SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Gales, hail storms, a surprise late hatch and dramatic tumbles were among pre-flight adventures for the 2023 American River bald eagle family.

By now, all three of Mama and Papa’s eaglets have fledged. Storm, Providence and latecomer Fortune are winging to independence (note: these names are unofficial and coined by this eight-year observer. Scientific records identify the eaglets as eaglets 14, 15 and 16.)

Run ragged by months of incubation and providing, their parents will soon restore their battered eyrie and anticipate a 2024 breeding season. Such is their existence. Like most wild animals, our beautiful national bird lives only to enjoy freedom and sustain its species.

Built in 2016, their eyrie was considered the closest to Sacramento in recorded history. The phenomenon of their breeding in unaccustomed territory underscored a comeback for a species that hovered near extinction in the 1970s. The American River nest has since been sanctuary to 17 babies.

The parents courted and coupled in January and February. Alpha eaglet Storm hatched during tempests in early March. The second arrived providentially in peaceful days that followed. Then an eagle-cam installed by Friends of Folsom and Lake Natoma revealed a third fluff-head. I called this surprise baby Fortune.

Eaglets fly at around 12 weeks after hatching. To achieve adult size in less than three months, they must be fed non-stop. Their parents worked in relays to deliver prey and at first, the hatchlings were delicately beak-fed. As they grew, they learned to tear at flesh unaided. Fish and waterfowl were on the menu most days.

Alpha Storm was first to scramble outside the nursery and begin the process of branching. Flapping and building flight muscle, she navigated the tall pine. Early in this process, an incoming adult caused near-disaster by knocking the baby off her limb. Hanging by a talon, she clung to the nest underside – upside down – for 10 minutes. Eaglet resilience triumphed as she scrambled uphill, regained the basket and lunged, squealing, at dinner with her siblings. No peril, it seemed, dulls eaglet appetite.

One June morning, second sister Providence missed her footing and plummeted. Unready for flight, she nevertheless broke her fall with a few flaps and landed in brush a hundred feet below the nest. For a day, she flapped and flailed among flimsy buck-eye branches.

When she eventually hit ground level, the refugee hop/flitted across a shallow ravine to ascend an oak for her second night on the lam. She awoke hungry and managed a first deliberate fight to bluff-top trees. Later, still unfed, she ascended a pine snag and screamed to the heavens. Arriving in Papa’s talons, a squirrel was served picnic-style. When a second squirrel came hours later, survival seemed sure. Strengthened by unshared provisions and continuous wing exercise, she flew home four days after her fall. A fat trout was the incentive. You can only eat so much squirrel.

Alpha Storm’s fledge – a fast lateral loop and flawless re-landing – went almost unnoticed during the middle-sibling’s drama. Baby Fortune flew the coop about 13 days after the eldest eaglet’s on-time flight. Their future includes gradual weaning from parental provisions and finding new territory. In time, I predict, there will be eagles up and down all Sacramento river systems.

The comeback of our national bird from near-extinction in the 1970s cannot be better illustrated than by this American River family. During seven seasons – in territory where their species was previously unknown – one couple has hatched and dispatched 15 eaglets to continue their resilient line.

Like the nation whom their image represents, these babies are bred to be resourceful, independent and above all, free.

God Bless nature. And God Bless America.

Footnote: in the interests of safety for these protected birds, the nest location is not revealed

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Seven American River College students have received $1500 grants from the California Retired Teachers Association, Division 75.

The recipients were recently applauded at a North Ridge Country Club luncheon. The organization assists students in fields that include healthcare, teaching, and technical studies. Grants are enabled through a scholarship program funded by member benevolence

“Support of ARC students is one of our most import projects,” said CARTA Vice President (and former San Juan School District teacher) Ralphene Lee. “Students of all ages experience challenges during their time at school. This is our way of helping future classroom teachers.”

2023 awardees are: Theint Theint Thu; Iana Liatavska; Jerry Kennedy; Aubrie Moore; Nataliia Safi; Alaric Holly and Christopher Billings.

Division 75 of the California Retired Teachers Association meets regularly for luncheons. New members from any professional field are welcome, including currently working teachers. For information, call (916) 204-2413.

 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County’s homeless population faces numerous challenges, from lack of housing to limited access to essential healthcare services. Recognizing the need for medical assistance in this community, the Sacramento Loaves & Fishes Mercy Clinic offers primary care services. Operating under the Health Care for the Homeless program, this clinic has been a vital lifeline for those in need.

The clinic operates during the first part of the day Monday through Friday. Staff provide wound care, tuberculosis testing, and help people navigate health services. The dedicated team of doctors and Public Health Nurses ensure the medical needs of their clients are met.

The current form of the Sacramento Loaves & Fishes Mercy Clinic was established in 2020. However, workers with Sacramento County’s Primary Care and Public Health Departments have been offering medical assistance to the unhoused for decades.  

Located within Loaves & Fishes, the clinic serves as a beacon of hope for those who have fallen through society's cracks. The location allows unhoused individuals to easily access care where they are. The clinic also serves as a reminder of Sacramento County's long-standing commitment to helping the homeless community. The clinic's experienced professionals understand the unique challenges faced by this population, and they strive to ensure everyone gets the care they deserve.

“I truly believe that healthcare is a basic human right and that everyone, regardless of their housing status, deserves access to care,” says Dr. Kirti Malhotra.

Dr. Malhotra has been working with the unhoused population for more than a decade. And she is not the only friendly face clients are welcomed with when they go to the clinic. The entire team at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes Mercy Clinic echoes Dr. Malhotra's sentiment. Leading the team is Dr. Susmita Mishra, an experienced physician dedicated to serving the homeless population. Her leadership and expertise help drive the clinic’s mission of providing compassionate care. The team also puts a heavy emphasis on building trusting relationships. Many patients have experienced a lack of trust in the system due to past negative experiences.

“So many of our patients come to us and they’ve had so many things happen to them, so they don’t trust the system,” says Dr. Malhotra. “We want them to know that we will work with them and that we care about them. We are there to support them and not judge them.”

Part of that support goes beyond offering medical services. The clinic collaborates with community resources and shelters to help unhoused individuals seek comprehensive care. Transportation vouchers are provided to facilitate visits to labs and radiology services. Medications are available at the clinic based on insurance coverage. The staff considers not only the immediate needs but also the long-term well-being of its clients. The team looks at the patient’s ongoing health requirements. Unmanaged chronic diseases and mental health conditions are common among the unhoused population.

“We often have to be very resourceful in the way we manage patients because they may not have access to the same things as other people. They might not have access to a fridge for their medication,” explains Dr. Malhotra.

Because of the wide range of individual needs, the team creates individualized care plans that address each patient’s needs. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach but rather tailored care that respects the limitations of unhoused individuals.

“We build rapport and trust. You have to listen to them. So often, they are being rushed to one place after another. Incorporating that into our care goes a long way. Patients come back,” says Dr. Malhotra.

Even though the clinic has been operating for years, the doctors and nurses still want to get the word out so they can assist more people in need. All unhoused patients are welcome at the clinic. Patients simply sign their names at the front of the clinic and are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are signed in, a nurse will introduce themselves, take vitals, and accompany the patient to a doctor.

In cases where clients are seriously ill or have serious injuries, physicians quickly assess the situation. Depending on the severity, they either arrange for an ambulance or taxi to pick up the patient so they can get more extensive medical treatment.

The doctors and nurses at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes Mercy Clinic understand that access to proper medical and mental health care is essential for the homeless population to find and sustain housing. When homeless individuals are healthy, they are more likely to be in a better mindset to seek and engage with housing services, helping break the cycle of homelessness.

“Just knowing that there is a place for them to go if they need support or care makes a significant difference,” says Dr. Malhotra.

By addressing the healthcare needs of the homeless and breaking down barriers, the Sacramento Loaves & Fishes Mercy Clinic offers hope, healing, and a path toward a brighter future for all it serves. The clinic's unwavering dedication to the community sets an inspiring example for compassionate healthcare provision, and it underscores the importance of extending support and care to those who need it most.