5 Ducklings are Rescued

About a week ago, we got a telephone call from someone that had been trying to get 5 very small mallard ducklings out of a sewer drain. They were so small, they fell through the holes in the grating. After trying for several hours, they called us to help.

Eileen and her rescue helper/husband, Tom, appeared at the scene with a few nets and a carrier. Pretty quickly, we heard the peeping from below. Eileen checked it out and found 5 tiny ducklings, huddled in the corner.

Although not a very glamerous job, it turned out to not really be that complicated. Lying down with net in hand, Eileen scooped one by one out. The hose in the photo was used to keep the ducklings away from the tunnel in the sewar that ran throughout the sewar system; if the ducklings got in there, they would be out of reach, having access throughout the entire neighborhood.
Of course, as it went on, the latter ones were quicker at getting away.
Eventually, all 5 were safely out of the sewer. Unfortunately, their mom who dutifully stayed by their side for most of the day, had moved on with her other babies. We alerted the homeowner and neighbors to keep an eye out for her so that we could reunite them, but she wasn't spotted again.
So for now, they will grow up at our center. With a healthy fear of humans already instilled in them, once they grow up they will be released back to the
wild.

Release of the Cormorant

On June 21, we got in a young Double-crested Cormorant from a local veterinarian's office, where someone dropped him off due to an injured wing.

Upon examination, we did not find the bird to have any fractures, only some tenderness in his left wing. With supportive care and anti-inflammatory pain medication his injury resolved, and he was ready to be released back to the wild.
Below are photos of his release by Lauren Schulz, our Education Coordinator:



B'Bye!
========================================================
Double-crested Cormorants are a common sight on Long Island. You can often see them sunning themselves on buoys and docks, as they are not waterproof the way waterfowl and gulls are. They have a very strong beak that they use when they dive for fish; they do not spear the fish but grab it in their bill. Look closely at photo #1 above; see how it is almost like a hook?

For more information on Double-crested Cormorants, click here.

American Robins flying free!

Last week (July 5th), several of the baby American Robins that were brought to our hospital some weeks back were ready to go. Fully flighted, eating on their own, they no longer wanted to have anything to do with us, which is just what we want to see. Since it was Fourth of July weekend, we waited until the festivities were over to give them the best chance they can have.

Staff and volunteers gathered them up, and being that this group were all from close to where our facility is located, we released them in Caumsett State Historic Park, in the Walled Garden.

As you can see, these birds were ready to be free, as as soon as our hands were opened, they took right off!

(See if you can find them in the photo to the right- click on it to make it bigger if you need to.)

It was a wonderful thing to see them fly away and regain their freedom, and a Happy Independence Day for all!

Belted Kingfisher is released!

On June 25, 2010 we received an admission of an adult Belted Kingfisher that a local homeowner found on her driveway. Right above the bird were two big picture windows that were very reflective of the surrounding trees. It was clear that this little guy hit the window, not realizing it wasn't a throughway.

During the time he was with us, he was rather subdued. He perched well but showed no interest in eating, so he had to be handfed several times a day. (This is normal, as this type of bird dives into the water after fish). However, over the last few days he perked up and started showing more feistiness.
Wanting to wait until the 4th of July festivities were over, we came in today to find a very vocal and active bird.

We brought him back to the harbor where he lives and as you can see from the photos, he was ready to go and thrilled to be free!

Belted Kingfishers are common on Long Island (as well as across North America), often seen perching on electrical lines over water, checking out

what is going on underneath them. They hover above the water before plunging into the water after a fish.