Northern Fulmar, photo by Bill Steinkamp
Two bird species in care this week at our Los Angeles center have “northern” in their names — one a seabird, the other a dabbling duck. Resident volunteer photographer Bill Steinkamp photographed both during a recent visit.
The Northern Fulmar shown above was admitted cold and weak to our colleagues at California Wildlife Center in Malibu. At transfer to our Los Angeles facility, the bird had an extremely swollen and bruised left leg with a strong possibility that part of the foot might die due to impaired circulation, and an infected tendon on the middle toe of the opposite foot.
The infected tendon was surgically removed and the left leg continues to improve. Our veterinarian remains guardedly optimistic.
Photo by Bill Steinkamp
Also in care is this female Northern Pintail. She was struck by a car near the Queen Mary in Long Beach, and was transferred to us after spending some time at a local veterinary clinic. She had an open pressure ulcer on her keel that required surgical repair by our veterinarian, and many toe abrasions that are healing well now that she is able to be housed in the water.
Images below include her keel lesion during pre-surgical prep. Barring complications, this bird’s prognosis for a full recovery is very good.
Photo by Dr. Rebecca Duerr
Check out the latest count of birds in care at International Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles center here. Thanks to Dr. Rebecca Duerr and Neil Uelman for the updates on these patients.
Photo by Bill Steinkamp