Coast Explorer Blog

Rescuing wildlife can be a touchy subject. When is it better to let nature take its course for better or worse and when is it appropriate to step in and help?

I got a call from Deborah Anderson this morning about a Black Oystercatcher nesting site we have been monitoring for the US Geological Survey. It seems the oystercatcher chick had tumbled down about 20 feet below the ledge where the pair was nesting, leaving the baby bird close to the tide line and far too close to
people and dogs during low tide. Deborah called the North Coast Wildlife Rehab Center and left a message, while I checked in with Elise Elliott-Smith from USGS for her recommendations. She advised that if the chick was one or two weeks old, they were capable of climbing to a higher location.

The parent oystercatcher looks down at its chick (bottom left corner) that tumbled down some 20 feet from its nesting ledge above.

When I arrived at the nesting site at Chapman Point, the parent was keeping close to its small chick despite the close access the low tide made possible for beach goers and dogs. Not long after I arrived, Mark and Kristin Albrecht, volunteers with the Rehab Center arrived to assess the scene. It was clear that this chick was too young to climb higher, despite urgings from a parent, so Mark and Kristin located a safe ledge nearby to relocate the chick.

Mark began scaling the rock face to reach the chick, much to the distress of the parent who stayed to protect its young until Mark was within reach. Mark carefully scooped up the baby bird and handed it off to Kristin at the base of the rock. The chick was clearly only days old and still had its eyes shut. Kristin held the ball of gray and black fluff as Mark climbed down and then scaled the location chosen nearby to relocate the baby bird.

The handoff

It was a dicey climb to reach the location, but when he was within arm’s reach, Kristin handed him the chick and he placed it on a much higher, safer and protected ledge. Both oystercatcher parents kept a close eye on what was going on, flying by and watching from a nearby perches. As Mark slowly retreated from the rock, one of the parents moved in quickly and, reunited with the chick, immediately returning to cover its young.

A distraught parent

Mark places the chick in its new, safer location.

As the chick and one parent were safely in their new spot, the other parent kept a close eye on the small group of people who watched the rescue and continued to recheck both the original nest and the spot where the chick was removed.
The relocation looked to be a complete success. The site will continue to be monitored with reports submitted to the USGS. The Black Oystercatcher is listed as a “species of concern” by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Their nesting sites, ledges on near shore rocks, are often under pressure from beach goers getting too close, especially at low tides. Once flushed from their nesting sites, other predators swoop in for an easy meal. Several other nearby nesting sites already failed this year, including one at Haystack Rock and Ecola Point.

As soon as the chick was placed in the new location and Mark retreated from the ledge, the parents quickly moved in to take care of their young.

All offshore and near shore rocks on the Oregon Coast are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and climbing is not permitted. Visitors should keep a safe distance to avoid disturbing nesting sites.

In a majority of cases, it is advisable for the public to call local officials if they believe wildlife are in need of assistance, rather than taking action themselves. Local authorities know the resources to call to make critical decisions about what steps should be taken to assist wildlife.

For more on oystercatchers, see our article in the current issue of Coast Explorer at: http://www.coastexplorermagazine.com/display.php?id=79

UPDATE (7/24/09) Deborah has continued to monitor the site. The birds appeared to be doing well, both Thursday evening and Friday morning. I will check the site today.

UPDATE (7/26/09) Deborah checked the site yesterday (Saturday) and things still looked good. I checked the site today (Sunday) at low tide and although the parents were distressed and left the nest site when dogs were running and splashing in the water below them, they returned and I was able to see the chick’s head popping up occasionally in the same position that it was placed during the rescue. Today was the last of the minus tides, so hopefully the birds can relax a little without so much activity nearby.