Shorebird rescued and released at Bunche Beach in Lee County

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. said a flightless Wilson’s plover was discovered at Bunche Beach. The bird was treated and released back into the wild in the same place it was found.

CROW said Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s shorebird team and partners from Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge found the bird and took it to CROW for care.

CROW said while the exact cause of the plover’s condition remains unknown, the clinical signs, including loss of coordination, extreme weakness, dehydration, and partial limb paralysis, were most consistent with an underlying unknown toxicosis or a nutritional imbalance. The plover was started on supportive care, including fluid therapy, assisted feedings, and close monitoring.

The bird was well again within a few weeks. The team at SCCF was able to release the bird back to the area where it was found, just in time for the start of nesting season.

CROW added that Wilson’s plovers are small, coastal shorebirds found along Florida’s beaches. Despite facing ongoing habitat loss and population decline, they are not currently listed as threatened or endangered. Their nests are small and well-camouflaged in the sand, making them easy to overlook.

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