"Something is drastically wrong with Spaz" was the note scrawled on the white board where volunteers usually look for special feeding or cleaning instructions and to check off work completed. Spaz, a young Coopers Hawk and one of our seven education birds was in obvious distress. Feathers puffed, head and leg swollen. Phone calls between Sue DeArment, Dr. Felix and the Center disrupted the usual work of the day while we tried to figure our what had happened to a perfectly healthy bird safe in her enclosure the nigh before. Could she have somehow hurt herself in flight. Some exotic bird disease? Under Sue's telephone guidance we examined Spaz in her enclosure when the culprit revealed itself. A yellow jacket still flying lazily about. Spaz and the wasp had most likely disagreed over who had dibs on Spaz's meal. Spaz was treated for her allergic reaction, but had limited duty for education programs until her leg heals fully enough to replace her bracelet. We look forward to her return to 'active duty' this month.

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