SBWCN
By the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
Patient #4163 of 2021: Bonaparte’s gull
Status: Still in Care
This Bonaparte’s gull was found in Carpinteria on New Year’s Eve of 2021. Upon its rescue, it was brought to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and was found to have a broken wing and open wound. After being examined by the team, patient #4163 had to undergo surgery performed by Dr. Avery Berkowitz, SBWCN’s veterinarian, which included placing pins to stabilize two broken bones, the radius and the ulna. Once the surgery was complete, the team administered the bird medicine, bandages, and time to rest as the healing process was set in motion.
Thanks to this successful surgery, the bird’s fractures and wound healed properly. After two weeks the radial pin was removed, and after three weeks the ulnar pin was removed. The gull has spent over a month at the center and has already successfully started flying again. The Bonaparte’s gull will be closely monitored in the large seabird aviary until it’s fully rehabilitated and ready for release.
Bonaparte’s gull facts:
- Nonbreeding adult Bonaparte’s gulls are primarily white and gray with a black spot behind the eye and pink legs.
- Breeding adults are white and gray with black heads and pink legs.
- Throughout the breeding season, their diet is primarily aerial insects.
- In the nonbreeding season, they feed on fish in large flocks.
- During migration and winter months, Bonaparte’s gulls can be found across most of North America along coastlines, lakes, ponds, and pretty much any aquatic environment.
- They are the only gull species that regularly nest in trees! They breed in boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1988. For over 30 years, SBWCN has served to rescue, rehabilitate, and return to the wild sick, injured, orphaned, and oil-impaired wildlife in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and to educate the public about living in harmony with wildlife. The SBWCN Helpline is available everyday from 9 AM–5 PM for animal emergencies and wildlife advice: (805) 681-1080. Donations in support of this work can be made at www.sbwcn.org/donate.
