Maritime animal rehab centres expecting an increase in injured birds following storm
Rehabilitation centres, like Nova Scotia's Hope for Wildlife, are expecting to receive many injured birds over the next couple of days after heavy rain and high winds made its way through the region.
“If you come across a bird that is acting kind of puffed up, really quiet, not wanting to move if you approach it, I would recommend trying to get it into a box if you can. If you throw a little towel over it and cover the rise, that calms them down and you can safely scoop them into a box,” says rehab expert Tessa Jackson.
Hope for Wildlife is also preparing to deal with a number of uncommon species to the area that have been blown off course by the high winds, particularly seabirds.
“There’s hardly ever a storm where we don’t get at least a dozen or so dovekies or petrels depending on the time of year,” says Hope Swinimer, founder of Hope for Wildlife.
There's also a good chance Maritimers will come across birds they don't typically see, in places they don't typically see them.
“Along with the sea birds, we often see very rare birds," said Swinimer. "Everything from white pelicans to brown pelicans. We’ve certainly had our share over the years of birds that aren’t normally here."
The opportunity to see such a rare species could attract a lot of attention, but the Nova Scotia Bird Society asks people to avoid getting too close to any bird that isn't injured.
“It’s fine to take a picture or two but giving them space, as far as distance and time too, not spending a whole lot of time with them,” says Diane Leblanc, president of the Nova Scotia Bird Society.
Swinimer says if you find a bird that seems to be in distress, it's best to ask for advice from the experts.
“You can also take a picture or a video and send it to a wildlife rehabilitator or the Nova Scotia Bird Society for identification and you get clear directions,” says Swinimer.
Swinimer adds that a lot of the birds that show up following a storm are simply exhausted and after a couple days rest are released to find their own way back home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.