Seabird blown ashore, rescued

Mangaluru: A masked booby, a large seabird, that was blown ashore, is being treated at the Reef Watch Marine Conservation Centre in Kundapur.
Dr Shantanu Kalambi, veterinarian, Reef Watch Marine Conservation, said the bird was blown ashore near Udupi and suffered some mild muscle damage in its wings, possibly due to gales. “Volunteers found the bird on Monday and brought her to the centre. After taking some time to adjust, she is responding well to treatment, and has begun eating. The forest department has been informed and the bird will be released in a day or two,” he said.
Masked boobies are found across most tropical oceans, but are occasional vagrants to the western coast of India. “There have been reports of at least five of them being washed ashore in various parts of India, including Mumbai and Kerala, in the recent past,” said Dr Shantanu.
Providing details about the bird, he said that the bird is a little under three feet in length, and its wingspan is a little over five feet.
Range Forest Officer Prabhakar Kulal said the bird is expected to be released on Friday, depending on its health.