Week one at Possumwood began with feeding birds. For this, we were required to use special wide tip tweezers to help ensure that we would not puncture the baby birds throats. We were also able to see the bird's glottis which is an opening that leads to the lungs. It is essential to avoid this when feeding or medicating as one could aspirate and potentially kill the bird. Some of the birds, like Grackles and Starlings, seemed to be a bottomless pit. They seemed to start squawking for more food as soon as I had thought I finished feeding them. Hence, I have a new found respect for mother birds. Each bird cage also had to be cleaned which is easier said than done. When reaching in to get the bowls, all of the birds would flock to the door to try to escape or perch on your arm.
We were also introduced to the "Ambassador Animals" who are not able to be released due to their injuries. One of these animals is Mr. Bones. He cannot be released due to an injury that caused him to be unable to use his back legs. To help him get stronger, he gets physical therapy everyday.
Side note: Opossums are super cool, eat ticks, rarely have rabies due to their immune system, and are the only marsupial in the United States. These creatures are often hurt or killed due to a misunderstanding. Please respect them and leave them alone as they are more scared of you than you are of them!
Check back next week for more animal information and pictures!