Black Crowned Night Heron Found Entangled in Fishing Line on Nantucket Treated at Wild Care and Returned Home to "his Tree" for Release

By Jennifer Taylor

Animal Care Coordinator



On August 1st the heron was ferried across to Nantucket with a staff member. The Hy-Line people were very accommodating and the passengers were quite curious about what was in the black and yellow box with duct tape straps.

The Nantucket Animal Rescue people- Blair and Rain- met us and drove to the exact point where the bird was found. This release was a real morale booster for the rescue organization. Many of the animals they ferry to the mainland do not make it back to the island. Wild Care made this effort because of the brood patch that was on this bird when it was found. It had a family to go back to. At the release site Dave the actual person who called the rescue team when he saw the bird was there to greet us. He said he had been seeing the other adult and a juvenile for the last couple of weeks in this same area. Dave guided us across a marshy place to a spot right by a favorite tree he would see the heron couple roost in the spring. On the entire trip from Wild Care to the release site not one sound was heard from inside the heron’s container. With a bit of instruction from us Dave opened the container. The heron jumped out immediately and flew straight up and around and then landed right inside that tree! What a glorious sight. Home at last!

More about Black Crowned Night Herons

Black-crowned Nigh Heron

while a patient at Wild Care

Sixteen Hungry Young Herring Gulls Currently Being Cared For at Wild Care

Wild Care recently welcomed eleven baby Herring Gulls that had been rescued after falling from rooftop nests in Gloucester. A well-intentioned person scooped up the young gulls but lacked access to a licensed rehabilitator nearby. The gulls remained in her van under poor conditions until she was able to find someone to provide care.

We were expecting to receive five gulls — and received ELEVEN! Sadly, two of the young birds had to be humanely euthanized due to their injuries.

These nine gulls combined with seven juvenile gulls already in our care (a total of 16 gulls!) are growing like weeds and are quite literally eating us out of house and home. They are going through an entire tub of food every single day!

We are incredibly grateful to Nauset Fish and Lobster Pool in Orleans, which has been generously providing us with fish scraps, fish racks, broken clams, and other nutritious seafood to help keep these rapidly growing youngsters fed. Their support is making an enormous difference. (Thank you Tessa and Crew!) Raising sixteen growing Herring Gulls at once requires a tremendous amount of food, time, cleaning, and care — but watching them grow stronger every day makes it all worthwhile.

When in doubt, check Mass.gov's "Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator."

Please help us to raise funds for splash pools, eggs and other supplies for our young gulls.

Video above - Young Herring Gulls enjoying enrichment play in splash pad.

Oscar the Osprey Chick Eating and Leaving the Nest After Some Worry.

Watch the Live Cam in the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recently, the Osprey Project of Falmouth asked us to intervene with a nest in Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve that is closely monitored by a Live Cam. The adults were delivering food sparingly, and the chicks were beginning to fail - a possible indication of a lack of choice food sources. We answered the call, but just as we all prepared to intervene, the male Osprey miraculously began feeding the remaining chick named "Oscar," more regularly. We receive daily feeding updates from Glenn Davis, Co-President of Friends of WBNERR. Oscar has been leaving the nest more regularly and looks strong. A true survival story...

READ the full story as featured in the Cape Cod Times

WATCH the Live Cam - Osprey Nest at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Photo courtesy of Glenn Davis/Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge

Cape Cod's Fishing Community Help Feed Wild Care Patients

FISH - IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER if you are an Osprey. Thank you to our friends Tom and Lynn Brennan, Sue and Dave Michaud, and George and Peg Graneiro Nauset Marine East for bringing us a regular supply of fresh Mackerel for our two Osprey patents. Thank you also to Volunteer Deacon Crocker for bringing us live fish and Tony Pike for filleting donated Striped Bass for our patients whenever it comes in.

Purchasing fresh fish in the volume needed during the summer months would be an exorbitant cost. We are grateful for the thoughtfulness and support of this amazing community!

Thank you to Alex Pérez for picking up fish for us in Kingston Rhode Island, and Nauset Fish and Lobster Pool for giving us daily fish scraps!

Video - Adult Black-backed Gull who was rescued in front of Nauset Fish and Lobster Pool, enjoying all the scraps!

Osprey are often referred to as Fish Hawks due to their mostly fish diet. READ more here

Wild Care’s Accessibility Ramp Sponsored in Loving Memory of Marla S. Perkel and Her Compassion for Turtles

We are so grateful to Diana and Rachel Perkel and Shawn Becker for sponsoring our accessibility ramp in loving memory of Marla S. Perkel, mother of Diana and Rachel.

Diana said “Choosing an Eastern Box turtle as a symbol for the memorial placard felt especially meaningful, as my mom would rescue them from roads in upstate NY and let us as little kids learn about compassion and responsibility. The placard's gentle reminder of her selflessness brings me joy. Though she's SORELY missed, her impact endures. Wild Care's dedication to healing and releasing wildlife inspires hope and renewal.”

Bird Watchers General Store's "No Bag Challenge" Donates $400 to Wild Care

Thank you to Mike O'Connor at Bird Watcher's General Store for donating $400 to Wild Care from their "No Bag Challenge". When you shop at Bird Watcher's and don't use a paper bag, Mike donates $.25 to Wild Care. It all adds up and we are grateful! Thank you Mike. 

If you love birds, stop by Bird Watcher's General Store in Orleans. Even if you are not a bird lover, we guarantee they have something there for you!