ML611098209

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Spotted a lump along the pond shoreline on my drive out of the cemetery. Then it moved and started doing a slow, sasquatch-like jog along the shore in the mowed lawn. Saw the huge feet, purple showing on the front, and chunky bill and realized what it was. The young gallinule would slow jog for about several feet and then slump over and rest for a few minutes before resuming. It did not look or act like a healthy bird. I could see it was making its way toward pavement (and therefore, railroad tracks and highway) so I eventually put myself and my car in the way. It stayed put while I called Anne Swaim for rehab numbers and Sean C for assistance in capturing it. While waiting for the rehabber, I used my car as a blind to take photos. Bird is now with rehabber, who thankfully was there within the hour. *Update* The Gallinule had been doing well in rehab at Green Chimneys. On Jan 11, 2024, Kat Moon and I transported the PUGA from Green Chimneys in Brewster, NY to Busch Wildlife Refuge in Jupiter, FL by car. Rehabbers there performed extensive checks on the bird over the next several days before releasing it to the wild on Jan 19 with Palm Beach County ERM.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

320

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

4809 pixels x 3206 pixels

Original file size

10.4 MB