It’s not uncommon to see birds wandering around the city, but this time, a Good Samaritan noticed something unusual in Hewlett Harbor, New York. He saw a tiny creature with wings struggling on the other side of the road and knew he had to help. Luckily, a security officer was nearby, and the kind-hearted man quickly called for assistance.
An Unexpected Discovery
The security officer found the situation odd because the animal wasn’t moving. At first, he thought it was a duckling. To be cautious, he covered it with a cardboard box and contacted a local wildlife rescuer.
Both the Good Samaritan and the officer were in for a surprise when the rescuer arrived.
It Wasn’t A Duckling…
When Karenlynn Stracher, a well-known wildlife rehabilitator in New York, arrived at the scene, she was puzzled by what the officer had told her.
“The officer said he found an injured duckling,” Stracher told The Dodo. “I mentioned that it was unusual to see a duckling this time of year.”
Karenlynn decided to see for herself. She carefully lifted the box and finally saw the little animal inside.
A Surprising Identification
To Karenlynn’s surprise, it wasn’t a duckling but a pied-billed grebe. She explained that it was uncommon to see grebes in that part of the country.
“They’re not common here. They’re more often found on the West Coast,” Stracher told the officer in a video. “But sometimes, they do end up here.”
Regardless, Karenlynn placed the grebe in a carrier, ensuring the little bird was safe.
The Poor Thing Had A Specific Problem
Despite knowing that grebes could occasionally be found in the area, Karenlynn was curious why this one wasn’t in the water. These birds typically inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries, yet this pied-billed grebe was found on dry land.
Karenlynn took the bird home to examine her. She was relieved to see no obvious signs of injury. Although the bird was in an unfamiliar environment, she remained calm.
“She was nervous but not panicking or struggling,” Stracher said.
Karenlynn suspected one potential problem. To confirm, she filled a tub with water and placed the grebe in it.
Source: @wildliferehab_kl
Confirming the Diagnosis
As Karenlynn feared, the test confirmed her suspicion, which she shared in a video on her TikTok profile.
“It’s clear her feathers are getting wet,” Stracher explained in the video. “Her waterproofing isn’t what it should be.”
Waterproofing is crucial for pied-billed grebes, who spend most of their lives in the water. The bird likely hadn’t waterproofed due to parasites, malnutrition, gland issues, stress, or another common cause.
As an experienced wildlife rehabilitator, Karenlynn knew the seriousness of the situation and immediately took action.
Seeking Expert Help
Unfortunately, this problem was beyond Karenlynn’s capabilities. However, she had connections in her field and reached out to experts at Sweetbriar Nature Center.
She brought the pied-billed grebe to the center, where specialists would work to determine the exact cause of her inability to waterproof. Once they identified and resolved the issue, the grebe would be released back into her natural habitat.
“We expect she will be fully releasable by spring,” Stracher said.
A Hopeful Future
Despite the challenges this little bird faced, the right people were in the right place to help her. With the expertise of the Sweetbriar Nature Center, there is hope for a happy ending to this story.
In the end, this tiny pied-billed grebe will hopefully return to where she belongs, thanks to the efforts of compassionate and dedicated individuals.
