Two WRC Birds Find New Homes in Zoos
Every now and then an animal that does not quite fully recuperate makes a good candidate to be placed with an organization that has educational permits.
On Wednesday a female Pine Grosbeak that spent the winter recovering at WRC was transferred to the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and a male Pileated Woodpecker that was raised in our 2011 Avian Nursery made his debut at the Minnesota Zoo.
The Pileated Woodpecker is from Hamel, Minn., and was literally on death’s door when it arrived at WRC last June. The fact that it survived, is a tribute to the person who found it in the nick of time and the efforts of our medical and Avian Nursery staff. When it first arrived at WRC it was suffering from a trauma and could only lay on its back, all muscles completely tensed. By early September it had recuperated to the point that it could perch and fly very short distances. You can read more about his amazing story in the Minnesota Zoo’s news release.
The Pine Grosbeak has made a long journey. On February 9, she crashed into a window in Grand Marais, in far Northeastern Minnesota. She was then brought to Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center in Duluth who then transferred the bird to us due to its medical needs.
Her case is an excellent example of permanent injuries occurring without a clear diagnosis. She had no fractures, probably incurred head trauma, but never fully regained the ability to fly and continually dropped a wing. The Columbus (Ohio) Zoo was hoping to obtain one of these far northern birds and this was the perfect opportunity for an otherwise healthy bird to live out the rest of its life in a safe setting.
We’re so happy both of these beautiful birds have found new homes.