[NatureNS] Grounded seabirds

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Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 11:17:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Kathleen MacAulay <roughlegged_hawk@yahoo.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Healthy birds can certainly be blown inland, especially after large storms. But 
I don't know what makes Mary so sure that any grounded dovekies aren't injured 
or starving. How can you know that without an experienced person evaluating 
their health, especially when wild animals typically try to hide their symptoms 
from humans?

The rule of thumb for grounded seabirds in wildlife rehabilitation is to  assume 
there is something wrong with them. This has been the  case for the vast 
majority of grounded loons, cormorants and gannets  admitted to CWRC. I haven't 
found very much information in rehabilitation  literature about alcids. I have 
noticed that the alcids we've  had at CWRC tend to be in better shape than the 
larger birds, but they  haven't all been healthy. Is there literature to 
suggest, or have Mary's  experiences suggested, that this is not the usual case 
and that  injured/sick alcids don't end up on land?

I'm also curious as to why she says that the birds must be returned immediately 
to water, unless that is to prevent people playing show-and-tell rather than 
doing what's best for the bird. Healthy birds should be able to handle a few 
hours to get to a vet or rehabilitator for a checkup. 


Perhaps she could share her experiences, on or off-list. I'd love to hear what 
she has to say.

Fritz, I'm glad the dovekie looked good. I know you wouldn't try to release it 
otherwise. I hope it was healthy, and it may well have been. My point is that we 
can't know a bird is healthy unless an experienced person evaluates it. I 
realize it's hard to get birds from where you are to a rehab centre though, so 
immediate release may be the better option for grounded birds in your area.

One more note. Pelagic birds rely on their waterproofing for survival, and oil 
compromises that waterproofing. Even the natural oils on our hands can have an 
effect, so anyone handling these birds should try to use a clean towel or 
similar object to handle the bird and avoid skin-to-feather contact.

Kathleen MacAulay
Milford Station



________________________________
From: Elizabeth Doull <edoull@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Tue, December 7, 2010 9:31:26 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Grounded seabirds

 
Thanks, Kathleen MacAulay, for your advice  dealing with such pelagic birds.  
Got this from Mary Majka in NatureNB. 

 
Mary Majka wrote: 

We received and released a number of dovekies during today   Obviously blown 
inland by very strong southerly winds (terrific on the Bay of  Fundy). Those 
Birds are not Injured  or starving ! What they need URGENTLY  is to be released 
in any large body of WATER, of course preferably saltwater! 


Dovekies as many other pelagic (sea-dwelling) birds can't take off from  land. 

They need to be as soon as possible taken to the seashore or a river  
(Petitcodiac is a good one because it is tidal) and simply dumped into their  
watery element. 


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