Editor’s Note: The ruddy turnstone 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.
CROW is treating a ruddy turnstone (patient 25-3595) for suspected red tide toxicosis. Like many red tide victims, this shorebird was found not moving on the beach. Based on the severity of its condition, CROW’s veterinarians were unsure whether the turnstone would be able to recover despite treatment.
The neurotoxin produced by red tide algae (K. brevis) depresses the nervous system, potentially interfering with heart rate and respiratory rate. In other words, high concentrations of the toxin are lethal if no treatment is provided.
However, against all odds, the turnstone has made a remarkable recovery thanks to the combined efforts of CROW’s staff. It responded very well to treatments, including intravenous lipid emulsion (IVLE) to combat the brevotoxin, rest in an oxygen incubator, and administration of supplementary fluids.
Over the course of a few days, it went from flightless to alert, energetic, and hungry!
Ruddy turnstones get their name from their foraging technique; they hunt for insects and crustaceans by flipping over rocks with their beaks. Their beaks are slightly upturned, allowing them to get better leverage and pry into shells.
CROW’s staff will leave food under small shells and stones for turnstone patients to discover as we prepare them for release.
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