Mid-Summer at Greenwood

I wasn't able to visit Greenwood for the entire month of July and missed it!  Lots of animals have been released since I last visited and many more are close to being wild again! There are, however, plenty of songbirds still coming and needing help.  Each songbird gets fed about every 40 minutes so they keep the staff quite busy!  This picture was my favorite of the day.  These barn swallows were in a large enclosure surrounded by dark mesh.  They typically live in dark places (barns, caves and under bridges) so these birds were quite content to hang out.  I was amazed that my camera was able to focus on them through the mesh and that my flash (pointed away from them) gave enough light for the picture!  It was so neat to see them so close up!  The other birds are House Sparrows, a House Finch,  an American Goldfinch, a pair of Rock Doves, and a Violet-green Sparrow eating a Greenwood raised meal-worm!

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House Sparrows

House FInch

American Goldfinch

Rock Doves

Violet-Green Swallow

Outside, the large enclosures were brimming with raccoons!  They are almost ready to be released and they were quite content to play in the kiddie water pools and with each other.  There are covers over the enclosures to keep them out of the sun and to help them become wild (and not habituated to humans).  I hid behind a tree to get a quick glimpse but as you can see, I got caught!

This Western Kingbird was also in one of the big outdoor enclosures with netting.  I tried to take a picture of it through the netting, like the barn swallows, but quickly realized it was trying to dive-bomb me!  I took it as a great sign that it was a WILD bird and I was too close to its space (even though I was outside the enclosure).  I quickly left and  was thrilled that it kept its instincts through its stay at Greenwood!

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Last but not least I got to meet the  Golden-manteled Ground Squirrel.  She was growing up fast and was also getting ready for release. 

Greenwood is now preparing for the next round of baby squirrels!  Just a reminder that even though the summer is winding down, the work at Greenwood continues.  Thanks Greenwood for all of your efforts to give these animals a second chance!