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Cordelia, CA
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Red phalaropes
feed on meal worms after being
taken to IBRRC's bird center
in Cordelia, CA. (Photos:
Marie Travers/IBRRC) |
T
housands of red phalaropes, rarely
seen on land except when breeding
in the Arctic, landed on the coast
of Northern California in late December.
Most were weak and starving, looking
for food in marshes, creeks, and
even backyards. The small birds
were probably forced in by strong
westerly winds that came with a
series of powerful storms that hit
Northern California the last part
of December, 2005. Groups of up
to 1,200 birds were reported seeking
refuge along the coast.
International Bird Rescue
Research Center (IBRRC) in Cordelia,
CA (Solano County) cared for 90
red phalaropes and achieved great
success rehabilitating them. Only
eight of the birds died. Most of
the birds were rescued from beaches
by IBRRC staff.
Weak and starving, the
birds were immediately hydrated
and warmed in warm water therapy
pools, then fed meal worms and krill.
They ate voraciously and quickly
gained weight and strength. After
intensive care, the birds continue
rehabilitation in specially designed
cold water pools with overflow to
keep their feathers perfectly clean
and oil free.
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Red phalarope |
Twenty one phalaropes
were deemed ready for release on
January 5, 2006. The others will
be released when they achieve normal
weight and are waterproof. The birds
are banded with numbered USFWS metal
bands before release.
The red
phalarope is a small bird rarely
seen on land other than during spring
when they migrate to Alaska to raise
their young. Experts surmise the
birds were suffering from a lack
of food in the mid-ocean locales
they frequent, either due to warmer
ocean temperatures or the simple
fact that the storms have churned
the seas, making food scarce.
The birds feed by spinning
the surface of the water with their
lobed feet. For most of the year,
phalaropes live at sea, principally
off the coasts of southern South
America and Africa. Red phalaropes
are occasionally seen in the Bay
Area during particularly harsh winters,
but never before in numbers like
these.
Also see:
SF Chronicle story,
January 6, 2006: Sick
seabirds set right after straying
ashore
More information on
red
phalaralopes
IBRRC has been helping
birds around the world since 1971.
Its mission is to mitigate human
impact on aquatic birds and other
wildlife. This is achieved through
rehabilitation, emergency response,
education, research, planning and
training.
Media contact:
Public Affairs Director
(831) 622-7588
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