Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter

Mission Statement

The Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter cares for injured or orphaned birds. We provide minimum medical care, safety from predators, food and shelter from the elements. When an animal is able to care for itself, it is released to the wild. We do not keep nonreleasable animals nor use heroic methods to sustain the quality of their life. However, the Shelter does make every effort to rehabilitate an endangered species and every animal brought here is treated with respect and caring.

Ah Spring!

The migrants are back. These two arrived a bit early and had some frostbite issues but recovered quickly. They are an obviously devoted mated pair....stayed within 2 feet of each other all the time. Released on Sunday after a week of antibiotics, they actually 'adopted' a juvenile from last year. that followed them around. Photo of the pair by Janet Kurz, photo of the release by Keith Green.

Newest OWL

Only slightly injured, this gorgeous owl was found by park rangers near Whiteville with a bruised wing. After the swelling and soreness goes away, he'll be ready to return to his home area.

Frostbite 2013

HERE THEY COME!!
The first frostbite victims of the new year are starting to arrive.
Usually young, usually fed by humans so they didn't learn to go fishing, our juvenile brown pelicans approach humans for a handout, stay out of the water and get frostbitten pouches and feet. Without the feathers of true winter residents, they experience sore feet so they can't walk well and sore mouths so they don't eat well. This youngster was brought to the shelter by "almost 15" year old Dillon Bernheisel. The pelican, named Tom by his rescuer, is shown getting his mouth washed out with soap (no, he wasn't using bad language.) The front of his lower jaw is clearly discolored with frostbite. He also has a bacterial infection needing antibiotics. Named TOM by his rescuer, he has a good prognosis but it might take a couple of months before he's able to return to the wild.
UPDATE!! Feb 23,,Tom has a completely stitched lower jaw and his feet are still not able to perch or paddle. Another week will tell the final story. Only half of his toes are viable at this time.

Razorbills!

This little guy looks like a tiny penguin! Ornithologists are calling their sudden appearance here an "IRRUPTION" of Razorbills. Adult birds of this species have white markings on their heads and bills. This one is just a baby and so skinny that he didn't survive. They are native to the Artic Circle and migrate south each winter. Most don't go farther than Virginia but this year they have even been found in the Gulf of Mexico! We had 2 show up barely alive and 2 were dead before they arrived.

Tis the season

Every year about this time we see more raptors. This red tailed hawk is sharing a room with Scarlet the education hawk until she is ready to return to the wild. Her wing was fractured but is healing nicely. It's interesting to see them in the same poses at the same time.

Tim the Ring Bearer

A man and his girlfriend of 7 years got engaged here at the Sea Biscuit in September. My Peebles coworker Dave Kimmer, arranged with me to have Tim the pelican carry, around his neck, a ring box.
The couple were visitors here twice in the past. She was particularly fond of the pelican. So, after admiring the various other birds, she went to give Tim a hug. I said "We knew you were coming so Tim has a little gift for you". She opened the box and her husband to be dropped to one knee and said "Tim and I want to know if you'll marry me"
After a few astonished moments and hugs and tears, he said "I didn't hear a yes"
Of course she loudly and enthusiastically said "YES!"
We LOVE happy endings

Hamptons Wild Ride

This young male pelican was banded last July near Cape Hatteras. But Hurricane Sandy took him way north of his migration path. He landed near the tip of Long Island, NY, and got himself entangled in fishing gear. The nice folks at Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons took him in, fixed his injuries and sent him via caring family members to Raleigh, NC. Then "Hampton" was picked up and transported by volunteer Tom Shilson to the Sea Biscuit. Another week or so in rehab and he should be released even further south with a couple of other delayed migrating pelicans.

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Nesting Shorebirds Help

Oak Island and South

Shorebird Surveys

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is working with the USFWS and Manomet Bird Observatory to conduct shorebird surveys in the months of March and April. Since neither Audubon nor the WRC has staff stationed in the southern part of the state (Oak Island and south) getting coverage in those areas is challenging. If local birders are interested in conducting 3 high-tide surveys during those months, we can help get an area assigned to you. The same person or group does not have to do each survey but the same area would need to be covered. Data sheets will be provided. Surveyors must be able to ID shorebirds and have a scope.

Nesting Bird Monitoring

Although there is not much nesting on these beaches, there may be some at the inlets. For example, John Ennis found a small colony at the west end of Oak Island (Lockwoods Folly Inlet). If you visit these beaches during the spring and summer and would like to contribute your observations, either on a one-time basis or with recurring visits, the information will be helpful on several fronts. The WRC might be able to post nesting areas, if any are found, and Audubon and the WRC are continuing oystercatcher monitoring. Even if you can report there were no nesting birds, that information is helpful. Surveyors must be able to identify beach-nesting birds. A scope is helpful but not necessary.

Thanks again for reading!
Lindsay

Lindsay Addison
Coastal Biologist
Audubon North Carolina
7741 Market Street, Unit D
Wilmington, NC, 28411-9444
Tel: (910) 686-7527
Fax: (910) 686-7587

2012 REVIEW

Our volunteer Janet Kurz prepared a snapshot of the species and numbers of birds in care last year.
Most numerous were 36 pelicans, 36 common loons, 6 gannets and 4 red throated loons in the "big waterbird" category. We had at least 27 gulls and lots of terns, rails and herons.
Raptors included 23 OWLS, with 10 great horned owls, 8 barred owls and 5 screech owls. The 23 impressive HAWKS included 10 red tailed and 3 ospreys. The rest of the 337 incoming wounded were woodpeckers, wrens, doves and other little songbirds. 70 species were represented. 43% were successfully released! Of the ones not released, 40 were humanely euthanized due to horrendous injuries, 9 are still in care and some were transferred to educational facilities.

HURRICANE PREPARATIONS

Since the Sea Biscuit Shelter is perilously close to the Atlantic Ocean, many folks express concern when a storm comes by. Our criteria for evacuation include the wind direction and velocity. Over 50 mph, the animals are all brought inside. If the predictions are over 70 mph, we evacuate. The clinic is at sea level and flooding can also be a factor. All electrical equipment can be elevated with the exception of the freezers. With over 1000 lbs of fish, they cannot be "lifted" off the floor!
We are always on the lookout for a temporary shelter about 20 miles inland in the event of a Category 1 or higher storm.