TCK
Well-known member
Allow me to explain. Many years ago your host took up two new hobbies, in a sea of hobbies, that seem to have stuck. One was playing the Ukulele, and the other was handling birds of prey who are educational ambassadors at The Sonoma County Bird Rescue Center. (if you are so inclined, we do what we do entirely from donations.)
At first, it was just a casual interest, and then I fell head over heals for a falcon...she passed and then there was a hawk, and then a turkey vulture. Things just kind of snow-balled on me much like my ukulele collection and well, today at the same center I am a:
Raptor handler
Handler trainer
Rehabilitation volunteer
Rehabilitation volunteer trainer
Field Rescue team volunteer
and...well, a board member.
The last few years have been rough. First, there were fires, and we had to evacuate our ambassador birds. Then we were evicted off the county land we have occupied for 30+ years (we have really done well fundraising for our new center- we have two million to go but we are going to get it!). Then COVID hit and we lost so many volunteers...and so many did not come back. Through every bit of it, I think I have brought to our work (we rehabilitate and re-release native birds who are ill or injured- 3500 a year) a smile, and a cheerful demeanor. I can laugh at anything, and I work all day tirelessly trying to both take care of my charges (I am the Corvid guy in the hospital), and to make my staff smile as much as possible. They work so hard, and without volunteers, they are there for 12 hours a day often.
When I signed on to do this week, I had a totally new idea. It was so great, but I am saving it for later. For now my head is on birds.
This week those smiles at the rescue have been hard, not gonna lie. A Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus has since December been making its way from Canada across the northern part of my country. Last time it reared its head it stopped before it hit us (we always figured the heat would stop it) but this time it is here. The number of birds affected so far is 40.14 million across the country, and it is fatal, every time.
Now- I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer...we are all I am sure so fatigued by the bombardment of "and now this is an issue", and I get that. I just cannot help but talk about this, because it is all I think about all day, all night. I wish you all could spend a day with me at the center and see how cool birds really are...but they are also a canary in a coal mine and that keeps me up at night.
I am sullen at the center because I know there is so little we can do.
I am nearly defeated...but not yet, by all the bad news that just seems to get worse.
So I call on you fine people, many of whom I have never met, but also whom have ever let me down.
Play me a bird song. Play me every bird song you know (please)...It only needs to mention a bird once. That will strengthen my resolve and make this easier. It will repair my wings. Season 54 was birds, and I will post the playlists here for inspiration.
Bob- when you do the Trashmen/RAMONES song...can we get the dance? Just going on a hunch here
Much love Brothers and sisters. No prizes this week, I am just going to buy my staff lunch and smile a lot.
Me and Phoenix...who clearly has only one eye. She is a pirate. Red-Tailed Hawk.
For inspiration- Season 54 Playlist
and as we used to do- Season 54 Bonus songs
And of course- this weeks playlist- SEASON 546 HAS GONE TO THE BIRDS
At first, it was just a casual interest, and then I fell head over heals for a falcon...she passed and then there was a hawk, and then a turkey vulture. Things just kind of snow-balled on me much like my ukulele collection and well, today at the same center I am a:
Raptor handler
Handler trainer
Rehabilitation volunteer
Rehabilitation volunteer trainer
Field Rescue team volunteer
and...well, a board member.
The last few years have been rough. First, there were fires, and we had to evacuate our ambassador birds. Then we were evicted off the county land we have occupied for 30+ years (we have really done well fundraising for our new center- we have two million to go but we are going to get it!). Then COVID hit and we lost so many volunteers...and so many did not come back. Through every bit of it, I think I have brought to our work (we rehabilitate and re-release native birds who are ill or injured- 3500 a year) a smile, and a cheerful demeanor. I can laugh at anything, and I work all day tirelessly trying to both take care of my charges (I am the Corvid guy in the hospital), and to make my staff smile as much as possible. They work so hard, and without volunteers, they are there for 12 hours a day often.
When I signed on to do this week, I had a totally new idea. It was so great, but I am saving it for later. For now my head is on birds.
This week those smiles at the rescue have been hard, not gonna lie. A Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus has since December been making its way from Canada across the northern part of my country. Last time it reared its head it stopped before it hit us (we always figured the heat would stop it) but this time it is here. The number of birds affected so far is 40.14 million across the country, and it is fatal, every time.
Now- I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer...we are all I am sure so fatigued by the bombardment of "and now this is an issue", and I get that. I just cannot help but talk about this, because it is all I think about all day, all night. I wish you all could spend a day with me at the center and see how cool birds really are...but they are also a canary in a coal mine and that keeps me up at night.
I am sullen at the center because I know there is so little we can do.
I am nearly defeated...but not yet, by all the bad news that just seems to get worse.
So I call on you fine people, many of whom I have never met, but also whom have ever let me down.
Play me a bird song. Play me every bird song you know (please)...It only needs to mention a bird once. That will strengthen my resolve and make this easier. It will repair my wings. Season 54 was birds, and I will post the playlists here for inspiration.
Bob- when you do the Trashmen/RAMONES song...can we get the dance? Just going on a hunch here
Much love Brothers and sisters. No prizes this week, I am just going to buy my staff lunch and smile a lot.
Me and Phoenix...who clearly has only one eye. She is a pirate. Red-Tailed Hawk.
For inspiration- Season 54 Playlist
and as we used to do- Season 54 Bonus songs
And of course- this weeks playlist- SEASON 546 HAS GONE TO THE BIRDS
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