SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER NEWSLETTER Fall 2017

Meet in Lee Prouty: Your Chimney: The Swifts Volunteer Extraordinaire

If you live in Maryland, Virginia, the District of When Lee Prouty retired in 1995, she was faced—like Columbia—or anywhere in the Eastern United States so many of us—with the question of “What next?” For for that matter—you’ve probably witnessed the airborne Lee, the answer was wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. acrobatics of Chimney Swifts, especially during summer Since then, she has worked and volunteered with evenings. From their spring arrival from South America many organizations, including Tri-State Bird Rescue until they and Research, the Humane Society of the United States, depart again Council of Governments’ Wildlife Subcommittee, and of in the early course, Second Chance. She has performed such routine fall, these chores as cleaning cages and sweeping floors at Second small grey- Chance, but also responded to unexpected crises, brown bids including the 2000 Patuxent River oil spill, when she and with long, other volunteers recovered dozens of birds from areas curved, contaminated by 111,000 gallons of oil spewed into the pointed river after the rupture of an underground pipeline. wings During the course of her wildlife endeavors, Lee and short discovered birds—“such fascinating creatures”—were tapered tails dart, swoop, and wheel over rooftops, fields, her true love. She also decided to focus on the rescue and rivers as they forage for insects. They feed on the side of the “rescue and rehabilitation” equation. “Most wing, snatching flies, bees, wasps, ants, mosquitoes, and rehabilitation centers don’t have enough staff to deal with other insects from the air. rescue operations,” she explains. “They rely on concerned Though still relatively common, Chimney Swift Continued on page 3 populations are dwindling. In fact, between 1966 and 2015, their numbers declined more than 70 percent across their range, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. This decline is likely caused by a combination of loss of nesting places and general habitat destruction. Unable to perch on wires and tree branches, Chimney Swifts instead roost by clinging to vertical surfaces, their strong, sharp-clawed feet holding them securely in place. Although they originally nested in natural sites such as caves and hollow trees of old-growth forests, Chimney Swifts adjusted to artificial sites with vertical surfaces and low light, such as air vents, wells, abandoned cisterns, boathouses, garages, barns, lighthouses—and chimneys—when forests gave way to cities and towns. But as unlined brick and stone chimneys are replaced with Continued on page 2

SCnewsletterFall2017.indd 1 9/8/2017 6:26:24 PM Lee Prouty, continued from page 1 Many of Lee’s rescues involve ducks, often from par- Dear Friends of Wildlife and Second Chance, tially enclosed courtyards of schools, apartment build- citizens or animal control officers to bring the sick or ings, and office parks. One memorable example occurred Our thoroughly artificial environment, so carefully phones, transport animals, put on injured animals to them. But these individuals often don’t at an apartment complex in Gaithersburg. Animal control manipulated to make life convenient and enjoyable for events, and even cut our grass. And it have the training or experience needed to safely and officers removed some baby ducks from the complex people, makes most wild animals’ existence a daily consists, most essentially, of our humanely capture, contain, and transport wild animals.” swimming pool and transported them to Second Chance. obstacle course with fatal consequences for any misstep. donors, without whom we could not And that’s where Lee comes in. “I was a little ner- The next day, Second Chance received a call about a They face a legion of perils: chainsaws, lawnmowers, open our doors and would have vous—okay, a lot nervous—the first year,” she recalls. “I female duck frantically searching for her babies at the cars, cats and dogs, pesticides, guns, glue traps, garden nothing to offer a distressed animal if didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of people, dam- pool. Lee went to the location with the ducklings in an netting, windows, and people who just don’t want them we did. age property, or, worst of all, kill an animal.” She cred- animal carrier, in hopes of reuniting them with their around. If you are a long-standing member its her years working on Capitol Hill and competing in mother and getting the whole family to nearby Muddy Every day, the victims arrive in our center: the of or a recent recruit to this unusual brigade of the national whitewater canoeing events with helping her deal Branch. wounded, attacked, poisoned, shot, and orphaned. And kind-hearted, thank you from us and the animals. If you with the inevitable “fear factor,” although she admits that Hoping to avoid putting the duck through the trauma every day we work hard to get them back on their feet would like to get involved, there is plenty of work to go each rescue is still of being caught, ― or wings ― and back to the wild, where they belong, around. And it offers the best reward: When you hear a a bit scary, some Lee asked some for a second chance at survival. bird singing or see a small creature scurry under a bush, more than others. local youngsters It would be a totally overwhelming task were it not you can look its way and say, “You’re welcome, friend.” There was one if they knew for the help of an unofficial, totally haphazard, rarely rescue, involving how to get from recognized, but highly effective wildlife rescue corps. With all our gratitude, a Great Blue the apartment to This corps consists, first of all, of those (frequently Heron the stream. One children) who notice the victims, stop what they’re do- with 20 feet of boy said he did, ing, and bring the animals to our center. It also consists fishing line in so she explained of our army of volunteers, who feed and clean, answer Jim Monsma branches hanging that she wanted over the water him to help her just above Great lead the mother Falls. Wearing duck there. “He Swifts, continued from page 1 Unfortunately, according to Kathleen Handley, Sec- a life jacket and thought I was ond Chance clinic director, caring for Chimney Swifts is armed with rope, crazy,” says chimneys lined with metal sheathing to prevent fires— difficult—even for experienced rehabilitators. carabiners, a long Lee, “but he leaving swifts nothing to grab onto—appropriate nesting “Not only do baby Chimney Swifts hang instead of tree trimmer, and agreed to help.” sites are in ever shorter supply. Adding to the problem, perching, they need to be raised in groups because they a net, Lee dangled When she some homeowners now cap their unused chimneys or keep each other warm,” Handley explains. Second from the branches, heard her babies inadvertently have them cleaned during nesting season Chance houses these babies in a cloth-sided incubator only to have the peeping in the (illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). All too when very young, then in cloth-sided vinyl mesh cages heron fly away carrier, the mom often, the birds fall into fireplaces and, if they’re lucky, positioned on end to create a chimney-like environment. (unfortunately flew over and end up at Second Chance, which took in 53 in 2017 alone. They are hand fed mealworms and other insect larvae, trailing the fishing Lee Prouty, left, and Second Chance clinic director Kathleen landed close to which in turn have been fed a special diet so that they line behind him). Handley releasing rehabbed Canada Geese. Lee. With provide the birds’2 with the necessary vitamins and miner- Definitely not a job carrier in hand, als. Feeding them is a challenge because they have a for the faint of heart. Lee began large gape and are easy to stuff too full. It takes patience Another Great Blue rescue, while not life-threatening, walking a few steps at a time, then waiting for the duck to make sure each bird gets enough. was not without risk. Lee had located the bird, which had to follow. Once the the pool was no longer in sight, the Once the swifts are ready to fly, they are moved a fractured wing, at Brookside Gardens and was trying to duck started walking ahead, leading Lee and to a special flight cage designed to allow for circular herd him away from a pond and toward an area encircled her young assistant a couple of blocks before flying into (continuous) flight and to admit insects that the birds by a wall of six-foot shrubs when a second heron swooped some trees. “I asked him if the path to the stream was by can catch on the wing. A critical concern throughout down and began attacking the injured bird. Momentarily the tree,” Lee says, “and he looked at me in disbelief and their rehabilitation, according to Handley, is keeping the nonplussed, Lee tossed a sheet over both birds, causing nodded.” She followed him through the trees as the duck birds’ feathers in great condition for their long flight to them to settle down. She then faced the task of peaking flew ahead to the water and then back to the trees. When winter in South America. When they’re ready for life on under the sheet and trying to get her hands around the the anxious mother settled on a sandbar in the middle their own, the birds are introduced to colonies of wild neck of the healthy bird and pulling him out, while not of the stream, Lee set the carrier down and released the Chimney Swifts, which readily accept new members and being blinded by either of the two long beaks. (When they babies, who wasted no time paddling to mom’s side. eventually guide them on their fall migration. feel attacked, herons aim their spear-like beaks at their As Lee and the boy turned to leave, he raised his To learn more about Chimney Swifts and how you assailant’s eyes.) Fortunately—for all involved—she hand and said, “High five, lady!” can help them, check out www.chimneyswifts.org. succeeded. High five, indeed!

2 3

SCnewsletterFall2017.indd 2-3 9/8/2017 6:26:27 PM Small Steps Toward a Big Impact Easy Ways to Help Wildlife

Most people love wildlife, at least in theory. Seeing So what’s a frustrated homeowner to do? Exclusion, deer grazing in a field or glimpsing a fox darting through say many wildlife experts, is the best answer. A few a park glade can be a rewarding experience. But losing simple steps will keep unwelcome guests from taking heirloom tomatoes to groundhogs or having raccoons up residence in or under your home or considering your wreak havoc in your attic is a different thing altogether. property a 24-hour diner, while allowing them to remain At that point, most of us just want these uninvited on their home territory. intruders gone. You might think that trapping and They say fences make good neighbors and that’s relocating them is the best and kindest option, but it’s certainly true when it comes to wildlife. Depending on actually not a viable long-term solution. Firstly, it isn’t the animal, you may want to fence the perimeter of your humane. Animals in traps often injure themselves trying entire property or just the areas that you are having the to escape and, if left too long or in extreme weather most problem with, such as just around your garden or conditions, they can even die. Also, if the animal is a around the base of your house or deck. Make sure you nursing mother, her babies can suffer for days before use a sturdy fence that is buried at least 18 inches under- dying of starvation. ground and at least 5 feet above ground to deter animals State wildlife laws prohibit the relocation of many from burrowing under or jumping over the fence. Other species due to concerns about the spread of disease. Even steps include: when it’s legal, the survival rate of relocated animals •Sealing holes, cracks, and crevices in roofs, under is low due to territorial disputes; inability to find food, eaves, around windows and doors, and around the water, and den sites; and lack of knowledge of areas safe foundation; from predators. Lastly, trapping and relocation doesn’t •Installing sturdy metal screens on vents; address what’s attracting animals in the first place; •Trimming tree branches back 9 feet from your roof; wherever good den sites and available food in the form •Spraying natural but distasteful substances on plants; of bird seed, pet kibble, garbage, vegetable gardens, and •Picking up fallen fruit and vegetables regularly; and compost piles remain, new interlopers will soon replace •Strapping garbage can lids shut or keeping the cans the “evicted” tenants. in a secured location.

Second Chance Wildlife Center 7101 Barcellona Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20879

301-926-9453 / scwc.org

SCnewsletterFall2017.indd 4 9/8/2017 6:26:27 PM