Frigatebird Found Stranded in Marco River

By: Joanna Fitzgerald, Director of von Arx Wildlife Hospital

A magnificent frigatebird was rescued after she was seen floundering in the Marco River. Frigatebirds are not able to take flight from the water so if they do end up in the water, they can become waterlogged and drown.

The trip to the hospital provided time for the frigatebird’s feathers to dry. A full exam given upon arrival showed the frigatebird was very strong and bitey with no apparent signs of injury or illness. Even though the bird was placed in a quiet area of the hospital she was very active and would not settle down.

After monitor the frigatebird overnight she was cleared for release; two staff members released the frigate from a high point at the south end of Marco Island.

A second instance of a bird needing “a helping hand” on Marco was brought to our attention after two construction workers realized there was an osprey in distress on the eighteenth floor of a beachside condo. The workers contacted the property manager who, in turn, called the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Wildlife Hospital Critter Couriers, Bobby and Betsy Monroe, were called to assist with the rescue.

Osprey frequently land on beachside condo balconies to eat freshly caught fish and can get trapped behind the balcony railings. When Bobby and Betsy arrived, the osprey was trying to fly but could not gain height and was repeatedly banging itself against the railing.

The Monroes contained the osprey and took the bird down to the beach to be released. While this situation resulted in a successful release, that isn’t always the case. We have seen osprey die on balconies because the condo was vacant so no one was alerted to the problem.

If you live in a high rise condo near the beach, keep this danger in mind. Mitigate the risk of an osprey being trapped or injured, consider installing screening to eliminate balcony access and have someone check your property frequently if you are out of town.

Kudos to everyone involved in this rescue, especially to the two construction workers for taking action when they saw the osprey in distress. Their quick response meant the osprey avoided serious injury and the need for care at the wildlife hospital.

Recent Releases

An anhinga, a common grackle, two eastern cottontails, a red-shouldered hawk, a Florida red-bellied turtle, a ruddy turnstone, a red knot, an ovenbird, a black-bellied plover, two double-crested cormorants, two mourning doves, five raccoons and a striped mud turtle were released this past week.

Opportunities to Help If you are returning to Naples this season, please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. There are many areas at the Conservancy that rely on volunteers, especially at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Your volunteer time is vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.