Baby bird found inside work truck surprises driver

By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

A nestling blue-gray gnatcatcher was among the 119 Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include a limpkin, a common gallinule, a boat-tailed grackle, a common nighthawk, an evening bat, and a gopher tortoise.

The blue-gray gnatcatcher nestling arrived at the Conservancy loose in the cab of a truck. When the driver realized the tiny nestling was inside his work vehicle, he drove to the Conservancy so staff could safely retrieve the bird. The driver had no idea how, where, or when the gnatcatcher made its way into his truck.

The nestling gnatcatcher weighed only 5 grams yet was fully feathered and close to fledging. The baby was vocal, alert, and appeared to be in good health. Hospital staff immediately placed the gnatcatcher in an animal intensive care unit for warmth and rest. Due to its young age, the gnatcatcher requires feeding every forty-five minutes throughout the day and evening. Over the course of several days, the fledgling’s activity level increased allowing staff to move the diminutive fledgling from an intensive care unit to a large soft-sided net enclosure.

Gnatcatchers are rarely admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital and this is the first fledgling raised at our facility. Staff is networking with other wildlife rehabilitation facilities to gather detailed information to determine the best release strategy once the fledgling is old enough and able to return to the wild.

Special Thanks

Reports of an injured pelican on the docks in Naples Bay were received over the course of ten days. The problem was the pelican would hop off the dock into the water when approached. Knowing the pelican was getting weaker, skilled wildlife rescuer and hospital volunteer Lauren Malinowski went to the docks to try to net the pelican. Sure enough, the pelican was wary and immediately hopped in the water. Julie Pate, the operator of In the Pink ice cream boat, was passing by. Julie allowed Lauren to board her boat; they then followed the pelican trying to net the bird on the water.

The pelican initially headed north toward the Gordon River Bridge then changed course swimming south back toward the dock it had been frequenting. Using her boat, Julie boxed the pelican in enabling Lauren to net the bird. Hospital staff certainly appreciates Julie’s willingness to get involved; her efforts resulted in the pelican receiving the help it needed.

Recent Releases

An osprey, two northern cardinals, a laughing gull, five northern mockingbirds, five eastern cottontails, a common grackle, three royal terns, a broad-winged hawk, three marsh rabbits, a pileated woodpecker, a brown thrasher and a mourning dove were released this past week.

Opportunities to Help

Support the Conservancy’s mission to protect native wildlife. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital hosted a virtual Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower on June 5 raising awareness and support for the hospital’s youngest patients. Hospital staff is incredibly grateful to everyone who has already donated items in support of our work. Gifts can be donated online through the Conservancy’s Amazon Wish List through the month of June.

Visit www.conservancy.org/babyshower. Every donation supports the Conservancy’s work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.