Patient in Focus

Patient of the week: Common Poorwill

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Photo by Cheryl Reynolds This eccentric new patient is a Common Poorwill, a species of nightjar and one of the few birds in the world known to undergo a hibernation-like state called torpor. They are nocturnal and forage through the night sky for moths and other insects. This patient was recently transported to our San Francisco … Read more

Patient of the week: Long-billed Dowitcher

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Photo by Isabel Luevano If you’re ever on the beach in California, chances are it won’t be too difficult to spot a Long-billed Dowitcher busy at work, searching for prey using its distinctive long bill to probe wet sand and sediment in a “sewing machine” motion. This Long-billed Dowitcher was recently transferred to us from … Read more

Patient of the week: Virginia Rail

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Photo by Bill Steinkamp This week, both our wildlife centers in California have cared for Virginia Rails, reclusive birds found in freshwater marshes. This rail was found soaked and cold on Dockweiler Beach, not far from Los Angeles International Airport, by our friend and partner Peter Wallerstein of Marine Animal Rescue. Rehabilitation technician Kelly Berry … Read more

Patient of the week: Brown Booby

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Photo by Kylie Clatterbuck Brown Boobies are rare visitors to Southern California; this is only the second such patient we’ve received over the past year. The juvenile Brown Booby you see above was found at Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles and rescued by our friend Peter Wallerstein with Marine Animal Rescue. Upon intake our team … Read more

Patient of the week: Ashy Storm Petrel

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Storm Petrels belong to the order Procellariiformes, which includes such seabirds as fulmars and albatrosses. One of six storm petrel species found off the West Coast, the Ashy Storm Petrel is a species of special concern in California (the IUCN lists them as endangered). Ashy Storm Petrels are infrequent patients at our California wildlife centers. The … Read more

Patient of the week: White-faced Ibis

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Photo by Cheryl Reynolds This juvenile White-faced Ibis was found near Natomas, CA with a broken wing and brought to an animal shelter on July 27 before transfer to our San Francisco Bay center. The bird has a fractured radius and ulna; our veterinarian, Dr. Rebecca Duerr, has pinned the injury, and the ibis is … Read more

Patient of the week: Red-necked Phalarope

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Photo by Kelly Berry This Red-necked Phalarope in breeding plumage was found a week ago on Terminal Island, CA walking around and, according to its rescuer, very easy to catch. Upon an intake exam at our Los Angeles center, the bird was found to be thin with a small wound on its chest, and was … Read more