Seward, Alaska
I received an email this
morning from Chris at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center asking about a
possible ride to Seward for a rescued FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL. After several emails
and calls back and forth, a ride was found and the bird hitched a ride with my
wonderful friends Sharyl and Cathy.
They arrived with the
Fork-tailed Storm-petrel at Lowell Point just past high tide and just before
sunset. Perfect timing! The eagles and peregrine falcon were done hunting for
the day, so this disoriented little flutterbird had a chance.
I gently took the tiny, light gray bird out of the little crate and held him (or her) in one hand. He was very calm, and seemed to be slowly adjusting to the new sounds of the lapping waves, the saltwater smells, and the pouring rain.
I walked a short ways down the rocks to the water and opened my hand. I could feel him getting more and more alert sitting there, thinking about freedom. After several minutes, he finally fluttered to the water a short ways in front of me, and then started paddling away with his petite, black, webbed feet.
After several more long minutes he started to flutter a short distance, paddled some more, fluttered a longer distance, paddled some more, and then fluttered out of sight heading south towards the Gulf of Alaska into the gray water, gray twilight, and gray clouds, perfectly camouflaged. Bon voyage, little tubenose! May you find your kin not far away.
Thanks to the kind fisherman who brought the bird to the caring folks at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, and to Sharyl and Cathy who whisked him to Seward and freedom.
I gently took the tiny, light gray bird out of the little crate and held him (or her) in one hand. He was very calm, and seemed to be slowly adjusting to the new sounds of the lapping waves, the saltwater smells, and the pouring rain.
I walked a short ways down the rocks to the water and opened my hand. I could feel him getting more and more alert sitting there, thinking about freedom. After several minutes, he finally fluttered to the water a short ways in front of me, and then started paddling away with his petite, black, webbed feet.
After several more long minutes he started to flutter a short distance, paddled some more, fluttered a longer distance, paddled some more, and then fluttered out of sight heading south towards the Gulf of Alaska into the gray water, gray twilight, and gray clouds, perfectly camouflaged. Bon voyage, little tubenose! May you find your kin not far away.
Thanks to the kind fisherman who brought the bird to the caring folks at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, and to Sharyl and Cathy who whisked him to Seward and freedom.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
Nice rescue and return operation!
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