Editor’s Note: The Green Heron chick is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
While baby birds are often left alone as the parents forage, there are some situations where intervention is necessary. In this instance, a Green Heron chick (patient #25-2326) was found soaked and cold in a backyard with no parents in sight. The bird also had visible scabs, which often indicate that an animal needs help.
The rescuer brought the nestling into CROW for a complete medical examination. Most concerning was the heron’s low body temperature and scabbed wounds, which looked like punctures from a predator’s teeth. Bite wounds can lead to serious infections, as the mouth is home to high concentrations of bacteria.
The heron was started on antibiotics and pain medication and housed in a cozy incubator. CROW’s team monitored the heron’s condition and began feeding it multiple times a day. All baby birds in CROW’s care require regular, frequent feeds, as their wild parents spend hours foraging or hunting for their family.
After 5 days in care, CROW’s veterinary team determined that the wounds were fully healed. Antibiotics were discontinued, and the patient moved to a larger kennel. Like all baby birds, this heron needs time and attentive care to fill out its flight feathers, gain strength, and practice natural behaviors. Green Herons fledge around one month after hatching, so this heron still has some growing to do but is progressing nicely.
In the wild, Green Herons are a little harder to spot than other herons, as they often stay in low vegetation by the water’s edge. They use their dagger-like bill to spear fish and have even been observed to use insects or sticks to lure their prey closer. The North American Breeding Bird Survey reports a 51 percent decline in Green Heron populations since 1966, likely due to habitat loss as wetlands are drained for development. Despite this decline, the Green Heron remains federally listed as a “Least Concern Species” as populations are widespread across North America.
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