A rare bird for the Florida Keys, Roseate Tern

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In October on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00, the Marathon Wild Bird Center calls one of their volunteers, part of a large network of volunteers. Susie Ward takes the call because she is one of many on the list for the Duck Key, Conch Key area. Karyn Buckley is "maning" the phones and tells her there is a large white bird, bayside, between the two Tom's Harbor Bridges. That's all the information given. Ms. Ward fires up and heads out in the "Bird Mobile".

Susie finds the large white bird in distress, on its belly in the gravel on the side of US 1 and takes it to the Marathon Wild Bird Center. At the Bird Center the volunteers begin the process of giving fluids, heat, and comfort to the injured bird. The Gannet is closely examimed for any broken bones, fish hooks, featherlice, and a gentle palpation of the whole body. What the exam showed was starvation, some lacerations on the belly from the road, and an old healed fracture on his leg which may have caused his state of emaciation.

After 3 months of food and its very own swimming pool at the Bird Center, this Gannet was successfully released by Anna Schutt from her sailboat. Anna sailed out passed the coral reef into deep water. Ann actually saw other Gannets nearby and opened the bird carrier. Our Gannet seeing "his people" called out and flew towards them.

Safe travels and good luck to our wild bird friend!