Baby bird “rescue” likely unnecessary

By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

A common nighthawk was among the 94 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week.

The young common nighthawk was brought to the wildlife hospital by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer. Hospital staff asked the officer for a history on the nighthawk but the officer had no information on who the “rescuer” was or where the young bird was found. All he knew was the “rescuer” found the nighthawk on the ground and contained the young bird believing it needed help. The “rescuer” saw the FWC officer and passed the bird off to him.

Obviously, the “rescuer” believed he was being helpful when he picked up the young nighthawk.

But this situation is the perfect example of why we ask people to call the wildlife hospital before taking action if they think they have found an animal in need of assistance.

If the “rescuer” had called the wildlife hospital before picking up the bird, we would have asked questions to gain an understanding of the situation and, in all likelihood, we would have determined the young nighthawk did not need rescuing.

Knowledge of native wildlife helps staff evaluate every call we receive.

von Arx Wildlife Hospital: 239.262.CARE

Seeing a baby nighthawk on the ground is normal since common nighthawks do not build nests. Nighthawks lay their eggs on the bare ground. Baby common nighthawks are camouflaged and blend in with their surroundings (dirt, mulch, twigs, dead leaves, etc.). Young nighthawks stay on the ground until they are about three weeks old when they take their first flight.

A physical exam performed upon admission showed the baby nighthawk had no injuries and was bright, alert and responsive. Initially, the young nighthawk proved difficult to hand feed and wouldn’t readily open his mouth for food. After two days of intense care from the baby bird rehabilitator at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, the young nighthawk began to gape and is now eager to eat.

Recent Releases — 31 Rehabbed Animals Returned Home

• 1 mallard,
• 5 blue jays
• 3 yellow-bellied turtles
• 3 Virginia opossums
• 1 red-shouldered hawk
• 1 white-winged dove
• 1 northern mockingbird
• 1 brown thrasher
• 1 Florida-bellied turtle
• 6 eastern cottontails
• 1 royal tern
• 2 peninsula cooters
• 2 northern cardinals
• 1 Florida box turtle
• 1 red-bellied woodpecker
• 1 raccoon

Opportunities to Help

Please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, as well as memberships and donations, are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.

Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239–262–2273 or see conservancy.org.