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.

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

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!

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!

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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