As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 28 December 2012

Stranded bird saved during holiday


By Charles McMahon
cmcmahon@seacoastonline.com
December 27, 2012 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — While many people spent their Christmas Eve running errands and picking up some last-minute presents, local resident Jack Farrell found himself attempting to return a special ocean-going bird to its natural habitat.

Farrell, who is the island manager for Star Island Corp., said the unique experience began early Christmas Eve morning, when he got a phone call from a neighbor telling him about a "strange bird" that had been found on the Seacoast.

The bird, which was identified as a Dovekie, was one of three found on the Seacoast not long after a storm struck the region late last week, Farrell said.

The Dovekie, a small, chunky, black and white bird, had been taken to the Center For Wildlife in Cape Neddick, Maine. As it turns out, the bird was the only one of three found locally to survive since it became stranded.

Because Dovekies are native to the open Atlantic Ocean, they must be in offshore waters to survive. That meant the bird, which is part of the puffin family, would need to be returned to open water before it was too late.

"They typically spend most of their time out in the open ocean," said Sonja Ahlberg, wildlife specialist with the Center for Wildlife.


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