The following story about red knot birds was shared with us by Save Our Seabirds in Florida.
These six red knot birds presented to Save Our Seabirds between December 17 to 22, 2023. All of them had weakness of the hind legs and were struggling to stand. While the exact cause is unknown, the top suspects were algal bloom toxicity and bacterial infection.
All six of the red knots (a type of sandpiper) received fluid support and EmerAid IC Piscivore nutritional support for the first three to five days of hospitalization. They also received medications as needed for deworming and/or immune system support.
When they were strong enough to stand, they began eating on their own and were switched to a solid diet. While they were initially hospitalized in separate enclosures, they were placed together into groups once they were strong enough to stand and eat.
Currently, four of the six are in the reconditioning phase in our outdoor enclosures and two are still gaining weight in the hospital. We look forward to releasing these little survivors in 2024.