Below I have pasted the text from the Dovekie article that appeared in
Newsday. I posted this originally because it was the first mention on
NYSBIRDS of the fact that there were more than two DOVEKIES involved
in this latest event. (Prior to this only the Staten Island and the
Great River Dovekies had been mentioned.) Tom Burke now tells me there
were at least 20 DOVEKIES on Long Island that were found dead or
brought into wildlife rehabbers. I received a few comments questioning
whether this event constitutes a noteworthy Dovekie crash. Thirty
years ago perhaps this would have been a non-event, but I cannot
recall any similar Dovekie crashes in the last decade, or for perhaps
even longer back than that. While it is true that this event
represents a small number in comparison to their population, since
there are probably tens of thousands of Dovekies wintering in the 45
degree water that can be found 50-plus miles off Long Island, it is
perhaps worthwhile to ask if there is a reason for so many on-shore
records from the passage of such a moderate storm. Surely there were
much more savage storms in recent winters that did not produce any on-
shore Dovekies. In any event the Newsday article gives some idea of
what is going on. Perhaps birders will find a few more Dovekies this
weekend that we can all chase.
Hugh
BEGIN NEWSDAY ARTICLE
If you've seen a dovekie, chances are something's wrong.
The rare ocean birds are a bit larger than a human fist and look like
small penguins. They dive into the water at high speeds to hunt fish,
their wings locking together to protect them from cold and moisture.
They can go their entire lives miles from the Long Island coast
without being spotted by a person.
So when eight dovekies ended up on land in two days earlier this week,
the staff at the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons in Hampton
Bays was alarmed.
By the time people brought them into the shelter, many of the dovekies
were anemic and suffering from extreme cold. The ability of their
wings to repel water had worn off. They needed IVs and injections of
vitamins.
"They're very, very difficult birds to rehabilitate," said Virginia
Frati, the center's executive director. "Usually, we're rarely able to
save dovekies."
What's happening this year isn't immediately clear. Strong winds and
storms can blow the tiny birds off the water.
Dovekies only come to land when they're in distress. In a normal year,
the center sees one or two. They breed near the Arctic Circle and fly
south for the winter. The high number of birds this year - three other
dovekies were found earlier this month on the East End - is
unprecedented, Frati said.
Monday's winds were strong, surpassing 45 mph, with a high surf. By
that night, three birds had made it to the shelter.
The clinic's medical specialists put each bird in a small, dark box to
calm its nerves. "These particular birds you want to handle as little
as possible," said Ryan Ortiz, who was on duty when the birds arrived.
One died overnight, a result of being out of the ocean for too long.
Another four arrived Tuesday morning, and one more came in that night.
Over the next few days, the clinic's staff tried to save as many as
possible. Only two survived. The clinic released the two birds
Wednesday morning. Frati said the other six will be studied to find
out if they came inland for a reason besides the bad weather.
"They were basically the healthiest ones of the group," Ortiz said.
"You feel bad that you lost as many as you did, but you feel good that
you were at least able to help two."
Hugh
Hugh McGuinness
The Ross School
18 Goodfriend Drive
East Hampton, NY 11937
[email protected]
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