[SEMCO] IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rare Seabird Brought to Wild Care - Succumbs to Illness

Tue Oct 3 14:39:10 EDT 2017

CONTACT: Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director, cell 650-319-5491

PHOTO:       Copyright Wild Care, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

###

RARE SEABIRD BROUGHT TO WILD CARE - SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

*Eastham, MA. October 3, 2017.  *The tropical Masked Booby that has been in
care at Wild Care, Inc., a wildlife rehabilitation hospital located in
Eastham, has passed away during the wee hours of October 2nd after nearly a
week of intensive care.  The booby was one of dozens of battered seabirds
that were left in the wake of Hurricane Jose on Cape Cod. The tropical bird
was likely blown over 1,000 miles from it’s oceanic home in the Caribbean,
and is the first time this species has been recorded touching down on
Massachusetts soils.

Wild Care rescued the bird on September 26th from LeCount’s Hollow Beach in
Wellfleet. The bird was in grave condition;  emaciated, and showing signs
of respiratory distress and advanced illness. “My team of dedicated staff
worked tirelessly to treat this bird’s condition and to make sure the bird
was comfortable,” stated Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care Executive Director. “We
submitted a lab culture to test respiratory secretions, and ran several
non-invasive tests in-house. We consulted with seabird experts from
International Bird Rescue in California, and also Save Our Seabirds, in
Sarasota, Florida, both of which are organizations that work directly with
this species. We also consulted with John Kelley, DVM and his staff, at
nearby Eastham Veterinary Hospital. The booby was placed on supportive care
and was treated with several different medications, but the odds were
against him…” states Ellis.

“This bird was carried thousands of miles with the hurricane, and probably
had an underlying condition to begin with. He could no longer fly or swim,
and chose to beach himself, despite his sea-faring lifestyle. That's as bad
as it gets for a bird,” stated Jennifer Taylor, Wild Care Animal Care
Coordinator.

The booby took a turn for the worst on Sunday morning, and was provided
with oxygen support for much of the day. “We were all deeply saddened that
we could not pull this bird through it's debilitating illness. I have no
doubt that we provided the best possible care, and that the bird was
comfortable during its stay.  We are grateful for the outpouring of public
support. It has helped us tremendously through the intensive care, &
through this unfortunate outcome,” states Ellis.

The booby will go to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of
Veterinary Medicine at Tuft’s University, for a necropsy by Mark Pokras,
DVM and Associate Professor Emeritus, to determine the cause of death.. The
bird will then be transported to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at
Harvard University for taxidermy. “I do not know what plans the MCZ has for
this bird as of yet, but it warms my heart to think that this booby will at
least continue its cycle-of-life as a specimen - to be studied, observed
and admired by many, for years to come.” – Ellis.

*This Masked Booby is a rare visitor to our shorelines. The Masked Booby
breeds throughout the world’s tropical oceans and islands and is most
commonly sighted along the Gulf of Mexico, with breeding attempts on the
Dry Tortugas, Fl. and the Hawaiian Islands. It is otherwise not commonly
seen in North America. *

*SPECIAL THANKS:* Wild Care would like to thank Rebecca Duerr, DVM,
Research Director and Veterinarian of International Bird Rescue (IBR) of
Cordelia, CA, and Kylie Clatterbuck, Wildlife Center Manager of IBR in Los
Angeles, as well as Dana LeWorthy, Avian Hospital Administrator at Save Our
Seabirds in Sarasota, FL, for all for their booby expertise, and for
providing guidance on treatment for this bird. Thank you also goes to John
Kelley, DVM and Emily Sears of Eastham Veterinary Hospital for all of their
assistance, even after hours.

*ABOUT**:*

WILD CARE’s wildlife rehabilitators treat birds, mammals and reptiles
brought to the center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild
when they are capable of independent survival. Through public education,
WILD CARE works to prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the
community in conservation through volunteerism. Since our founding WILD
CARE has accepted over 25,000 wild creatures, representing over 275 species
of native birds, mammals and reptiles. If you encounter injured, orphaned
or ill wildlife please call the WILD CARE of Cape Cod helpline at
508-240-2255. Visit WILD CARE’s website at www.wildcarecapecod.org to make
a donation.

                                                                 ###

Stephanie Ellis
Executive Director
Wild Care, Inc.
10 Smith Lane
Eastham, MA 02642
www.wildcarecapecod.org

Find us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/WildCareCapeCod>!
508-240-2255 office
<http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/>
   <http://bit.ly/wildcaresubscription>
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