On December 3 at Humboldt Wildlife Care Center/bird ally x, we were called about a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) seen struggling alongside Table Bluff Road. Our rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after and found the large bird, who tried to escape from our capture attempt, but was unable to fly.
Once back at our facility in Manila, we found a very skinny bird. Typically Great Blue Herons weigh between 1800 and 2200 grams. This one weighed only 1000 grams on admission, missing more than a third of their body mass. Weak, with a dangerously low body temperature, severely anemic, and with a very signicant amount of intestinal parasites, this heron was close to death. If we hadn’t been called, it’s very likely the bird would have died overnight, by the side of the road.
It was a few days before we had helped the Heron stabilize and begin to eat and maintain a proper temperature. After five days, we were able to move the heron to an outdoors aviary.
The parasites were stubborn. We had to administer medicines to fight them twice a day for 14 days. That’s a lot of handling and bothering the patient, but sometimes there is no other way. After 7 days in care, the Heron began flying again, though, so we were optimistic.
Finally, on the 22nd of December, 19 days in care, flying well, the parasites defeated, body mass restored and red blood cells up from 15 per cent on admission to a very healthy 43 per cent, it was time for release. Due to area flooding, getting back to Table Bluff was iffy, but not for a Heron who can fly. So we took here to the edge of Humboldt Bay, with Table Bluff in view, and she stepped out of our crate and back into her wild and free life!
Please enjoy this gallery of her release day!
Not all of our patients need so much time, some need even more. But whether we’re taking care of an orphaned raccoon for four months, or songbird who hit a window for two days, each patient requires and deserves our best. Your support is what makes and keeps our best available to any of our wild neighbors in need. Thank you for making our work possible. Please donate if you can.
