NATURAL WONDERS

MEANT TO MOVE

Rex Burress

To be a wild animal usually means having full mobility and being ready to run, or fly, from predators that watch for an easy mark. It's a rule for the survival of the fittest. Notice how the songbird and the rabbit are forever flicking their heads and watching for danger.

A prominent example can be found around Gray Lodge State Refuge. It is no secret that sportsman hunting spaces can be found near the reserve, and that the hunter's aim is not perfect, leaving injured waterfowl in the marshes. Predators are drawn to plentiful food sources, thus an abundance of hawks hang around the migratory drama to pick up a few stragglers. Most hunters--wildlife hunters and human hunters alike--are opportunists, and go for the sure thing. The sure thing for gun toters is good marksmanship and practicing proper shooting rules to avoid crippling the game. The sure thing for the hawk is picking out the weakest target to save energy.

Some of the wounded waterfowl with wing injuries are caught by CA Fish and Wildlife staff at Gray Lodge and held in pens. All is not lost for the bird, even though the Lake Merritt Refuge in Oakland, Ca had a benefactor veterinarian, Dr. Harris, who said “a bird without a wing is not a bird.” However, with help, some can live on and become a useful animal for outdoor education.

The naturalist program at Lake Merritt was founded by Paul Covel in 1948, and to add to the birds, he would collect wing-injured snow geese and Canada geese from the Valley refuges and release them at the lake sanctuary. Soon the enterprising Canada's took advantage of the five man-made islands in the lake and began nesting. They were so successful that now there are over 2,000 flying around the city, so perfectly adjusted they have ceased migrating. Being wingless doesn't keep the off-spring from flying, a wonderful sight for the city folks. The geese go from one pond to another around the Bay, but in June they all come home to molt.

The caged animal subject is perhaps debatable, but being protected and cared for can extend the life of an impaired animal and provide an intimate view of their profile that's very difficult to see in the wild. I have noted this interest during nature programs where the close proximity of furry and scaly animals is accepted in delight. As to the zoo aspect, I have observed that cripples adjust and seem content. I'm speaking as a one-time animal keeper on the staff, tending a small nature-zoo in conjunction with the naturalist program. They were mostly injured animals due for rehabilitation. That didn't apply to 'Goldie', a one-winged golden eagle, or the “hello baby” talking raven, or the curious tame vulture. As you could plainly see, they loved to strut their stuff, and lived longer than in the wild.

Take the case of an injured cattle egret we kept in a “Buckminster Fuller” geodesic dome cage. A wild cattle egret discovered the fair lady on the inside and fell in love with her through the wires of the cage! That was a futile affair, but we also had a black-crowned night heron in the cage, and they consummated a relationship and raised a baby! The blend-bird was incredulous and attracted incredulous members of the elite Cooper's Bird Society. Is it love or sex that knows no bounds?

For some animals, speedy mobility is the key to life. For pronghorn and cheetahs, running rapidly is the name of winning the game. Speed helps the hoofed antelopes escape to eat grass for another day, and speed enables the cheetah and wolf--wild cat and wild dog--to catch enough food to fuel their carnivorous ways. For the omnivorous animal, Homo sapiens, all is not lost if an arm or leg is injured, because they help one another through prosthetics, wheelchairs, crutches, and other aides.

Wild birds depend on their wings to either catch their prey or escape the predator. I once saw a prime example while rock hunting in the Warner Mountains. I walked into a clearing just as a Cooper's hawk swooped on a junco. Pop! Right before my eyes feathers erupted as the talons connected with downy bird. One wins and one loses. Over and over again in the delicate balance of nature. But life goes on if there is sufficient habitat.

“The spirit finds a way to be born. Instinct seeks for ways to survive.” --Toba Beta

“Our planet may be home to 30 million different kinds of animals and plants. Each individual locked in its own life-long fight for survival.” --David Attenborough