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We’ve had several “firsts” for our organization in July:the
first hatchling Western Grebe in care, the firstsuccessful hatching
of a Western Gull admitted as anegg, and the first pair of baby
Common Murres caredfor at PWC.
The Western Grebe was found at Santa MargaritaLake, alone on the
shore, and thought to have had a“head injury from being pecked”-
which was, in fact,the normal marking for this species, who have a
redspot on their forehead.
We received a call about a bucket containing a gull’snest left
abandoned on a dock near the Avila Pier(likely illegally removed
from a boat whose ownerdidn’t want them there). Our Rescue
Transportvolunteer, Jack, was able to retrieve it and deliver it
toour Clinic, where it was found to contain two nestlingWestern
Gulls and an egg that was pipping.
We kept the egg in an incubator overnight alongwith its
siblings, and the next morning its occupanthad begun to peck its
way out! The bird emergedcompletely by the end of the day, was
eating on herown within twenty four hours, and the gulls arenow
housed in Flight 1 in preparation for theirupcoming release.
New Board MemberFund-Our-VetGreat Blue Heron ReleaseNew
MembersPresident’s PerchWildlife Releases
FALL 2020
WHAT’S INSIDE
PWC CALENDAR Due to Covid-19, all in-persontrainings and events
werecanceled.
Monthly Board Meeting —Second Tuesday of the month4:30 PM (now
via Zoom).
By Pamela HartmannALERT AND STABBY
Second Chance
FALL FUNDRAISER
giving wildlife a
Photo: Clark’s Grebe alert and ready for release
Pipping EggPhoto by Vann Masvidal
UNUSUAL CASES FOR PWC By Vann Masvidal
Wild At Heart – At HomeTuesday, October 27ththrough
Sunday,November 1st● Virtual FUNdraising week
culminating in a VIP Event● Free, daily, themed events
(songbirds, coastal birds,mammals, raptors)
● Wildlife Ambassadorpresentations
● Daily raffles● Wildlife films
Saturday, Oct. 31 - Halloween● Creatures of the Night
presentation● Award-winning, youth
filmmaker short
Sunday Nov. 1 - VIP Event● Behind the scenes of our
clinic● Live Ambassador
Presentation● Pledge for Car● Live Auction
The dangerous end of a Clark’s Grebe, for wildlifecaregivers, is
the pointy end. With a scissors-sharpbill and long, flexible neck,
an angry Clark’s Grebestrikes fast, aiming for a person’s eyes.
Volunteersnew to grebes learn to wear eye protection andemploy
swift, decisive action in controlling agrebe’s neck when scooping
the bird out of a pool.Even without stabbing at the caregiver,
though, adistressed grebe can signal displeasure—with
anear-piercing screech.
On his admission to Pacific Wildlife Care’s clinic,CLGR 1513
neither stabbed nor screeched. Not agood sign.
Although unnaturally quiet and unable to keep hishead up, this
bird was not oiled or the victim ofshark bite, two common reasons
grebes arebrought to PWC (the former requiring a multi-stepwash,
the latter requiring surgery by veterinarian
Shannon Riggs). In these and other cases, a bird mayhave to
spend a month or more in care before releaseback to the wild—the
ultimate goal for all our patients.
For healthy grebes, who never touch land, the wildmeans water.
Much of the year, grebes can be seenfloating in the bay or ocean,
diving for fish. In springthey move to lakes, where they perform an
astonishingcourtship ritual (see BBC Life: The Grebes, onYouTube),
then build floating nests and spend thesummer raising chicks, who
charm onlookers by ridingaround on their parent’s back.
CLGR 1513’s problem seemed neurologic. He wasweak, emaciated,
and dehydrated. Riggs prescribedtwice-daily subcutaneous fluids
with B-complex. Oneday later, amazingly, she reported he was
“vocal” andlooked “like a different bird.” After just one week
incare, the bird was “very alert and stabby—a normalgrebe,” ready
to get back to business in the wild.
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Welcome New Members & Donors (May – August 2020)Carole &
Philip Adams Amanda Davis Kat Holland T.J. Orban Bob SpinolaMarie
Allen Thea Davis Karen M. Hondrick Jessica Ormiston Jennifer
StaniecElaine Levin Anderson Cortney DeLotto Lily Honerhoustien
Linde Owen Vicki StancavgeStacey Auguston Karen Denton Patty Horn
Morro Bay Paddlesports Nancy TaberEvonne Austin Samantha Dole
Marianne Johnson Carol Paulsen Aeri & Tom TaylorLawrence Ayres
Stephen Dorsi Matthew Johnstone Laurie Pemberton Jane ThomasShael
Barger Linda Dugan Brian Karl Andy Planagan Nancy TimmonsTodd
Barnes Julie Duhon Marsha Karl Vanessa Ponce Darlene ToalEllen
Bergeron Fran Edwards Sandy Karcher Penny Rappa Patricia TurnerTom
Bernardy Wendy Eidson Blaire Kilbey RAS Enterprises Kathy
VagniniNick Bianchine Colin Ellis Asher Kleinsmith Colleen &
Richard Ray Mechell VienaLori Bishop Lori Emerson Talia Klein JoAnn
Raynor Spencer VilchesBrigid Blackledge Scott Engle Kima Sarah
Knapp Jim Ream David VolkDana Bordegaray Courtney Eubank Ross
Kremsdorf Janet & Hank Richards Paula WadeDiane Bragwell
Christine Ferrigno Adrienne Lam Patsy & Ray Ried Michael
WagonerBecky Bratsven Noelle Flora Joy Lawrence JoAnne Rubba Wendy
WalwynBobby Bracey Richard Foronjy Holly Le Allen Rushing Bill
WeatherfordSharon Brown Patty Ford Ginger Lordus Mona Saghri
Jennifer WhaleyStacy & Wes Burk Kathy Foster Cynthia Lucido
Montessori Children's School Susan WilsonChristina Campbell Sophia
Gallizio Amy & Reid Lundstrom Laurence Schnabel Pat WillhoitBob
Canepa Douglas Gates Debbie Markham Patty Schudlich Karen WiseFrank
Canaan Mario Gaytan Jennifer McCallum Keli Semelsberger Elisabeth
WolfKate Christensen Chris Geddes Daniel McKenzie Mike Serpa Debra
WrightKathy & Roy Cinowalt Tracey Grady Deborah Mikuteit Kelly
Shart Clyde YoungMellissa Clark Liz Grom Wayne Mooday Katherine
Simmons Marlee YoungAnika Clements Chris Hammer Mathew Mullet Molly
SmithKathleen Cosgrove Elle Harlow Joni Nelson Valentina &
Lucia SolisDaria Croniser Deborah Hayes John O'Connor Donna
SouzaNancy Curtis Val Herdman Kathleen Oney Spirit Catchers
Meet JermaineWashington - Lecturerat Cal Poly College
ofArchitecture &Environmental Design.
Jermaine volunteered forfour years in our Clinicdoing whatever
wasneeded including: releases,working with Dr. Riggs, ourCenter
Director Vann,prepping food, siphoningpools, cleaning theIsolation
(ISO) and BabyBird rooms, administeringmedications, scrubbingcages,
etc. He spent themajority of his volunteertime in ISO on
regularshifts. He also periodicallyassisted the Creance Team.
Jermaine is a member ofPWC's New FacilityCommittee as he serves
onthe Board of Directors.Jermaine became a newdad last year!
Fund-Our-Vet(FOV) DonationsDonations designated toFOV, must
always beindicated as such. Somemembers give regularly toboth
operating andto FOV either with twosubscribing memberships,or bill
pay via their bankwith a note to us: "$ X ofdonation for FOV."
Thosefunds are directed andkept in the account toretain our
Veterinarian /Director of Animal Care,Dr. Shannon Riggs.
Top Left: Great Blue Heron chick, case 20-545, was the lone
survivor of a nest that fell during winds in April.Top Right: Great
Blue Heron all grown up and ready to be released. Bottom: Great
Blue Heron beingreleased by volunteer Heather Craig, July 8th.
GREAT BLUE HERONRELEASE
BOD UPDATE
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THE PRESIDENT’S PERCHAcorn Woodpecker 2
American Crow 16American Kestrel 2
Anna's Hummingbird 3Ash-throated Flycatcher 1
Band-tailed Pigeon 4Barn owl 20
Barn Swallow 1Bewick's Wren 1
Black Crowned Night Heron 4Black Phoebe 3
Black-headed Grosbeak 1Black-tailed Jackrabbit 1
Brandt's Cormorant 4Brewer's Blackbird 6
Brown Pelican 3Brush Rabbit 8
Bushtit 2California Ground Squirrel 12
California Gull 2California Myotis 1
California Quail 16California Scrub-Jay 24
California Towhee 11Canada Goose 5
Clark's Grebe 2Cliff Swallow 47
Common Loon 1Common Murre 2
Common Raven 2Cooper's Hawk 2
Dark-eyed Junco 1Deer Mouse 2
Desert Cottontail 15Domestic Dove 1Domestic Duck 3
Domestic Rabbit 2Dusky-footed Woodrat 1
Eurasian Collared-dove 18European Starling 23
Gopher Snake 3Great Blue Heron 1
Great Horned Owl 8Green Heron 1
Hermit Thrush 1Hooded Oriole 1
House Finch 22House Mouse 5
House Sparrow 19Jackson's Chameleon 1
Lesser Goldfinch 3Long-tailed Weasel 3
Mallard 21Mourning Dove 5
Northern Mockingbird 3Northern Raccoon 3
Nuttall's Woodpecker 1Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3Red-necked
Phalarope 2Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 3Rock Pigeon 13
Snowy Plover 2Striped Skunk 5
Two-striped Garter Snake 1Virginia Opossum 62Western Bluebird
1
Western Fence Lizard 1Western Gray Squirrel 3
Western Grebe 3Western Grey Squirrel 3
Western Gull 32Western Pond Turtle 1
Western Screech Owl 4White-tailed Kite 2
White-throated Swift 5Wild Turkey 2
Wilson's Warbler 1Yellow-bellied Marmot 1
Yellow-billed Magpie 2TOTAL 531
by Kimberly Perez
Art Vandenhuevel added a screened-in porch for Alice,PWC’s
Educational Great-horned Owl Ambassador.
Alice enjoying her new indoor-outdoor spaceoverlooking the
Vandenhuevel’s Ranch.
PWC Volunteer, Leslie Powers took this photo of her dad, Ken
Hanson(96 years young) as he has been making boxes to help organize
our perches. Thank you Ken!
May-August 2020RELEASESby Kimberly Perez
2020 – What a year it has been… and it’s not overyet! For us, it
began with somersaults with thepurchase of a 10-acre unimproved
parcel in SanLuis Obispo. Things then morphed into a
shelter-in-place order in March due to the
coronaviruspandemic—people hunkered down at home;highways became
silent; wildlife ventured intoopen, vacated spaces; and in-person
events werecanceled in lieu of new ‘virtual’ events. Deemed
an‘essential’ service, our doors remained open albeitnow with face
coverings and physical distancingmeasures. Many of our dedicated
volunteersstepped back due to the uncertainty. There wasn’ta good
way for trained volunteers to mentor newvolunteers in our
constrained spaces before thebusy, baby animal season arrived! Baby
animalstake over the clinic from May - September. Thisyear was no
different! Out of over 2,200 casesthrough September, over 1,350
werebaby/juvenile birds/mammals. Now, the poolsand flights are
filled with emaciated juvenileseabirds, cormorants, pelicans, and
gulls.
In July, our Board with the help of Netzel GrigsbyAssociates
(NGA) and some of our staff, donors,and members of the community
began work on aTransition Plan that will coordinate
construction,operations and fundraising over the next 3-5
years. A part of that plan is the recruitment of ourfirst
Executive Director who will implement thisplan with the support of
the Board and Staff. Also,before the end of the year, we are
looking forwardto the presentation drawings of the new
facility.There are many hoops to go through yet and muchgoing on
simultaneously, but we are poweringthrough it as methodically as we
can, just like ourdiligent and creative Rehabilitation Staff who
arealways having to adapt to meet the needs ofindividual
species.
All this because we strive to make a difference forthe community
we serve and the animals we treat.With so much going on around us,
it is easy to feeloverwhelmed by the seemingly endless stream ofbad
news; yet in it, we’ve seen a silver lining. Morepeople are
stepping outside and finding nature asa form of normalcy and
recreation. Isn’t that thereason we live here? Somehow, here in our
littlebubble on the Central Coast of CA in San LuisObispo County,
we see through our rose-coloredlenses a better and more encouraging
place. Wehope you find that place in your lives as well! Youcan
always depend on us to be there for you,likewise we hope you can be
there for us this yearwith an end of year gift. Every donation
makes adifference in the lives of these wild creatures withwhom we
share this planet!
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Valerie Putnam & her husband – for allowing us to foster
31Cliff Swallow chicks over the summer into a colony on
theirproperty.
Donna Herbst – for weekly snack baskets.
Dave Pope, Bob Blakely and Sam Peck – for re-wiring and
re-netting Aviary 3
Craig and his Improv group, The Usual Suspects – for the
over$1,850 donations made on our behalf.
May-Aug Facebook birthday fundraisers▪ Hannah Shinnerl $300▪
Mandee Fletcher $25▪ Michelle Watson $100▪ Rose Mary Dolce-Skarphol
$500▪ Courtney Minton-Collins $300▪ Karin Christiansen $205
PWC’s miss ion i s to support San Lu i s Obi spo wi ld l i fe
through rehabi l i ta t ion and educat iona l outreach.We env i s
ion Pac i f i c Wi ld l i fe Care as an advocate for wi ld l i fe .
By shar ing our exper iences, we insp i recommuni ty par t ic ipat
ion to reduce harm to our wi ld ne ighbors .
Membersh ip /Dona t ions Save L i ves Board OfficersPresident:
Kimberly PerezVice President: Marcelle BakulaSecretary:
OpenTreasurer: Kate Capela
Board MembersBob BlakelyCraig ChristakosKathleen DillonJermaine
Washington
NewsletterEditor: Marcelle BakulaCopy Editor: John
FitzRandolphLayout: Jeanette Stone
Thank you to all who donate tomake this newsletter possible.
pacificwildlifecare.org(805) 543-WILD (9453)
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDSan Luis Obispo, CA
93403Permit No. 325
P.O. Box 1134Morro Bay, CA 93443
Yes, I would like to give wildlife a second chance!
Visit us online at pacificwildlifecare.org to set up a monthly
subscription or pay by credit card
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Phone:____________________________
Email:_____________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________
City:_________________________________ State:______
Zip:___________ Date: _______
Please check: � New Membership�� Renewal�� Donation�� I would
like to volunteerPlease mail completed form with check to Pacific
Wildlife Care, PO Box 1134, Morro Bay, CA 93443
��Benefactor $3,000� ��Supporter $150��Patron $1,500� ��Advocate
$60��Sponsor $600� ��Student/Senior/Volunteer $30��Contributor
$300� ��EXTRA END OF YEAR GIVING ________________
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SPECIAL THANK YOUS
Support our Annual Fundraiser(A week-long virtual event this
year!)
Cliff Swallow