Every so often, Audubon field staff find an injured or sick bird while on surveys. Most recently, biological technician Tara McIver and volunteer Marlene Eader found a juvenile Northern Gannet on Hutaff Island. The bird was too exhausted to even try to escape, so they collected it and transported it to the local bird rehabber.
An adult Northern Gannet. Juveniles have similar blue eyes, but brown plumage with white spots. By Lindsay Addison
Northern Gannets are seabirds, but sometimes they are so sick or malnourished that they take refuge on a beach. Other species, including the Common Loon, will also strand on beaches, often during the winter when conditions are harsh. This is not a "natural" behavior; these species do not normally sit on beaches and only do so if they are in severe trouble. If a beach-goer can closely approach, touch, or pick up a bird, the bird is not well, and it should not be shooed away or put back in the ocean. Instead, if the bird can be caught, it should be taken to a wildlife rehabber that accepts birds.
The best way to capture any large bird, like a gannet, loon, or pelican, is with a towel or sheet. Put the towel over the bird's head and body and hold the bird's body so the wings are immobilized. If the bird has a big beak, take care to restrain it by firmly holding it and keep your face and eyes away. Putting a towel over the bird's head will not only help in restraining the bill, but also help the bird remain as calm as possible. If a box or other container is handy, that will make transport to a rehabber even easier.
Once you have an distressed bird in custody, it's not always easy to find a rehabber, so the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission maintains a website listing all licensed rehabbers in the state. Some facilities, like the Carolina Raptor Center, large organizations with staff and resources, while others are run by a small group of dedicated volunteers, so be patient when you call. In the Cape Fear region there are two bird rehabilitation organizations, Skywatch Bird Rescue in Wilmington and Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter on Oak Island.
In rehab, the Northern Gannet will be assessed to see if it's suffering from an illness such as an upper respiratory infection, internal parasites, or just malnourished. If all goes well, it will return to a healthy weight, beat back any infection or parasites, and return home to the open sea.
