Rescuing Our Island Birds
By Natalie Novak, 2024 Fall Intern
Education Technician Maddie Price holds a Brown Pelican that was found unable to fly.
Living on Bald Head Island brings unique challenges every single day. With hundreds of animals inhabiting the island, they can get into some trouble. Bald Head Island Conservancy is the primary organization that responds to wildlife emergencies on the island. As an intern, I have been learning to rescue and relocate a variety of wild animals this fall.
Each wildlife rescue is always different. We move turtles off of dangerous roads, aid injured reptiles, and even chase down flying birds. If you ever see us chasing a bird on the beach, it is for a good reason!
Gull entangled in fishing line. Fall Interns Riley and Natalie cut off excess line.
Brown pelicans are one of our frequent calls. Juvenile pelicans can become separated from their families in storms and end up underweight and sick. We typically bring these young birds to Sea Biscuit Wildlife shelter in Oak Island, where they can eat, get stronger, and gain weight until they are ready to go back to the wild. Those with infections will receive medicine until they are better!
Natalie holds a juvenile Common Gallinule that was found stunned after a window strike.
Gulls can also find themselves in unpleasant conditions. Fishing line, hooks, and lures can get wrapped around marine animals, especially shorebirds like gulls who like to eat fish. Recently, we responded to a gull who got twisted up in fishing gear. Once we retrieved it, we cut off all the wire wrapped around it and safely brought it to Sea Biscuit for recovery.
Gallinules live in our freshwater and brackish waters, where they choose to swim and glide more than fly. Recently, we rescued a juvenile gallinule from a residential porch, where it had been laying stunned after a window strike. We brought it back to the Conservancy to allow it to recover. Once the bird had rested, we had attempted to set it free, but it did not respond actively to its surroundings. Due to its limited wing and leg mobility, the gallinule was also transported to Sea Biscuit to identify its likely injury and help it heal and recover.
Animal rescues are truly a highlight of being a BHIC Intern and bring new experiences every day. Whether a bird or a snake, we will always respond to an animal in need. Bald Head Island wouldn’t be the same place without its amazing animals, so we take their care very seriously. Call our Wildlife Response Hotline at 910-457-0089 (ext. 5) if you encounter an animal needing help on Bald Head Island.
