next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
Index of Subjects
--0-605079315-1282870497=:20579
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Sitting in one place for an extended period of time is often an indication that
something is wrong with a bird. Why did Heather suspect the right wing
specifically was injured? Wing injuries usually produce a drooping wing and/or
reduced wing extension on one side.
Another possibility is that the bird is very thin. Emaciated birds don't have
enough muscle to fly, and their inability to get airborne can be mistaken for
wing injuries. They also tend to be quite lethargic. Emaciation can be caused by
disease, an injury which prevents foraging, or simply by poor hunting skills.
I don't know if gannets often injure themselves hitting bottom. If this one did,
you might see damage to the beak in the photos (which didn't come through in the
e-mail for me). And while I've heard a story or two about raptors eating so much
they are unable to fly, I've never heard of a gannet doing so. I suspect that
emaciation or injury is the reason this bird was acting oddly. If the bird is
still around, and Heather wants to attempt a rescue, she can contact us at the
Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (893-0253).
Since this is the time of year when we start seeing stranded seabirds, there's
something I'd like to mention. There are some birds, such as loons, which cannot
take off from land. Sometimes people find such a bird on the ground and, wanting
to help, pick it up and take it to the water. However, this may not actually be
helping. Healthy birds occasionally get blown ashore by storms, but the majority
of grounded seabirds are injured or sick. CWRC often admits grounded loons,
cormorants and other species, and nearly all are emaciated and dehydrated. In
addition to the treatment of illness or injury, these birds require rehydration
and a gradual reintroduction to food. They would die if simply returned to the
water. To have a good chance for survival, grounded seabirds should be taken to
a wildlife rehabilitation centre.
Rescuing large seabirds is not easy. They usually fight hard, and are armed with
sharp beaks and lightning-fast stabbing abilities. (I speak from personal
experience!) If you find yourself rescuing a cormorant, gannet or loon, be very,
very careful. Before picking it up, cover the bird with a towel or jacket, being
sure to cover the head. If the bird doesn't fight hard, it is almost certainly
in dire straits. The best way to transport any bird is in a cardboard box
somewhat larger than the bird. A pet carrier also works. If possible, the
container should be lined with a towel or other material that can give the bird
secure footing.
Kathleen MacAulay
Milford Station
________________________________
From: "bdigout@seaside.ns.ca" <bdigout@seaside.ns.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Thu, August 26, 2010 3:33:24 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] possible injured gannet
I received this e-mail from Heather Grant of Lower L'Ardoise a few days
after our Point Michaud field trip. Does it sound like this bird is
injured? It is sitting on a rock close to shore.
I told her I thought it might have hit bottom diving in shallow water.
Billy Does that sound reasonable?
This lovely gannet was outside our house the other day. We thought
perhaps his/her right wing was damaged because she didn't want to move
- but maybe she was just too full!
Heather
You have been sent 2 pictures.
DSC03614.JPG
DSC03615.JPG
These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/
--0-605079315-1282870497=:20579
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sitting in one place for an extended period of time is often an indication that something is wrong with a bird. Why did Heather suspect the right wing specifically was injured? Wing injuries usually produce a drooping wing and/or reduced wing extension on one side. <br><br>Another possibility is that the bird is very thin. Emaciated birds don't have enough muscle to fly, and their inability to get airborne can be mistaken for wing injuries. They also tend to be quite lethargic. Emaciation can be caused by disease, an injury which prevents foraging, or simply by poor hunting skills. <br><br>I don't know if gannets often injure themselves hitting bottom. If this one did, you might see damage to the beak in the photos (which didn't
come through in the e-mail for me). And while I've heard a story or two about raptors eating so much they are unable to fly, I've never heard of a gannet doing so. I suspect that emaciation or injury is the reason this bird was acting oddly. If the bird is still around, and Heather wants to attempt a rescue, she can contact us at the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (893-0253). <br><br>Since this is the time of year when we start seeing stranded seabirds, there's something I'd like to mention. There are some birds, such as loons, which cannot take off from land. Sometimes people find such a bird on the ground and, wanting to help, pick it up and take it to the water. However, this may not actually be helping. Healthy birds occasionally get blown ashore by storms, but the majority of grounded seabirds are injured or sick. CWRC often admits grounded loons, cormorants and other species, and nearly all are emaciated and dehydrated. In
addition to the treatment of illness or injury, these birds require rehydration and a gradual reintroduction to food. They would die if simply returned to the water. To have a good chance for survival, grounded seabirds should be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.<br><br>Rescuing large seabirds is not easy. They usually fight hard, and are armed with sharp beaks and lightning-fast stabbing abilities. (I speak from personal experience!) If you find yourself rescuing a cormorant, gannet or loon, be very, very careful. Before picking it up, cover the bird with a towel or jacket, being <span style="text-decoration: underline;">sure</span> to cover the head. If the bird doesn't fight hard, it is almost certainly in dire straits. The best way to transport any bird is in a cardboard box somewhat larger than the bird. A pet carrier also works. If possible, the container should be lined with a towel or other material that can give the bird secure
footing. <br><br>Kathleen MacAulay<br>Milford Station<br><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> "bdigout@seaside.ns.ca