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Foxfeather Zenkova@foxfeather.bsky.social |
4429 followers 133 following 485 posts
Birds! Licensed wildlife rehabilitator and educator in Minnesota, focusing on vulture conservation. Also an artist, falconer, yak-wrangler, beekeeper, and owned-by-emus.
Foxloft.com - Vultureconservancy.org
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Siri and Stomp like to plop down and watch me being busy cleaning and bustling about. Pretty sure I'm often some sort of entertaining human aquarium exhibit for these cutest black vulture kids (and our other birds), who seem to enjoy observing me as much as I do them.
8 replies 51 reposts 267 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Very similar! It's a specialized butterfly enclosure, the soft mesh is great for being gentle on wings/feathers of little birds and offering good cling space for bats, plus is easily washable.
0 replies 0 reposts 12 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Very similar! It's a specialized butterfly enclosure, the soft mesh is great for being gentle on wings/feathers of little birds and offering good cling space for bats, plus is easily washable.
0 replies 0 reposts 2 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Not all bats live in colonies! Eastern red bats are a solitary, migratory bat that lives in trees. They often snuggle down into leaf litter to keep warm, which makes them vulnerable to being grabbed by dogs or cats. That's what landed this young one in rehab with us.
8 replies 30 reposts 181 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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I got you, babe 🪶
1 replies 29 reposts 182 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yup! Emus exploding everywhere
0 replies 0 reposts 11 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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#1 dad 🪶
3 replies 36 reposts 296 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Once again I'm not quite sure about these contractors we keep getting. This one was seemed very eager, but kept stealing zip ties. I think they delayed aviary construction more than helped it.
18 replies 63 reposts 535 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yes, same species! Turkey vultures have a really extensive home range, some of them even go up into Canada and now Alaska as well during the summer (they migrate south in winter)
0 replies 1 reposts 3 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Appa the highland coo rockin' her summer bikini look
2 replies 20 reposts 176 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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A very uncommon patient for us! Only a few turkey vultures come into rehabilitation each year from across the whole state! Hopefully this poor wayward kid can be renested, but if not will be raised by foster parents.🪶
7 replies 41 reposts 267 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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He does! He had really fun different bird ones, I love it :)
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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That is my friend Carolyn, @ladyhawker.bsky.social, she dresses much more stylishly than I do :)
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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A big thanks to Dr. Ford @avianvet@birds.town (Mastodon) for also being willing to share his time to help the multiple wildlife patients (like this young eagle and mourning dove) who came in while he was here. His knowledge and expertise make such a difference for the birds he cares for.
3 replies 5 reposts 94 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Compass the burrowing owl looks exactly how I feel whenever I have to go to the doctor. This weekend our veterinarian came out to do yearly medical exams on all our ambassador birds. It's a big undertaking, but is an important part of making sure they stay in the best health. 🪶
5 replies 16 reposts 159 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Not really sure of the competence of these new cleaners we hired...
12 replies 50 reposts 352 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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You got it! This position is called the horaltic pose and is very common for vultures. Great for cleaning feathers, killing parasites like lice or mites, warming up/drying off, and probably just feels good, too! You can often see wild vultures doing it in groups together in the morning especially.
3 replies 0 reposts 28 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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We've had crazy amounts of rain this year, and a solid week of it is forecasted again. Minerva is enjoying the short windows of sunshine, using them to dry off and soak up the summer warmth. While she doesn't mind a bit of rain, this nonstop sky sprinkler isn't her favorite. 🪶
3 replies 27 reposts 216 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Zal always looks so confused at the appearance of mini-mus when the kids are first let to wander freely outside.
2 replies 42 reposts 228 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Having another record busy year for wildlife rehab; getting so many calls every day and new birds in a constant flow. This young hawk was out of the nest early & starving; oddly not being attended to by the parents in the nest above. Time for a vet check to see what's going on! 🪶
2 replies 17 reposts 130 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Incredibly thankful to our volunteers who are so generous with their time; we are finally replacing some of our temporary wildlife rehab building aviaries with really nice ones, I'm so excited! Also a big thank you to everyone who sent wire mesh and supplies from the birdie baby shower!!
1 replies 5 reposts 98 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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They're generally in super rough shape when brought to me, and it's very temporary for transport, but I agree it's still surprising that they usually don't
0 replies 0 reposts 7 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yes, im a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Very nice, there's some great rehabs and centers up that way!
0 replies 0 reposts 7 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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On occasion that is what's in the box instead, it's always a surprise
1 replies 0 reposts 12 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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That's not what I ordered on Amazon..
#wildliferehabproblems
28 replies 88 reposts 538 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Bath pants, bath dance!
It's been super rainy here lately and Sev is thrilled, dancin' in the rain is one of his favorite pasttimes. 🪶 #lovevultures
1 replies 25 reposts 171 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Oni the Tibetan Mastiff is so kind and patient with puppies, she adopted Xena right away
1 replies 11 reposts 206 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yes x.x And they continue with their ability to make crazy leaps and basically levitate out of any enclosure. They're unreal
0 replies 0 reposts 21 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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This level of cuteness should not be allowed. (Don't let the cute fool you, baby wood ducks are crazy ninjas. This tiny warrior was found wandering alone but has now joined other orphans being raised for a second chance at life in the wild.) 🪶
12 replies 82 reposts 539 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yup! They still sleep snuggled under him, too, though they don't fit so well anymore
0 replies 0 reposts 10 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Baby emus grow so fast! 🪶
2 replies 33 reposts 284 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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It is! She was spying on me while I was cleaning, she always wants to be in the middle of everything
1 replies 0 reposts 9 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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I can't seem to shake the feeling I'm being watched... 🪶
13 replies 43 reposts 489 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Many people mistake other birds for baby eagles; there's no mini eagle stage where they look like small adults. Why? Feathers are resource-expensive to build and only replaced once a year, so a fluffy raptor chick gets full size super fast then makes full size feathers! 🪶
6 replies 47 reposts 329 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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I do love it, and that kiddo sounds absolutely awesome (and with great taste in birds!)
0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Cloudy with a chance of emus 🪶
4 replies 49 reposts 282 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Diva is in the middle of her glow-up, blushing out into the bright colors that give yellow-headed vultures their name! 🪶
11 replies 50 reposts 410 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Those are stunning!
0 replies 0 reposts 3 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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For those that guessed German Shepherd, you got it! Meet Xena, wolverine-bunny warrior princess
5 replies 7 reposts 137 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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I got the noodle dragon and potato boys a little sister (who immediately took over as boss); they are over the moon
6 replies 15 reposts 274 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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We had to move everything in the wildlife hospital so the insulation and finished PVC walls could go in - so excited! The ceiling is completely done; hopefully in the coming weeks it will be completely ready to go again in time for busy season!
0 replies 0 reposts 78 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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If you want to help us help all these babies, there's still a little time to join in on our Wildlife Baby Shower!
tiny.cc/y53uxz
Thank you SO much to everyone who has been sending food, supplies, and other needed equipment - I appreciate it immensely!
0 replies 32 reposts 62 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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This little eaglet, found on the ground without parents in attendance, was in really rough shape when brought in. With intensive care overnight, he was much more perky this morning, much to my relief! He's up at the UMN Raptor Center for further evaluation.
9 replies 48 reposts 498 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Yup! That is Toph, she came to us with a damaged horn and it's grown that way since she was little. Doesn't seem to bother her, though!
2 replies 0 reposts 13 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Spring here, when it finally comes, is exceptionally beautiful; a riot of greens and blues. It brings with it new yak calves, so far two more have joined our herd already!
6 replies 11 reposts 203 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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A plea: If you're going to cut down a tree, make sure no one's home! If at all possible, wait til late summer/fall (or whenever avoids nesting season in your area) to cut or trim, and check trees carefully. Many birds, like these barred owls, are cavity nesters and can be well hidden. 🪶
12 replies 184 reposts 704 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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That is such a gorgeous framing for this piece! Thank you for sharing, and your support of our work ^.^
0 replies 0 reposts 0 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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It's crazy the difference a few days make when it comes to baby emu growth; the larger chicks here are not even a week older than the smaller ones!
1 replies 29 reposts 251 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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There are lots of reasons why a parent bird may reject a baby and varies by species - it's best to get professional guidance on handling/renesting birds when it's needed. I wonder if the myth somewhat comes from people trying to care for birds themselves then trying to reintroduce after days/weeks
0 replies 1 reposts 12 likes
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Foxfeather Zenkova
@foxfeather.bsky.social
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Most birds have a sense of smell about as strong as ours, and even the few that are more keen they are happy to get their kids back. I'm not sure why that myth is so prevalent but handling doesn't cause baby rejection for birds - handling still should be last resort and limited as much as possible
1 replies 2 reposts 11 likes