE, THESE GUYS ARE FOUR WEEKS OLD OR SO I WOULD SAY THAT PROBABLY COMING UP ON FOUR WEEKS, CAUSE SHE'S STILL BROODING THEM.
SO HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE THEY START TO, WELL, HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE THEY FLEDGE? WELL, THE FLEDGE IN 10 TO 12 WEEKS AND THAT'S FROM A SMALL CHICK UP TO A FULL SIZE.
LIKE YOU ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, A BABY EAGLE, A YOUNG EAGLE THAT'S READY TO FLEDGE IS FULL THAT'S.
UH, ACTUALLY THEIR FLIGHT FEATHERS ARE, ARE LONGER THAN THE ADULTS AND THE BABIES LACK THAT BEAUTIFUL WHITE ADULT COLORATION, RIGHT? YEAH.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WHITE HEAD OR THE WHITE TAIL UNTIL ABOUT THREE AND A HALF.
UH, ALSO THE EYE IS DARK AND THE BILL IS SO TOM, ONCE THEY FLEDGED, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE NOT FEEDING THEMSELVES FOR A WHILE.
IT'S ABOUT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS WHERE THE ADULTS CONTINUE TO FEED THEM.
AND, UH, THEY ARE SEEING THE ADULTS FLY IN WITH A, WITH A FISH AND NO, UH, DO A, UH, BEGGING CALL AND THEN THE ADULTS WILL COME OVER AND FEED THEM AND THEY DON'T MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO CATCH ANYTHING.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEARN WHAT THEY HAVE TO IS BUILD A DIGITAL STREAM AND EXPECT STUFF.
AND THEN THEY GET KIND OF BRATTY AND I GUESS IT'S TIME FOR THE ADULTS AND THE ADULTS WILL ACTUALLY GOT TO GET THEM TO MOVE OUT OF THE TERRITORY EVENTUALLY.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST LEAVE AND THEN THE YOUNG BURSTS JUST START WANDERING AROUND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TRANSITION ZONE WHERE IT'S REAL DIFFICULT FOR, FOR THE BIRDS TO SURVIVE, LEARNING, LEARNING, TO FEED ON THEIR OWN EAGLES.
I KNOW, OF COURSE WE KNOW THEY FISH.
WHAT ELSE DO THEY? WELL, COOT IS, UH, ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES WHEN THEY CAN GET IT.
IT'S A MEMBER OF THE RAIL FAMILY.
AND OF COURSE THEY EAT A LOT OF DEAD FISH TOO.
UH, WELL I KNOW I SAW AN EAGLE SWOOP DOWN IN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY ONE TIME AND TRY AND CATCH, GET A POSSUM OR A DEAD RACCOON OR SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY ROADKILL.
CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CHANCE OF HIGHWAY MORTALITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PARALLELS THAT EAGLES FACE TODAY WITH THE YOUNG BIRDS ARE IN AND ON A NEST SITE? GREAT.
HORNED OWLS CAN BE A COMPETITOR ANALYSIS.
WE'LL ACTUALLY TAKE AN EAGLE NEST AWAY FROM THEM.
SO I'VE SEEN EAGLES KIND OF FLYING ALL KINDS OF ACROBATICS AND THAT'S TYPICALLY RELATED TO MATING BEHAVIOR, RIGHT? PRIMARILY, SOMETIMES IT'S DEFENSIVE, BUT UH, UH, MADE IT PAIR WE'LL COME TOGETHER AND MAYBE LOCK FOOT TO FOOT AND CARTWHEEL THROUGH THE AIR AND FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL PLUNGE, IT'LL LOCK UP BOTH FEET AND JUST COME DOWN AT HIGH SPEED.
AND AT LAST SECOND THEY'LL BREAK OFF.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CRUISE AT ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR, BUT THEY, THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH SPEEDS OVER A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR.
WHEN THEY'RE IN THE STUDENT, DO THEY REALLY MATE FOR LIFE? AS FAR AS WE KNOW FROM OUR BANDED BIRDS, WHICH WE FOLLOWED THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE BREEDING CAREER, WE'VE NEVER HAD AN EAGLE DISAPPEAR FROM A TERRITORY AND THEN SHOW UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO WE DO THINK THAT IN A NORMAL SITUATION, THEY DO MATE FOR LIFE.
AND IF ONE OF THE ADULTS IS KILLED, SO WHAT HAPPENS DOWN? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S THE MALE OR THE FEMALE, THE REMAINING BIRD WILL STAY ON THE TERRITORY AND MAINTAIN IT AND RECRUIT IN REPLACEMENT.
AND THIS NEST IS, I MEAN, THIS ONE'S HAD A DEAD TREE.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S VERY ATYPICAL.
UH, IT'S VERY RARELY SEE THEM IN DEAD TREES.
UH, BUT AFTER HURRICANE HUGO, WE STARTED SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF IT.
AND THEN OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE OF THE LIMB STRUCTURE, THEY'LL KNOW.
BUT, BUT THE IDEA IS A NEST IS PRETTY HEAVY AND IF IT'S IN A DEAD TREE, IT MIGHT FALL OUT A LIVING TREE, WHICH WOULD PRESUMABLY SUPPORT A LOT MORE WEIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE A GREATER LONGEVITY.
OBVIOUSLY THIS NEST IS NOT GOING TO LAST, BUT A COUPLE MORE YEARS.
SO TOM, HOW ARE EAGLES DOING HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY? NOW? I'D NEVER THOUGHT 40 YEARS AGO THAT THE RECOVERY WOULD BE THIS QUICK, BUT, UH, ONCE WE GOT DDT BANNED AND UH, THE SHOOTING MORTALITY WENT DOWN, RECOVERY OCCURRED RATHER RAPIDLY, MAYBE MORE THAN 10% A YEAR INCREASE.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT SCIENTISTS LIKE YOU ARE DOING FOR EAGLES HERE IN THE LOCAL.
WELL, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM AND ENJOY DOING IT.
THIS IS STEVEN CHAEBOL AND HE'S THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY.
STEPHEN, THANKS FOR LETTING US COME TO THAT.
GREAT TABBY, TONY, FIRST OF ALL, UH, PARDON ALL THE WATER.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
WE'RE STANDING IN ABOUT SIX INCHES OF WATER, A LITTLE SLUSHY, BUT UH, THAT'S, THAT'S TROPICAL SOUTH CAROLINA FOR YOU.
UM, THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
WELL T TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MISSION OF THIS FACILITY.
YEAH, SO WE'RE, UM, UH, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION STARTED BACK IN 1991 AND OUR FOCUS IS ON UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD THROUGH BIRDS.
SO THE MISSION AS IT READS IS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THROUGH TREATING BIRDS AND MEDICAL CARE THROUGH EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT BIRDS OF PREY, THROUGH RESEARCH REVOLVING AROUND BIRDS OF PREY.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURE, BECAUSE THEY'RE EVERYWHERE WE GO AND THEY'RE SENSITIVE AND CONSPICUOUS BIRDS ARE GREAT INDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY THE ONES AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD WEB.
SO WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS UNDER ONE ROOF.
UM, MY JOB IS TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT BIRDS OF PREY, BUT WHEN WE STARTED, THERE WAS A NEED FOR CARING FOR BIRDS THAT HAD BEEN INJURED IN THE WILD.
WE SEE BIRDS THAT COME IN HAVING BEEN HIT BY CARS, HAVING BEEN SHOT, HAVING BEEN POISONED, ALMOST ENTIRELY HUMAN RELATED ACTIVITIES, CAUSING THE PROBLEMS.
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AND WHAT WE REALIZED WAS THAT, UM, TREATING THE BIRDS IS GREAT.HELPS SOME OF THOSE BIRDS GO BACK OUT INTO THE WILD, HELPS US TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, BUT REALLY IF WE WANT TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE, WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE A PART OF THE PROBLEM AND ALSO A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
SO EDUCATION GREW VERY QUICKLY OUT OF THAT INITIAL MEDICAL CARE FOR BIRDS.
I THINK THE FIRST THING WE CAN DO IS GO VISIT THE CLINIC.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A BALD EAGLE WHO'S IN TREATMENT OVER THERE.
SO WE SHOULD GO OVER AND CHECK THAT OUT.
SO TONY
AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A BALD EAGLE WHO WE DO THIS, UH, ADULT MALE BALD EAGLE THAT WE FOUND IN MARCH.
HE WAS IN THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST, UNABLE TO FLY.
AND, UH, WE BROUGHT IN, WE CAPTURED AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE CLINIC AND DETERMINED HE HAD A LUCK CITED, LEFT ELBOW, WHICH MEANS DISLOCATED.
IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO KIND OF HELP WITH THIS TODAY? WE'RE GOING TO ANESTHETIZE THE BIRD.
IT MAKES OUR WORK A LOT EASIER AND GET AN X-RAY JUST TO DETERMINE, UM, WHAT CONDITIONS THE ELBOW JOINT IS IN AT THIS TIME.
AND THIS IS ALL YOU WANT TO DO YOU WANT TO BETWEEN YOUR INDEX FINGER AND THIRD FINGER GRASP THE BURT'S HAND AND THEN HOLD THE MASK.
AND NOW WE JUST WAIT QUIETLY FOR HIM TO GO TO JUST AMAZING ANIMALS.
SO I THINK THIS BIRD IS COMPLETELY ASLEEP AT THIS POINT AND WE CAN BEGIN OUR PROCEDURES.
SO IF YOU FEEL THIS ELBOW JOINT RIGHT HERE, TAKE YOUR THUMB AND YOUR THIRD FINGER DOWN THERE.
YOU IT'S A LITTLE THICK RIGHT THERE.
WELL NOW COMPARE IT TO THIS ONE AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.
RIGHT? THE TISSUE IS INFLAMED, RIGHT.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR, TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, CHECK, CHECK THE RANGE OF MOTION.
I'M GOING TO GRAB THE WRIST AND THE ELBOW.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT A WING LIKE THIS AND YOU KIND OF THINK OF YOUR OWN WRIST AND YOUR OWN ELBOW.
AND IT'S KIND OF ACTUALLY IDENTICAL TO OURS ON A, WHEN YOU JUST LOOK HERE AT A DIFFERENT, VERY DIFFERENT, BUT YES, IT'S THE SAME.
THESE WOULD BE HIS FINGERS, RIGHT? UM, HE HAS A RADIUS AND ALL THAT JUST LIKE WE DO.
AND THEN HE HAS A HUMOROUS AND IT ALL CONNECTS TO THE ELBOW HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS JOINT DOESN'T SLIP OR HAVE ANY CREPITUS OR ANY UNUSUAL MOVEMENT WHEN I EXTEND IT, IT FEELS NICE AND STABLE.
SO WHAT OTHER KINDS OF BIRDS DO YOU GUYS GET ALL BIRDS OF PREY, NATIVE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AS WELL AS SHOREBIRDS AND PELAGIC BIRDS.
I SENT YOU IN AN ANGLE ONE TIME.
AND I THINK I WAS STABBED ME ABOUT 20 TIMES BETWEEN THE TIME I GOT CAUGHT AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT INTO YOU GUYS WILL DO THAT.
BUT YOU WERE TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL BIRDS THAT COME IN? WHAT KINDS OF INJURIES? SO IF YOU GET A WRAPPED OR WHAT, WHAT HAS TYPICALLY HAPPENED TO IT VERY OFTEN, ABOUT HALF OF OUR BIRDS COME IN DUE TO COLLISION WITH THAT'S MOST OFTEN FROM A CAR, BUT IT COULD BE A WINDOW OR, UM, A RADIO TOWER.
THE OTHER HALF ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS OVER 20 YEARS.
AND I THINK I'VE SEEN EVERYTHING, BUT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.
UM, BART'S COME IN WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, A TINY LITTLE PIECE OF ROPE AND THAT HANGER HAD HUNG IN IT'S THE TIP FIT SPEAK.
AND HE WAS STARVING TO DEATH BECAUSE OF ONE LITTLE TINY PIECE OF ROPE THAT WAS ON THE GROUND.
AND YOU TOLD ME, YOU WERE TALKING TO ME EARLIER ABOUT LEAD POISONING TOO.
SO THEY SOMETIMES INGEST IS THAT FROM ADJUSTING LEAD POISONING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF AN ISSUE.
ALMOST 70% OF OUR EAGLES THAT ARE ADMITTED ARE SUFFERING FROM LEAD POISONING.
WE CAN TREAT IT WITH CULATION THERAPY AND WE'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL IF WE CATCH IT EARLY ENOUGH.
BUT THE EAGLES GET LEAD POISONING FROM INGESTING MOST TYPICALLY, UH, GUT PILES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND AND THEY WOULD EAT THE LEAD FRAGMENTS AND INGEST THEM.
AND THEN BECAUSE OF THEIR PHYSIOLOGY, THEY BREAK DOWN.
SO THE ANIMAL SHOT WITH BUCKSHOT OR SOMETHING AND THEY EAT.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT HIM ON A, A BOARD AND GET A RADIOGRAPH.
WE'VE COMPLETED OUR MEDICAL PROCEDURES WITH THIS PART, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM OXYGEN TO WAKE HIM UP.
SO FINALLY WE HAVE THE OXYGEN.
THAT DEFINITELY EYES ARE OPEN AND BLANKET COVERED DURING THIS STAGE, UM, TO REDUCE THE STRESS.
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU'RE WAKING UP FROM AT STATIA BRIGHT LIGHTS IN YOUR EYES, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT.
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IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE, EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT ON HIM.UM, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT HE'S GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL RELEASE IT MEXICO.
NOT ONLY DO YOU GUYS GET TO WORK WITH COOL ANIMALS LIKE THIS, BUT YOU HAVE SUCCESS STORIES WITH THESE BIRDS ACTUALLY RELEASED THE HEART OF OUR WORK.
AND I SURE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR A LOT OF SYNONYMS TO THESE BIRDS.
SO I KINDA FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER A LITTLE BIT.
UH, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT, UM, LIKE MOST WILD THINGS.
THEY SEE US AND THEY WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
EVEN THESE BIRDS THAT ARE QUITE USED TO BEING AROUND PEOPLE.
THESE ARE BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR OVER A DECADE.
BOTH OF THEM BIRDS THAT WERE INJURED IN THE WILD, BUT COULDN'T BE RETURNED TO THE WILD AS A RESULT OF THEIR, THEIR INJURIES.
BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HELP US TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE AND THE GREAT AMBASSADORS, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO VISIT THESE BIRDS AND SEE THEM UP CLOSE IS WE'VE ALL SEEN EAGLES AND MANY OF US HAVE SEEN EAGLES, BUT WHEN YOU'RE THIS CLOSE, YOU REALIZE JUST HOW BIG A BURDEN THIS IS.
I MEAN, THEY AREN'T IMPRESSIVE.
IT'S A, IT'S SOMETHING THAT BEING ABLE TO GET CLOSE TO THE ANIMAL HAVE A, AN EXPERIENCE WITH THEM IN A DIFFERENT PLANE THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PERHAPS A LITTLE LESS PLEASANT THEY'RE FACING ISSUES FROM COLLISION WITH CARD, A GUNSHOT TO LEAD POISONING, YOU NAME IT, BAD.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING OUT THERE.
AND WE'RE SEEING IT FIRST THROUGH THESE BIRDS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT EAGLES HAVE COME BACK QUITE A BIT.
MOST OF OUR TOURS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THESE EAGLES.
AND ONE THING WE CAN TALK ABOUT IS HOW THEY'RE A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.
CAN'T HELP, BUT NOTICE HOW BRIGHT YELLOW THE THEATER.
THEY'RE UH, THEY'RE, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE SORT OF HALLMARKS OF THE BALD EAGLE THAT BRIGHT YELLOW BEAK AND BRIGHT YELLOW FEET.
WE SEE YELLOW FEET AND A LOT OF THE BIRDS OF PREY, ESPECIALLY THE BIRD EATERS, BUT IN THE EAGLES, EATING FISH GIVES THEM PLENTY OF, PLENTY OF CAROTINOIDS I GUESS, IN THE FEET, THE BRIGHT YELLOW LIKE THAT.
SO WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW US TODAY? WELL, WE'VE GOT 50 SPECIES OF BIRDS OF PREY HERE AT THE CENTER FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WHY DON'T WE GO HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE TENS? GOOD.
SO TELL ME ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO HERE IS SHOW PEOPLE, TRAIN BIRDS OF PREY IN FLIGHT UP CLOSE, AND WE'VE GOT ONE OF OUR TRAIN BIRDS HERE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET, WE'VE GOT THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PUT IT RIGHT HERE.
SHE COMES, THIS IS A RED TAILED HAWK THAT WAS HIT BY A CAR AND WAS LEFT BLIND IN ONE EYE, BUT SHE CAN FLY, WHICH IS REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS RIGHT UP CLOSE, WHEREAS IN THE WILD, THEY MIGHT ONLY SEE THEM FROM, I THINK SHE'S KIND OF LOOKING ME OVER TO SEE IF I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE WE LEARN QUICKLY.
AND IT IS BASED ON POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.
THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY DO, WE ASK THEM TO DO THEY'RE GOING TO GET REWARDED AND THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC GETS A CHANCE TO SEE A BIRD FLY.
I MEAN, WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE BIRDS THAT WE'D SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT, ONE OF MY FAVORITES ARE THE VULTURES.
UM, WE HAVE A BLACK VULTURE TODAY.
MEGAN'S GONNA BRING THEM IN FROM OVER HERE.
A LOT OF FOLKS SEE VULTURES AND THEY IMMEDIATELY KIND OF GET TIED OFF.
THEY ARE AMAZING BIRDS, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT.
AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THEM IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE, THESE GUYS ARE, ARE CRITICAL TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THESE ARE, UM, NOT ONLY A SCAVENGER, BUT A SCAVENGER THAT DOESN'T REALLY COST US ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF ANIMALS THAT WOULD GLADLY EAT DEAD THINGS.
IF, IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE, KNOW THE EAGLES WE SAW AND RATS AND DOGS, BUT VULTURES DO IT VERY EFFICIENTLY.
THIS IS A BURDEN THAT ACTUALLY A HUMAN IMPRINT.
SOMEBODY FOUND THEM AS A HATCHLING AND TOOK HIM HOME AND FED HIM.
AND THAT'S WHY HE CAN'T BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.
HE ESSENTIALLY THINKS HE'S A HUMAN CLOSE TO A FIVE FOOT WINGSPAN ON THE BLACK VULTURE AND HE WEIGHS FULL TWO KILOS.
THAT'S, THAT'S BIG IN BIRD TERMS. ONE OF THE LARGEST BIRDS THAT WE WORK WITH HERE AT THE CENTER.
WELL, TONY, WE'VE GOT A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU GUYS TODAY.
JUST SO HAPPENS THAT WE HAVE AN EAGLE THAT NEEDS TO BE RELEASED.
THIS IS JIM ELLIOT, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIM, THANKS FOR DOING THIS WITH US.
THE TIMING WORKED OUT THIS WAY.
THIS IS SOME OF THE BEST PART OF WHAT WE DO.
SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BIRD.
SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S READY TO GO.
IT'S BEEN IN A FLIGHT ENCLOSURE AND BUILDING THE ENDURANCE THAT IT NEEDS TO GO AND GIVE US THE CONFIDENCE TO SEND IT AWAY.
BUT IT'S A BIRD THAT CAME FROM BUFORD COUNTY.
UM, HE, AS AN ADULT, WE SUSPECT A MALE BECAUSE HE'S RELATIVELY SMALL FOR EAGLE, BUT NO REAL OR VERT INJURIES, BUT LOOKS LIKE HE WAS IN A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE PERHAPS WITH ANOTHER BURDEN, GOT THE SHORT END OF THAT DEAL.
AND UH, BUT NOW WE'RE READY TO GO AGAIN.
I'M NO EXPERT, BUT I BET WE TAKE THE HOOD OFF.
CAN JUST PULL IT STRAIGHT UP QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.
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TO ADJUST, TO SEE WHERE HE IS.SO I'LL GIVE THIS BACK TO YOU GUYS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING HERE.
AND THANKS FOR LETTING US JOIN YOU TODAY.
SO THIS IS AN EAGLE THAT FELL OUT OF IT.
IN FACT, ITS NEST IS RIGHT UP THERE.
IT'S ABOUT 80 FEET HIGH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WAS TANGLED IN SOME SPANISH MOSS AND HUNG THERE FOR SOME TIME UNTIL WE HAD SOME REALLY STRONG WINDS THAT BLEW IT OUT OF THE NEST.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SCOOP IT UP, TAKE IT BACK THE NATURE CENTER.
NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY AND ALL A DOG TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP THIS BIRD VETERINARIAN.
AL SEGERS DID A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND GAVE THE BIRD FLUIDS.
AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET A DDA MEAL.
NOW THIS IS A REALLY YOUNG BIRD.
UM, IT'S ONLY ABOUT FOUR WEEKS OLD, BUT BOY, LOOK AT THE FEET, LOOK AT THE TALENTS.
AND OF COURSE, QUITE A, A BILL ON IT.
THIS BILL IS AN ADULT WOULD BE KIND OF A YELLOW COLOR AND THE FEET WOULD BE EVEN MORE BRIGHT YELLOW, BUT SPECTACULAR TALENT.
OF COURSE, THESE ARE GOOD FOR GRASPING FISH AND, AND OTHER PRIDE BIRD SIM CITY, REALLY IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
NOW LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS BIRD BACK IN THE NEST AT THE BOTTOM.
SO WE HAVE OUR EAGLE IN THE BOX AND BLUFF AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO TAKE US UP TO RETURN THIS BIRD, UH, TO THE IDEAS, TO GET IT BACK IN THE NEST.
WE THINK THERE'S ANOTHER CHICKEN THERE AND THE ADULTS ARE REALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME FLYING AROUND.
SO THIS COULD BE KIND OF EXCITED.
SO WE'RE HEADED UP TO PUT THIS BIRD BACK IN THE DESK AND TELL YOU WHY.
I KNOW YOU'RE USED TO THIS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN I'M USED TO THAT'S FOR SURE.
I MEAN, THIS THING IS PROBABLY EIGHT FEET ACROSS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF THE NEST AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF LOOKING, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF GUANO AND STUFF IN THE BIRDS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK RIGHT HERE, THAT'S THE TAIL OF THIS THING, RIGHT? I THOUGHT IT WAS A SNAKE AT FIRST, BUT HERE'S THAT SPINE? SO OBVIOUSLY THESE EAGLES HAVE BEEN EATING STINGRAYS.
SO WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT THE BURDEN.
THERE'S ALREADY A CHICK IN THERE.
SO, UH, WE'RE HERE, MOM AND DAD COMING AROUND.
SO I THINK WE PROBABLY BETTER GET ON DOWN.
WE HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
THERE'S ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT THE OTHER CHICK MAY HAVE PUSHED IT OUT OR MAYBE OUT COMPETING THIS BIRD.
WE HOPE THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT WHAT KIND OF DEAL WITH THAT IF WE NEED TO ANYWAY, HOPE THIS STORY ENDS WELL, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THIS IS AWESOME.
SO HERE WE ARE BACK AT THE EAGLE NEST.
AND IF YOU LOOK, YOU CAN SEE ONE ANIMAL THAT'S DIRECTLY ABOVE THE NEST AND THEN THERE'S ONE KIND OF PEEKING OVER THE RIGHT SIDE.
SO THESE ANIMALS HAVE GROWN CONSIDERABLY.
IN FACT, ONE OF THEM IS KIND OF STANDING UP FACING INTO THE WIND AND FLAPPING ITS WINGS, PRESUMABLY TO STRENGTHEN THOSE FLIGHT MUSCLES.
UM, THESE GUYS LOOK REALLY GOOD SINCE EGOS ARE PRETTY COMMON AROUND HERE.
I THINK WE HAVE A REAL TENDENCY TO KIND OF TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS IS A SPECIES THAT CAME PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO EXTINCTION.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THESE GUYS UP AND READY TO TAKE FLIGHT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM FLYING AROUND IN THE SKIES OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
[00:25:01]
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