Ruddy Turnstone

A ruddy turnstone was found at Shell Island Beach Club on Sanibel Island, Florida. Finders described the bird as “lying on the beach, unable to move” and called the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) for assistance. It was emaciated and weighed a mere 70 grams. On admit, the patient was too weak to move its head, wings, or legs, but showed that it had the ability to withdraw its legs if stimulated.

Ultimately, the diagnosis for this bird was red tide toxicity caused by brevetoxins in the waters surrounding South Florida. Brevetoxins are neurotoxins, which caused the ruddy turnstone to become incapable of flying or hunting, causing the bird to become so weak that it could not move. EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore was used to help supplement this patient until its weight began to increase, and the patient began eating on its own. Once eating, the patient no longer needed a liquid diet, but EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore was essential for the first few days to keep the patient alive.

Over the next two weeks of care, it began flying and gaining weight rapidly. The patient was released weighing 78 grams on Sanibel Island at the Rabbit Road beach with another ruddy turnstone patient.