Sleek Pelagic Cormorant Returns To Full Health

The following story about a pelagic cormorant was submitted by Wildlife Rescue Association of British Columbia.

On August 29th, 2021, a juvenile pelagic cormorant was found in Boundary Bay Regional Park surrounded by people and dogs. A concerned Good Samaritan brought the frightened young bird to the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC.

The initial intake exam showed the bird was thin with a reduced body condition, lethargic, and dehydrated. Luckily, no major injuries were found, aside from the bird not acting like a normal feisty cormorant. Our wildlife technicians started fluid therapy and tube feeding right away to combat the dehydration and lethargy.

EmerAid IC Piscivore is the go-to initial tube feed for weak and dehydrated piscivorous birds. After the first feed of EmerAid the cormorant was already starting to perk up and become feistier. After a day and a half of four tube feeds a day of EmerAid, the cormorant was able to take solid food in the form of a small-sized herring hand fed to it.

Once the cormorant could take full, medium-sized herring, it was moved into a larger enclosure with pool access, further increasing its strength and removing the need for further tube feedings. After being moved to a larger enclosure the bird showed interest in eating on its own and played with the food left in the enclosure. But it still required daily hand feedings.

The cormorant became more and more difficult to catch and feistier when trying to feed, which showed great progress from intake. After about 12 days in care, the fledging started flying and diving into the pool. After some flight progression, the cormorant was moved into our biggest pool where it started diving like a pro!

After 2.5 weeks in care, the cormorant was ready for release after showing how well it could dive and fly and how feisty it was toward humans.