(CNS): Following its period of recovery and rehabilitation an injured Least Bittern was released back into the wild recently in a wetland area in West Bay, by Cayman WildlifeRescue. The smallest member in the heron family, this particular bird was brought to the voluntary wildlife group suffering from a ruptured air sac and a foot injury. Alison Corbett Project Manager of Cayman Wildlife Rescue said the bird’s injuries were most likely due to it being hit by a car.
“Upon receiving the bird and assessing its need we knew it was going to be a challenging case,” she added. The Least Bittern was weak, malnourished, unable to feed itself and required tube feeding. “We were very fortunate that the staff in the aviary at Boatswain’s Beach volunteered their facilities and time to rehabilitate the bittern,” Corbett noted.
Daniel Platts, an Aviculturist at Boatswain’s Beach and a CWR Volunteer said he was pleased to assist Cayman Wildlife Rescue in their efforts to help preserve Cayman’s wildlife. “This was an excellent opportunity for us to contribute to this cause,” he said. Under expert care the Least Bittern responded quickly and was deemed fit for release back into the wild and Platts then successfully released the bittern into a wetland in West Bay.
The Least Bittern is a colourful bird that is often heard before is seen. A winter visitor and a resident in the Cayman Islands the birds are usually seen in ponds and mangrove areas. They forage by stalking their prey along branches and reeds, or by clinging to clumps of vegetation above water and extending their long neck to seize small fish and insects.
Cayman Wildlife Rescue is a programme of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands tasked with the rescue of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife for release back into the wild. It is financed by donations from the public and staffed entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Alison Corbett at caymanwildliferescue@gmail.com. For more information you can also visit www.caymanwildliferescue.org.
What to do if you find injured wildlife – Call the LIME Sponsored Emergency Hotline 917-BIRD(2473) for all wildlife emergencies. Cayman Wildlife Rescue has a team of experienced and trained volunteers ready to assist in wildlife emergencies. The public are reminded to NEVER attempt to care for a wildlife animal themselves as they required special diets and veterinary care.
