A threatened shorebird is resting comfortably after International Bird Rescue’s team of waterbird specialists performed a delicate surgery to repair the tiny bird’s fractured wing.
The adult male Western Snowy Plover, which weighs 33 grams, was brought in earlier this month by San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) biologists monitoring nests at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Union City, CA.
On arrival, x-rays revealed the bird had suffered a bad wing fracture, with breaks in three places. Wing (humerus) fractures generally require surgical pinning if a wild bird is to have any hope of being able to fly again.
These surgeries are challenging in tiny birds due to the minuscule size (only six inches in length). Bird Rescue’s clinical team understood the importance of trying to repair this bird’s damaged wing for hopeful return to the wild, especially as Western Snowy Plovers are a Species of Special Concern within California, and classified as Threatened status on the federal Endangered Species list.
The delicate surgical repair required intense focus, but this feisty little bird did great through anesthesia and Dr. Rebecca Duerr, Bird Rescue’s Director of Research & Veterinary Science, was able to align and pin the broken bone segments to facilitate proper healing.
Bird Rescue is happy to report that after 20 days in care, this tiny patient is doing well, running around his enclosure and eating on his own. The wing pin will be removed soon and physical
therapy will begin in earnest. Since the bird has been healing well thus far, we are guardedly optimistic about his prognosis for being able to fly again.
About Snowy Plovers
Along the San Francisco Bay there are about 200 nesting Western Snowy Plovers, including about 125 at Eden Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. The Pacific Coast breeding population extends from the State of Washington, to Baja California Sur, Mexico.
These birds build their nests on sandy beaches many of which are found in Marin and their nesting areas are easily disturbed by hikers and beach goers, especially off-leash dogs.
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