2017

[winterwren]

Thanks Cali for posting the news on the chat! From checking in at a weird random time, I was able to get the news of our little Merlin's release. I got to Grassy Point in good time to clear the landing zone of anything that might have flown around as Norm Snihur landed his trusty little helicopter, bringing the Merlin back home.

August 26, 1:37 pm



The Merlin was in this little box... Norm gently tipped it so the lid, when removed, would be more like a side door.
Click on the picture and look carefully... the Merlin has a band on his right leg! A temporary one maybe?
1:40



So many curious people nearby... The Merlin hesitated for almost a minute, looking out of the box, his feet still grabbing onto the towel.
1:41


Then he was off, too fast for a photo!

[winterwren]

Everyone was looking at that cool little helicopter, and Norm had us sitting in it to see how it would feel. But soon I started hearing that Merlin calling!

So I just wandered away from the crowd... Followed my ears... to His and Hers Tree. He's in a shady area, blending in.

The Merlin looked very restless, looking all around, bobbing his head forward as if he was about to take flight.
On these pictures we get glimpses of the bright-red leg band again.
August 26, 1:48 pm 



Every so often he would flap his wings, just like an eaglet developing flight muscles while still in the nest.
In this photo he's flapping and scratching at the same time...



Calling again.
1:54



And more flapping. What a beautiful bird. 

[Tigerlady105]

What good news, wren!   Thank you for your photos and for letting us know.  Norm is a wonderful man.   

[winterwren]

This pair of photos really reminds me of the way eaglets wingercize in the nest. The Merlin is getting definite lift, flapping into the incoming breeze, but still holds on to the perch with one foot.

August 26, 1:58 pm






The Merlin has now been here for twenty minutes after a brief circle flight out of his transport box.
Meanwhile Booni is taking videos, and people are still milling around the helicopter. For a while I've been hearing some strange breathy-raspy sounds from over the water every so often; at first I thought it might be loads of rocks being sent down a chute way out at the quarry on Texada, but another part of me knows full well what it is... I'm worried about losing sight of the Merlin but finally I glance at the water just in time to see it...
A humpback whale!

It sounds and is gone. Just like that, disappeared, not heard or seen again. They do that.

[winterwren]

More Merlin photos! Still in His-and-Hers Tree
Flapping again, then kind of awkwardly flap-walking to another branch. Very fledgling-like, which I suppose this one still is, with the delays from a broken wing!
August 26, 1:59 pm



Beautiful tail fan...




Walking to the next branch here. That red leg band is clearly visible.




Calling again. I don't know if the other Merlins are still around. There were no answering calls.



Moving further behind the tree now. My last clear view. He's now facing away from us and stands with his body horizontal, again flapping and stepping.
2 pm


Meanwhile Norm is doing his walk-around, clearing the area for takeoff. I worry about the Merlin's reaction to the noise. But just before Norm starts his engine, the Merlin makes his move and finally does his second flight - across the point, to a tree closer to the Woodpecker tree. There he remains right through the helicopter's takeoff. Then off he flies toward Hidden Beach, but maybe only as far as the next tree, it was hard to tell.

Fly safely, little Merlin! 

[jeavverhey]

Thank you for that wonderful story and the accompnying photos Wren.   A gorgeous bird for sure and a bright future it seems.    Im always so grateful to the many caring folks who make it all possible. 

[boonibarb]

 
i*d gotten a call asking me to try to arrange transport for the rehabilitated Merlin fledgling that we*d rescued with a broken wing back in july i think it was.
Next thing i knew, Norm was going to deliver the Merlin right to Grassy Point & could i meet him?
Well sure!
i was running around getting things done, planning on getting there early as i seem to remember Norm being early in the past, when i heard a helicopter already coming in to Grassy Point!
i hauled down there & left poor Otto howling in the car & arrived just as Norm was getting out of the helicopter & asking for barb.
i had hoped to try to find the family who had found the Merlin to get them to do the release but Norm*s early arrival left me with no time for that, darnit.
i said to Norm, you*re early!
He said, i had a tail wind, nothing you can do about that!
He*s such a sweetie.
He asked me to do the release as he has done hundreds, or was it thousands?
i said i would rather film, & no one else jumped forward, so Norm did the release himself.
His helicopter, which he maintains & fuels from his own pocket, never mind all the time spent, is in the background of the release.
There was bright glare so i couldn*t tell whether i*d managed to follow the Merlin on their release, but it turns out i*d followed pretty well, so now i wish i*d kept going as the Merlin did a loop & landed in the His & Hers Tree!
i wished i*d had a cell phone so that people could have spotted the Merlin from the cam!
 
august 26 2017 13:45 - rescued rehabbed Merlin fledgling released by Norm Snihur
 
<iframe width="640" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4ZMyWargrEo?fs=1&start=" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i wanted to go photograph the Merlin, but didn*t want to be rude & run off on Norm!
But he was happy chatting away with people so i finally snuck off & got this video.
The Merlin did a lot of calling & flapping while here.

august 26 2017 13:59 - rescued rehabbed Merlin fledgling

<iframe width="640" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HSfEtFKQ4WI?fs=1&start=" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Okay, time for Norm to go!
This video is very loud.

august 26 2017 14:05 - Norm Snihur revs up to leave

<iframe width="640" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p_HelkjsV8E?fs=1&start=" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

august 26 2017 14:07 - Norm Snihur leaves Grassy Point

<iframe width="640" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pz0KzPGmGsc?fs=1&start=" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
 
link to my fotos page - 
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43214021@N08/

[Cawatcher]

super series Wren and booni!!! Thanks Norm!  HEART Rocks! 

[boonibarb]

 
august 26 2017 13:49 - Norm shares his helicopter



A few fotos i managed to nab before i had to run back down the hill to Norm.
i couldn*t see my monitor at all, so wasn*t expecting these half decent fotos.
The Merlin does indeed seem to be wearing a temporary band!
So we might spot this one again til the band is removed or falls away.
 
august 26 2017 13:59 - rehabbed Merlin fledgling
 

 

 

 
link to my fotos page -  
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43214021@N08/

[boonibarb]

 
august 26 2017 14:00 - rehabbed Merlin fledgling
 

 

 

 
link to my fotos page - 
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43214021@N08/

[jeavverhey]

great photos of a a beautiful bird Booni  - wonderful effort by all concerned
 

[Donnae]

Wonderful photos Booni... so glad all turned out well. Beautiful bird and I did notice the orange coloured band, should be easy to spot.
Norm is an amazing man, so dedicated to wildlife... you got to love him!!!!! Thanks Norm for all you do.... and Booni, thank you for all you do too!!! xoxo

[boonibarb]

 
i was at work & we noticed that a lovely Orange-crowned Warbler had hit a window.
They were in a safe spot in the shade, so i just kept monitoring their situation & took these assessment fotos.
Not looking too good at first.
 
august 30 2017 13:11 - Orange-crowned Warbler
 

 

 

 


A wrench to the left for size comparison.
 


Final foto.
Recovery took at least 10 minutes.
Seemed a LOT longer at the time.

august 30 2017 13:21 - Orange-crowned Warbler


 
link to my fotos page -  
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43214021@N08/

[Tigerlady105]

Hope the bird is okay, booni.