Spike was discovered and brought to the SWRR on June 3, 2003; weighing in at 117gm. He was rescued in Viola CA. (Shasta Co. / near Mt. Lassen) after several hours of being attacked and injured by normal colored Steller's. He had scabs and injuries to both shoulders. Due to his injuries and poor chance of servival in the wild Spike was approved by the State and Federal Gov. to be place with Voluteers Jim and Lynda Flaherty of the SWRR (06/12/03). Spike would be considered an Educational / Display Bird for the SWWR.
Spike was not eating well at the SWRR center. However, when he arrived at the Flaherty's home he took almost immediately to meal worms offered on tweezers and within hours worms fed from their fingers. Spike soon discoved his water bowl, and the worms/grapes in his food bowl.
Researchers has observed that albinos are often shunned or injured by their own species. They almost never find a mate, therefore less likely to reproduce. The odds of two normal colored Steller's parents passing on the albino gene (if they are carriers) is about a 25% probability; and there is even greater odds of any two normal colored parent Steller's with the albino gene meeting and becoming mates. Probably once in my lifetime or maybe many life times.
So a special thanks again to the Flaherty's and the SWRR for sharing such a great bird.
Steve Hobson
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