Bosque EMT

2015-11-06BosqueEMT0182As always clicking on the images will open them full size in another window. Click return to come back to his page.

Some time ago while one of The Institutes intrepid researchers was visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife refuge on a completely unrelated matter, he uncovered extraordinary behavior never seen or reported on before in the daily life of the birds here. Fortunately he had his camera with him and was able to document and take the copious notes needed to prepare and write a serious report.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a completely self-contained system for the care and feeding of its avian visitors. Hundreds and thousands of migrating birds use its facilities every year. What many observers do not know is that Bosque has its own medical team with Doctor birds and Nurse birds and bird Candy stripers but at the forefront of this team is the EMT or First Responder. As you can see above the EMT is responding to a 911 call of a bird in distress.  It flies in to assess the situation before landing to offer its assistance.

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Here the EMT is checking on the unresponsive birds vitals, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, ability to pay for the cost of transporting it should that occasion arise, and attempting to clear its airway prior to giving CPR.

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In a desperate attempt to get the unresponsive bird to respond the EMT begins CPR and is seen here striking the birds chest in an attempt to start its heart. Nervous onlookers crowd the scene watching every move.

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 As the bird was not responding the EMT had little choice but to attempt a risky procedure in the field. Every second counts and there was no time to summon the trauma team to assist. The EMT jumps on the unresponsive birds chest and holds it under water as a form of local anesthesia as preparation for open heart surgery.

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Before the EMT can crack the chest of his patient he has to prepare the bird for the surgery by removing its clothing.

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There is a lot of clothing on the patient and the EMT has to work fast to get the patient ready as it looks grim for the unresponsive bird. Soon he has the patient prepared and begins the surgery by using its beak to open the chest cavity. Quickly moving the ribs and the vital organs surrounding the heart his worst fears are realized.

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He has lost the patient. The EMT depressed and angry at his inability to save his patient is forced to leave after getting another call. He took with him several of the expired patients organs as samples for the necessary necropsy to be performed back at the hospital’s extensive lab. The emergencies are never-ending at Bosque and there are only a few EMT’s to take care of the thousands of birds at the refuge. He cannot afford the time to mourn the victim. There are others in desperate need of his services.

We know that the images above have been graphic and as always sensitive viewers should avert their eyes if this is disturbing to you. Having a box of tissues at hand may be helpful. So is closing your eyes and weeping quietly. But we here at The Institute do not shy away from presenting life as it happens. We do not avert our eyes to the blood and gore and unseemly mayhem that is an everyday occurrence in nature. This is how it is every day at one of the largest bird refuges in the country, and it must be viewed for what it is. Pure and unadulterated sensationalism for its own sake. A sleazy attempt to gain readers by showing them really awful stuff that we know they secretly like. Yet it cannot be denied that The Institute has discovered yet another fascinating facet of animal behavior never reported on before. And we feel it is our duty to share it with you the viewer.

Now Are The Foxes

Red Fox TryptychClick to enlarge

We are continuing with our semi-annual inspection report that The Institute conducts in Yellowstone National park whether anyone wants it or not. As has been described before this is a very comprehensive inspection of all aspects of the parks operation. We leave no stone unturned, no question unanswered, no oddity unexplained, no lunch counter stool unoccupied.

One of the major checkpoints on our report is whether the performing animals are, well, performing. This is a major area of concern for park management as many of the tourist dollars spent here are dependent on how good a show the park provides. The travelling public, especially those from out-of-town, are demanding to see the various tricks, capering’s, sleight of paw trickery, mimicking, scampering cutely, impressions, demonstrations of unique abilities, ability to sing, dance, and perform acrobatic stunts that television has conditioned them to believe is realistic animal behavior.

Consequently nearly all of the parks inhabitants have their own repertoire of acts carefully selected for their particular personalities and physical attributes. Grizzly bears lumber along in a wallowing gait that makes them an amusing sight when viewed from the rear, even if there is a freshly killed elk calf dangling from its jaws you can’t help but laugh at its distinctive big butt roll, Eagles, both Bald and Golden soar and dive providing an incredible airshow for the gaping wide-eyed tourist. You can’t miss the sound of cell phone cameras clicking away to capture them in all their splendid glory seven or eight hundred feet in the air. The many hooved ungulates such as the buffalo, antelope, elk, mule deer, Bighorn sheep and Black-horned rhinoceros, put on a grazing display second to none, ok, that list was just a test to see if you were really paying attention, there are actually no buffalo in the park.

Using the beautiful four-color brochure that the park hands out to each and every paying entrant into the park that shows the time, location and activity to be performed by the various animal performers we headed to the Hayden valley our first stop, to view the amazing acrobatic maneuvers of Americas favorite small hairy predator, the Red Fox. We got there a few minutes early so we could set up our gear and get good seats as the spaces fill up rapidly once the show gets under way.

Soon, just as advertised, the Red Fox appeared and began to tease the crowd by scampering over logs, peering out from behind bushes and other shrubbery, posing and posturing out in the open for the many folks wanting photo ops, and generally setting the stage for its climatic last act, the Incredible Leaping Headstand with Bushy Tail Salute. It was an amazing performance. As soon as it was over and our performer retreated into the forest behind it, the crowd immediately dispersed, stopping only to take selfies of themselves and their companions with their cell phones and consulting the brochure for the next performance. Some were even seen photographing their brochures, the  ground they were standing on, the road, their car door handles, each other again, the now empty area where the performance took place. Every thing of interest in Yellowstone that might amaze their friends and neighbors back home must be digitally documented before the next amazing sight comes into view.

We were satisfied with the Red Fox’s performance and gave it four and a half stars out of five and went on to the next performance, a yellow-bellied marmot spitting the shells of seeds over the edge of a rock. We were in for a long day, Yellowstone has a lot of things to see and we hadn’t even gotten to the Buffalo shedding exhibit yet.

Note : To those of you tuning in late the following posts will catch you up on preceding events. There is no extra charge for this service we just want  you to be fully informed.

http://www.bigshotsnow.com/the-words-out/

http://www.bigshotsnow.com/announcement-13/

http://www.bigshotsnow.com/yellowstone-passes-inspection/

http://www.bigshotsnow.com/ghosts-in-the-darkness/

http://www.bigshotsnow.com/you-dont-see-that-every-day/