Staying With a Friend

 

I made the decision, and she was in agreement, for my falconry bird, Seneca, to go and stay with my friend Foxfeather for awhile. I have been out of the field fairly fast this season. I'm hoping to find a solution to my knee. As of this writing, I have an appointment tomorrow morning with Orthopedic Surgery. Maybe a new knee will return me to normal ambulation. Fox runs a foundation, as well as a wildlife rescue. Seneca was moved into her empty falconry mew. She will try to reclaim her for flying this season. My girl is definitely no longer at flight weight, and Fox will need to establish a relationship with her, as you can see on the video she does not recognize her authority! If all goes well, Seneca will come home after my recovery. 

Elimination

So my knee saga continues, but hopefully in a more positive direction.

I have come to believe that all this was kicked off by my receiving my fifth Covid-19 vaccination, with the difference being this year I received the Moderna version. All the times before it has been the Pfizer-BioNTech. I will state clearly that I am not "anti-vax" in any way, shape or form! All I know is that for me, in this particular situation, my extreme reaction happened after I received my booster this year. It almost feels and appears to me that I was stimulated into an auto-immune reaction, which targeted my weakest joint, my left knee, which has been diagnosed with arthritis even before 2019. I don't remember exactly when I got that original diagnosis. Maybe even back to 2015, or before I began working at Mayo. The knee pain has existed, and locks sometimes, and I have coped with it through abundant doses of NSAIDS, mostly Ibuprofen, some topical applications, and a great deal of just ignoring it.

This all changed recently!

I am documenting this timeline for my own purposes. These are my own subjective observations. Little of this is backed up with any kind of rigorous science, but then again, I'm the only one that has to live with the results.  

A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

* October 9-15 had Covid again, for the second time. The course of this illness was very mild, with mostly upper respiratory symptoms.

* October 27 I twisted my right ankle. This is important to include because as a result of this I put extra, unnecessary strain on my already compromised left knee.

* October 30 flu & Covid vaccinated, one in each arm. I had a very strong reaction to what I assume is the Covid shot, as I did get both at the same time, but have never had anything other than a sore arm for the flu. Was the strong reaction because I had just gotten over an active Covid infection? I would go on the next couple days to experience body-wide aching, especially in my lower extremities.

* November 8 I pushed hard hawking. I regretted it terribly the next day. I have been mostly handicapped since that time for walking. I bought a cane to help me offload weight from my left knee.

* I had excruciating pain over the work weekend of November 10, 11 & 12. Along with pain, I felt weakness, and an overall sense of dread. I was even having a difficult time controlling my emotions.

* I called out sick for an OT shift I had previously agreed to on November 13.

* I saw my physician assistant on Tuesday, November 14.

* I was placed on work restrictions from 11/14 to 11/21. Along with that and my normal work schedule, I would have 12 days off from work to rest. 

* I was referred to Sports Medicine on November 20 for fluid removal and steroid injection. This helped the acute pain, but the chronic pain persists. Walking for any distance is still very difficult.

* I pulled my professional knee brace out of storage, which I had received in 2019 when I had my first fluid removal and steroid injection with Sports Medicine. I have been wearing it at work. It helps when I have to be mobile for many hours.

* I rejoined the DAHLC (Mayo employees' fitness center) and started attending on December 5 to strengthen some leg muscles, and just general physical exercise. Swimming is great!

* As of December 11, I am off work for a week (actually 11 days) of pre-requested vacation time.

* I have an appointment set on December 18 to see Orthopedic Surgery. Am I a candidate for a new knee?

I have come to believe that with the modified auto-immune response that I felt during the worst of this, my body's sensitivity to what I eat has been brought into laser focus. Specifically, anything with white flour. I have noticed in the last many years that consuming bread products seems to contribute to my arthritis, and I have reduced eating this. It is annoying, but not debilitating, and very depressing, as I do love good bread. Well, my body now seems to be extra primed to react to this food group. The question that I have now is what else?? Are there other foods I should avoid as well?

So in a quest for knowledge, for my 11 days off, I will be experimenting, and each day try something different, almost exclusively, other than also consuming items that I know are anti-inflammatory (vegetables, salad greens, bone broth, chicken, fish). My body will tell me the next day with pain if I need to avoid those foods.

Yesterday, I started this experiment with only having bone broth soup with onions, carrots, cabbage and some roasted chicken. This morning I feel . . . Good! I'm still morning stiff, like always, but nothing that a little stretching doesn't alleviate. 

Today I will have eggs. Probably a lot of them!

Results As It Progresses

Eggs - Good/OK to Eat

Oatmeal - OK in limited quantity

Tomatoes - OK in limited quantity

Milk - No Go, Sadly! I reacted as strongly as I do to wheat/bread.  😞

(It was goat milk, and whole. Maybe I should try skim cow's milk)

Corn/Cornmeal/Corn Chips - OK in limited quantity

Cured Meats - Bacon, Sausage - Seems OK, but I won't eat much personal choice.

Rice - Sensitive, but maybe not as much as wheat and milk. Dry brown rice!

On the List to Test

Hard Cheeses

Pasta (is it as bad as bread??)

Yogurt / Sour Cream

Lentils

Nest Cams 2023-2024

Let's get this list started, as I am "grounded" and not doing any falconry (see previous post). I will add as the birds get their breeding schedules going. 

Of course, it all starts with Bald Eagles down in the Southern States

WindowToWildlife - Captiva Eagles

First egg hatches 12/17/23.

Second egg hatching 12/19/23.

Parents are named Connie and Clive. Chicks are Cal and Lusa. On 2/16/24 Lusa dies of unknown reasons. As of 3/13 Cal fledged, but is still around the nest.

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam

I believe this is the nest last year that lost the female, and the male raised his chicks by himself. There was a new female that showed up, and was in the periphery, but the male did all the work. I guess now she is the queen at the nest. A single chick was raised, and has fledged in March, date uncertain.

Eagle Country

Abby & Blaze. 2 chicks, Swampy and Meadow. 

Wildlife Rescue of Dade County

A single chick, which will fledge soon (March).

ETSU Eagle Cameras TN

Boone and Jolene. 2 chicks.

FOBBVCAM Big Bear

First Egg 1/25/24 at 1655

Second Egg 1/28/24 at 1359

Third Egg!!!  1/31/24 at 1800

As of 3/12, no hatches for any of the eggs.  :-(

Oh My Goodness! For the last few days, early February 2024, there has been a major storm hitting California. Jackie (F) and Shadow (M) are the names for this pair of eagles. They have been buried in snow. They are taking turns to keep their eggs warm and safe.

This is not my video, but a good capture of all the snow covering Jackie up.

Raptor Resource

North Nest

Egg #1 on 2/15/24 around 2:17 pm.

Egg #2 on 2/18/24 around 2:49 pm.

Pip Watch starts 3/23/24.

First chick out of shell and noticed on cam on the morning of 3/24.

Hatchery Nest

They constructed a new nest out of camera range.  :-(

*****

Goose Cam - It looks like two sets of geese are shopping for a high tree nest this year. 

Egg #1 laid in the night 3/9/24 at what I think is called N2B, the same old eagle nest with cameras that geese have used the last two years.

Goslings finished hatching on 4/14, and made the jump out of the nest just after 8 am on 4/15. 5 of the 6 survived.  

Almost immediately another set of geese have claimed this penthouse for their own and started a clutch. These high abandoned eagle nests seem to be very popular.

On 3/19 another pair started laying at the N1 nest, which was used by eagles last year, but that is the new pair that built a new nest across the valley. Well, this mamma goose laid her first egg, it caught on her feathers as she turned and it rolled to the edge. She tried but was unable to rescue it. It fell. Dangers of laying eggs way up in the sky where eagles normally hang out.

*****

Back to Bald Eagles

Trempealeau

Mr. & Mrs. T. Pip Watch starts 4/4/24. On 4/5 a fluffy chick noticed in nest, so probably hatched over the last day.

Little Miami Ohio

Bette & Baker

Friends of the Redding Eagles

Liberty & Guardian

Cardinal Land Conservancy

Bonnie & Clyde 

White Tailed Eagles

Latvia

Two nests here (Kemeru & Durbe). Looks like one (Durbe) had collapsed, but was rebuilt. Pair here are called Milda & Voldis. Egg #1 laid on 3/23. 2 eggs in nest now.

Ay Jeeze!! First egg laid in the Kemeru nest on 3/10, but plopped down just outside the "rails", and there it remains. Mom on the nest, did pull at it a little, but insufficient effort/intelligence to pull that egg in under her. If it stays there it will freeze and be unviable. It stayed there!

3 days later, 3/13, second egg arrives, this time in the bowl where it will be cared for. First one was never rescued.

On 4/19 I noticed a fluffy new chick under one of the parents.

This pair named Rasene (F) and Akacis (M).

Komitet Ochrony

1st egg noticed on 3/8, but maybe laid previous day. Feed may be impacted by solar powered batteries.

Orlanbeloxvost

zeearend - Netherlands

Golden Eagles

stelianbodnari/streams

Two choices here, and one looks to be active!!

First egg laid on 4/1/24 to pair Lucina (F) and Caliman (M).

Kotkaklubi

Estonia - I first noticed egg #1 on 3/17. Pair are Helju (F) & Kalju (M).

A new nest has gone live. This pair don't seem to have a name that I can find. 2 eggs in nest.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Cornell Nest Cam 1

Cornell Nest Cam 2

Egg #1 arrived on 3/17 in the afternoon. Big Red sat tight for a long time before anyone could get a peek at the new egg.

Egg #2 on morning of 3/20.

Egg #3 sometime very early on 3/23, with lots of ice and snow coming down.

Egg #4!! noticed morning of 3/26.

First hatch on 4/25

Windows To Wildlife

My eyes are on this nest. Angel and Tom have made a nice nest for any eggs, but seems to be delayed in the arrival of those eggs. As of 4/5 they are still coming to the nest. Hopefully egg(s) soon. Camera here was updated this previous winter.

As of 4/19 no eggs ever laid in this nest. Unknown if they have another nest, or just didn't lay this year.

SUHawkNestCam

Syracuse University. Birds are named Oren and Ruth.

2 eggs in nest as this cam went live on 3/22. 3rd egg laid on 3/25.

First hatch on 4/26.

Goshawks

Latvia

Nestorations in progress. Possibly eggs now as of 3/21.

Kanakull

Pair are named Alla and Ruudi.

First egg noticed on 3/23.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

As of 3/13/24 around 2 pm first egg laid.

Egg #2 on 3/16.

Egg #3 on 3/19.

On 4/19 I noticed two fluffy chicks, so must have begun to hatch in the last day or two.

And Look! On 3/16 I finally saw the pair together. The male flew in and gave his mate a small snake. 

Red-Shouldered Wake Forest

Peregrine Falcon

Mayo Nest

Egg #1 on 3/20

Egg #2 on 3/22

Egg #3 on 3/25

Egg #4 on 3/28

Mayoclinic Falcon

Great Spirit Bluff

Raptor Resource GSB

Not sure if what happened below set the female at this nest off schedule, but as of 4/19 it does not look like any eggs were laid in this nest box.

Oh my goodness!! I just stumbled upon this myself while I was nest peeping on 3/12, and did capture it with my cell, but my video was not quality. Shortly after, Raptor Resource uploaded their own capture. Competition for good nest sites, a mate and hunting territory is quite fierce! The smaller male here is Newman. He's been at this site for several years, but been through several females. The current one on site is named Lisa, and she is banded, so they know where she came from. In this encounter an unbanded female thought maybe she could have this site. The two girls get into a serious fight over it. Ultimately, the unbanded female leaves. Newman is just there waiting to breed with whichever female prevails.

I never saw any eggs laid in this box this year. 

Some pretty good cams in Italy (I think).

Birdcamit

And just because I sometimes like to look in on a warm, flower-filled room, here is the live cam of the Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

Como Zoo Conservatory