Male Red-Winged Blackbirds Are Singing On Territory Again

But it’ll be a while before I join in the chorus. Or even talk much.

 

1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

Four days ago at Farmington Bay WMA increasing numbers of male Red-winged Blackbirds were feeling their hormone-driven oats and singing on territory, typically from the tops of phragmites. A little later in the spring they’ll be “stickier” than they are now and a little easier to photograph but I’m always happy to get my first nice photos of them each year.

This one was bouncing up and down a little on the phrag head which meant the phrag at upper left was moving into and out of the part of the frame I had to crop from. At first I tried to pick an image to post that wouldn’t have a phrag up there but I liked this photo of the bird best and decided the phrag helped with the framing of the bird. Now I actually prefer having it there even though it isn’t tack sharp.

 

Surgery report. I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible but it won’t be short for reasons I’ll explain.

I’m now the proud owner of only a partial thyroid gland as the right lobe and a large “nodule” were removed two days ago. My surgeon described the surgery as “unusually complicated” because the nodule was large (4 1/2 cm, but then he knew that going in), flattened and tucked behind the mass of the right lobe right next to my trachea and adjacent larynx.

The removed tissue has been sent off for another biopsy. The first needle biopsy apparently ruled out the possibility of the most aggressive types of thyroid cancer so If it’s benign I’m done with surgery. If it isn’t the most likely options will be:

  • a second surgery to remove the left lobe
  • a single dose of radioactive iodine
  • doing nothing. Since that type of thyroid cancer is very slow growing surgery at my age may gain me nothing

No matter what options are recommended I’ll be taking thyroxin for the rest of my life but that’s no big deal. Even if I’m left with half of a thyroid gland I’ll still need thyroxin therapy because it will suppress my pituitary gland from signaling what’s left of my thyroid to double up on thyroxin production. When thyroid tissue is overstimulated like that it’s more likely to grow more nodules.

So at the moment I’m feeling both optimistic and extremely sore and sleep deprived. After a mostly sleepless night before surgery and a completely sleepless night from hell in the hospital (understatement) my circadian rhythm is really screwed up. I slept all yesterday afternoon and then got up at 1:20 this morning so my sleep cycle is seriously out of whack.

The worst part is an extremely sore throat which makes swallowing, coughing and talking very difficult, which is why the last part of this post is as detailed as it is. I’m sending the link to relatives and friends to reduce the amount of time I have to spend talking on the phone.

Ron

 

PS – An interesting detail:

Prior to surgery my surgeon told me that one potential complication of this type of surgery is permanent hoarseness because the two nerves going to the larynx can be partially embedded in the thyroid and they’re very small and difficult to see and cut around. The last thing I said to my surgeon with a goofy smile on my face as I was going under anesthesia was “Be careful with those nerves!”. 

I’m very happy to report that as I type this both nerves are intact. Thank you Dr. Preciado! (who in my opinion at the moment at least is perfectly named)

 

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56 Comments

  1. Love the bird. Glad your doctor has done such good work. Here’s to good news!

  2. You must have been very concerned but now relieved. Wish you good news and a quick journey to wellness. Great capture of the blackbird, by the way, with the highlights in the feathers and its eye.

  3. Deedee (Edith) OBrien

    I’m glad your surgery is over and apparently successful. Heal!! No more health problems. I suspect this might be easier than the back surgeries, but I know how hard it is for you to be house-bound.

    • Deedee, In some ways this was worse than the back surgery. That night in the hospital was one of the worst nights in my life and I’ve had some bad ones. The sad thing was… it didn’t have to be. It was largely caused by a single nurse who didn’t know how to comport herself on night watch.

  4. Hospitals are among the least healthy and most aggravating places in the world, even when you need one — I’m glad you’re home. I smiled at those patches of yellow and red on the blackbird. He looks as though he’s won himself a set of awards; you deserve a set yourself! Here’s to continuing recovery, and good sleep.

  5. Beautiful shot Ron. Glad you are doing good.

  6. Ron,
    I thought I’d see a few more posts from your followers saying “me too”! The fact that they haven’t is a good thing. I had my entire thyroid removed in 1998 and have been on Synthroid ever since. We are just a few years apart so my experience says the discomfort in the short term is well worth it in the long term. Your photography continues to inspire me. Looking forward to your next photos from the field once you are back in the saddle (F150)!

  7. I am glad you are on the mend. I lost my voice for a month, good I know sign language. I tried to teach my family a crash coarse. My husband got mad and told me to stop flapping my hands, he was too old to learn a new language.

  8. You have certainly posted a less gruesome photo than your last, although it looks as if the RWB could be scolding the Shrike for a price of shrew. A psychologist might interpret today’s photo as a subconscious reflection of your improved outlook now that the surgery is history (and not to be repeated, we hope). No charge for the psych diagnosis🥴

  9. I join the chorus across the world. It is lovely to see you in my reading box this morning, and I have very high hopes for a benign verdict and a swift and complete recovery.

  10. Sorry you had to go through this, Ron. The old saying, “Growing old isn’t for sissies,” seems to apply. Hope the report says “Benign.”

  11. Love that flash of colorful wing!
    And happy to hear you’re home … wishing you better sleep, far less pain, and zero complications (or further surgery) in the days ahead. Great shout-out to your doc, BTW.

  12. Mary Mayshark-Stavely

    Hurrah!! Glad to hear from you on this side of surgery and you can write to us!!
    Boncourage, smoother sailing ahead, With love from afar, Mary

  13. The redwing knocks my socks off and I am so very glad to know that you are thus far out of the woods. Onward! With my best wishes.

  14. Hi Ron, happy to hear your surgery went well and that your laryngeal nerves are intact. Rest those vocal folds!

    • “Rest those vocal folds”

      I’m trying, Brett. But your voice is kind of like your house utilities. You take it for granted until it’s diminished or gone.

  15. So happy to see you in my inbox. What a great name for a doctor❗️
    Love this shiny singing blackbird ❗️
    Take care

    • “What a great name for a doctor”

      I agree, Diana. I’d have missed what it meant if FB friend Muffy S. Gately hadn’t given me a heads up. Glad she did.

  16. Rest as much as you can, this helps the healing process. Your normal sleep pattern will return soon.

  17. Wishing you a speedy recovery, as do all your feathered friends.

  18. Ron – Good news that you are well enough to send out your gorgeous Red-winged Blackbird report this morning. That is indeed a nice photo. Your health summary is certainly written as you would expect from a biologist. Best wishes for good healing and very few future bumps in the road.

  19. Wonderful feisty blackbird! Saw one dive-bombing a coyote. Some gall! Hope you feel better soon. My husband had a thyroid node removed some years ago and to his surprise the thyroxin tablets made his energy level go up considerably. Seems he’d been running on low for awhile. Best wishes for good results.

  20. Glad you’re back home and nerves are intact! Crossing fingers, eyes, legs that everything’s benign and that you heal quickly and are back behind the lens soon. ❤️

    • Thanks, Marty. I was actually “behind the lens” this morning but it didn’t do me much good. I guess birds didn’t appreciate the fact that I’m back amongst them… 🙂

  21. Was very happy to see that beautiful blackbird this morning and to “hear”
    from you –had thought you’d be incommunicado for a few more days, at
    least. I wish you nights of good, refreshing sleep, and the best of news
    to follow them. I hope that all of your friends and relatives can be reached
    by e-mail– what a “save” that will be for your voice !

  22. 1) I have love the red wing black birds at Farmington. They can be a source of entertainment kn slow days when I’m there.
    2) I won’t come knocking so you don’t have to talk. I’m pleased to hear you’re home now. If you need anything at all please feel free to let me know. My email is shanesducks801@gmail.com. My phone number is in the neighborhood list if either of you want to text me or call me.
    Hoping for a speeding recovery and only good news!

    • I can tell you really mean #2 Shane and I’m deeply appreciative. I might actually take you up on one little chore that I may not be able to do with my bad back.

  23. I’ve been waiting for this Post to hear your “written” voice again. Glad your are OK and will continue to keep you in my prayers !!!

  24. So glad you are home. I saw two RWB at the feeder in Cornell the other day & thought I hear one outside my house north of Syracuse yesterday. Rest well, we are all pulling for you.

  25. Dear Ron, I’ve been thinking about you over the last 3 days and hoping all went well. It does sound positive and I’m impressed that you are back on your blog so quickly.
    Be patient, stay quiet and no singing from the phrags! Having had my thryoid drstroyed by radio-active iodine I must advise you to be sure to keep in touch with your doctor for the correct dose of thyroxin. It is an important hormone for our body and can screw up everything if it’s not right.
    Good luck and I’m glad you are back.

  26. Relatively good news it seems! 🙂 YES! 🙂 There are always potential complications to these things and appears you’ve avoided some….. Hospitals are NEVER fun. The blackbird certainly is “into it” – fun capture.

  27. I missed your “bump in the road” posting, and send my warmest wishes to you and your surgeon for the best possible outcomes! Keep shining…

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