[EBB Sightings] Extended upper mandible

Regarding Debbie Viess' observations of the jay with the extended 
upper mandible:

A late reply but I wanted to mention that it sounds as though your jay 
with the elongated upper mandible had been in captivitey for a while 
and was not given the proper resources to keep his bill properly "filed" 
down.
I have seen photographs of captive raptors in similar condition, with the 
overgrown upper mandible.  These birds are obviously kept by 
uninformed/uneducated "care takers".

It sounds like your jay is in the process of at least making an attempt to 
remedy his problem.
I'd like to hear of any significant progress or changes with your jay.

Pamela

From:           	"Debbie Viess" 
To:             	
Date sent:      	Wed, 8 Dec 2004 17:22:13 -0800
Subject:        	[EBB Sightings] no body; no obit

Yesterday, I observed a flock of "dickie" birds across the street from
my house; we frequently get pine siskins and American goldfinch here, 
so
it was worth a closer look. As I was in a state of deshabille, it took
me a few minutes to get downstairs, grab the binocs and look outside. 
By
then of course, they were gone. Since it was in between raindrops, I
thought I'd bop outside and see if I could locate the flock. No such
luck, but I did observe a scrub jay. So what? Well, when I glassed him,
he turned out to be my curve-billed corvid, nicknamed "Captain Hook",
that I had so eloquently written an obit for a few weeks back. Once the
rains fall, my attention is downward, since I am primarily a mushroomer
these days, so I haven't glassed my backyard birds for a while. Not only
was the Captain alive, but he appeared to be in great shape. He has
managed to break off most of the length of his curved upper mandible 
(it
was narrowly elongated, at least an inch past his lower beak) and was
observed in fine feathering and apparently able to preen and feed
normally. Whether his ability to keep his bill pared down is accidental
or deliberate we'll never know, but I must admit that I am rooting for
him. And like that old quote by Samuel Clemens, the rumor of his death
was much exaggerated.
 
BTW, this good news was sent to Colleen in Alaska, who is compiling
these sorts of things. Yay, one for our side.
 
Debbie Viess
Sheffield Village, Oakland
 
-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of ncg
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 10:31 AM
To: sightings at diabloaudubon.com
Subject: [EBB Sightings] Pine Siskins in Berkeley
 
A trio of pine siskins have been hanging around my thistle feeder since
Monday.  This is unusual; normally I get flocks of lesser goldfinch in
late fall. Also, a male American goldfinch visited recently.

B. Newman
Berkeley

--
Pamela Llewellyn
Environmental Scientist
pllewellyn at kleinfelder.com
(925) 484-1700 ext# 254
FAX (925) 484-5838
cell (925) 413-8329
KLEINFELDER
EXPECT MORE

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