Just a week before Christmas, December 17, Jennifer Pierce was going to work in the early morning on Grand Manan. It was dark and cold outside. Being a keen birder she spotted something very small in the middle of the road. She recognized it immediately as a bird. On getting closer she could see it was a small owl. Pulling her car over, she grabbed a towel, jumped out and expertly snatched the small creature off the highway and into safety. She was able to see that the bird was injured and needed help. At that time of the morning it is not easy to work out what was needed and especially knowing that the bird had to get to the mainland quickly. During the next hour or two (all while at work) she arranged for the bird to be transported to the ferry by Rebecca, to be allowed on the ferry, to be picked up in Blacks Harbour by a Department of Natural Resources and Energy staff member and be transported to Saint John where it would be seen by Dr. Cathy Adams of Fairvale Animal Hospital and then be transported to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute in Cookville, NB (north of Sackville).
At the Fairvale Animal Hospital Dr. Cathy Adams diagnosed a fractured wing and head trauma. She skillfully stabilized the wing and referred the patient to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute for nursing care and rehabilitation.
The last word from the Atlantic Wildlife Institute is that the little owl is recuperating. We are thankful to all who participated in its long journey to treatment and recovery.
This successful treatment of an injured bird shows how well we value our wildlife. It is impressive how well Jennifer Pierce handled the patient: how quickly she spotted it and realized it needed help, how expertly she gathered information and arranged transportation and help for it, how well she managed to safely package the patient and get it safely and quickly in the hands of Dr. Adams from a remote location. The ferry staff recognized the importance of a safe delivery of the patient to the mainland. DNRE staff also were able and willing to arrange pick-up and safely delivery it to Saint John. Dr. Adams was able to examine and treat the patient in a timely manner and then arranged transport to Cookville. All this for a tiny, feisty patient a mere 20 cm (8 inches) tall. Thank you to all who participated and thank you to New Brunswickers who ethically value our wildlife and ecosystem. A huge thank you to Jennifer who was key in the final recovery of this patient. Thanks for all the free rides including the ferry. Thanks for the free veterinary service, nursing care and rehabilitation. We NB birders are proud of you all!
The Fairvale Animal Hospital is located at 1 Campbell Drive, Rothesay, NB and can be reached at 506-847-7519.
The Atlantic Wildlife Institute is located at 220 Cookville Rd, Cookville, NB E4L 1Z8 and is run by Dr. Pam Novak and staff. It is a registered Canadian charity and depends on the generosity of the community for its funding. It can be reached at 506-364-1902. Please give a donation or consider becoming a volunteer. Go to atlanticwildlife.ca or access it through Facebook by searching Atlantic Wildlife Institute.
For all birders of NB, this is a wonderful Christmas present. Many thanks to all involved in enabling this little owl to continue its life history as a New Brunswick resident owl.
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