April 6, 2007 – With no St. John organization responsible for treating injured or sick birds, resident Phyllis Benton has stepped in to fill the gap. And she's organized a two-day training class to help others learn the skills necessary to care for our ailing feathered friends.
"We need some sort of safety net here," she said, adding that the class will provide the basics, as well as provide information on where to go for further help when needed.
Topics include avian identification and natural history, rescue techniques and safety considerations, avian and mammal physical examination and assessment, first aid, fluid therapy and nutritional needs, release criteria, public education, and more.
Benton said that, so far, 15 people, many from federal and local agencies that deal with wildlife, have signed up for the class, but she says there is room for several more.
She said she hopes to develop a group of people who can be called upon when someone finds an injured or sick bird.
Benton has lined up two noted wildlife rehabilitators to teach the course: Wendy Fox and Margaret "Noni" Beck.
Fox is the executive director of the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Miami and the president-elect of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
The Tallahassee, Fla.-based Beck founded the Goose Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. She holds state and federal rehabilitation and education permits and serves as vice president of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
Benton said that Beck recently gained some fame for helping a duck that had been shot by a hunter. The hunter thought the duck was dead when he stashed it in his refrigerator to await cleaning. When his wife opened the refrigerator door two days later the duck raised its head. The duck died twice during an operation to fix its wing, but came back to life. The duck, known as Perky the Lucky Duck, now lives at the Goose Creek sanctuary.
Benton said that the class is a shoestring operation, with Beck and Fox staying at her house and the Audubon Society of the Virgin Islands picking up the tab for the airfare.
Benton said that rehabilitators must know when to step in and when not to provide help. And she said that in many instances, rehabilitators need only to provide a safe place for the birds to heal themselves.
She said she first got interested in the subject when a feral chicken took sick in her yard. The chicken died, but Benton was hooked.
Next came care of a baby scaly-naped pigeon whose mother was killed. Benton said she finally found a woman in California who told her what to do.
To sign up for the class, call Benton at 714-2415 or email her.
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