Birdie’s health improves

birdie_0By Bobbey White
On December 18th at approximately 3:30 AM, Birdie, a juvenile Bottlenose Dolphin, was found stranded on the Bolivar Peninsula. She was discovered by Sheriff Falcon near the bird sanctuary, hence the name Birdie. With the help of Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN), he quickly took steps to stabilize Birdie, making it possible for her to endure the stressful ferry ride to the TMMSN facility in Galveston. Upon reaching the facility, many hours after her stranding, she began to swim completely on her own! What a joy for all! Yes! There was cause for hope for rehabilitation for this beautiful young dolphin!

(Stranded Dolphin Rescued, CrystalBeachLocalNews.com, Dec 23, 2014)

In the past few weeks, I have had the honor of helping care for Birdie. And what a pleasure it has been to watch her health improve each week! She continues to struggle with lung lesions, gastric ulcers and parasites, nevertheless, her sassy attitude continues to serve her well in her fight for her life!

Birdie remains on a diet of “tossed” fish. However, it appears as if she is now starting to “look” for more food in the area of the last tossed fish!! On my shift last week, several small fish were placed in a floating frisbee! Birdie gently swished her tail, tipped the frisbee and gobbled up her snack!! No problem with that!! She also frequently plays with her toys: pool noodles, floating brushes, different size balls, a hoop and her beloved rope. Occasionally, she slaps her beautiful tail fluke, not sure what she is telling us, but we all think it’s a big old thank you!!

birdie_1Birdie requires fish, medication and upkeep on the rehabilitation facility to continue her amazing journey toward good health. Many volunteers supply countless round the clock hours, not only to Birdie, but to the facility itself. TMMSN is fully operated by grants and donations. If you wish to help support Birdie, and other future stranded mammals, your donation will be greatly appreciated. You may contact me or TMMSN. Also, TMMSN is sponsoring a Land and Sand Fun Run on March 28, 2015. There will be a 5k & 10K run and a 1 K kids Dolphin’s Dash! This will be followed by a ten booth interactive Dolphin Discovery Zone. Please visit: www.landandsandrun.com for more information.

I look forward to my next shift on Tuesday caring for Birdie in whatever capacity is needed. She is truly amazing, a fighter; a true “representation” of the Bolivar Peninsula!


The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) is a non-profit organization created in 1980 to further the understanding and conservation of marine mammals through rescue and rehabilitation, research and education. The TMMSN consists of six regions along the Texas coast, which provide a coordinated response to all marine mammal strandings along the Texas coastline.

The TMMSN receives no state funding and receives only limited institutional support in the form of grants. TMMSN RELIES on the donations of time and funds from generous supporters to continue it’s mission dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education.
http://www.tmmsn.org/

(This article published 1/26/2015)

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