LeAnne Guzzwell - NL Wildlife Rehabber & Researcher

04/23/2023

08/11/2021

DID YOU KNOW, there’s NO such thing as a SEAGULL!

The Genus Larus includes many gulls such as:

Pacific gull
Belcher’s gull
Olrog’s gull
Black-tailed gull
Heermann’s gull
Mew gull
Ring-billed gull
California gull
Great black-backed gull
Kelp gull
Cape gull
Glaucous-winged gull
Western gull
Yellow-footed gull
Glaucous gull
Iceland gull
Thayer’s gull
European herring gull
American herring gull
Caspian gull
Yellow-legged gull
East Siberian herring gull
Armenian gull
Slaty-backed gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Heuglin’s gull

Did you see “Sea gull” in that list? Nope!

*photo credit goes to Mia McPherson*

07/26/2021

It’s time to do better, City of Ottawa!

The Ring-billed Gull suspended motionless in mid-air is not a photographic trick. It's what happens when you use nearly invisible monofilament lines to "deter" birds. They can't see the obstacles, crash into them, then get hopelessly twisted up as they struggle to free themselves, even as the lines pull tighter and tighter.

Shocking as this image may be, it's much more palatable than what we usually encounter when called to rescue a bird tangled in the lines installed over Mooney's Bay and Britannia Beach. Unlike most, this bird was within easy reach and we were able to cut it down very quickly, before it broke a wing or got strangled in its struggle to free itself. It did not need to be euthanized, and may even recover.

A big thank you to Zeina Issa and her friend (sorry, we didn't catch your name) for taking this photo and, more importantly, for calling Safe Wings for help early on Saturday morning.

We hope the City of Ottawa finds a more humane solution very soon.

07/26/2021

Just a friendly reminder NOT to feed birds in parking lots. Always feed them in a safe area, away from cars. When I pulled into Bowring Park yesterday there were a number of ducks, ducklings and pigeons in the parking lot and in the parking spaces. This is a dangerous place for them to hang out, especially since there are some cruel people out there who intentionally try and hit them. I used seed to lure them onto the grass and then back over by the pond. They were quite hungry. I guess with the cooler and rainy weather we’ve been having people haven’t been feeding them as often.

07/24/2021

07/10/2021

It was 6 years ago today that I passed the Wildlife Rehabilitation exam with the The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 🐦

07/09/2021

🥰

07/08/2021

*edit* more photos of this duck have been posted that more clearly show this is not in fact an ‘extra’ limb.

There are several reasons this can happen, from being a conjoined twin (very rare in birds), a genetic mutation, or pollution. When this happens in a captive species, the extra limb is usually surgically removed so it isn’t a hinderance. This little duck would have a better chance of survival in captivity than in the wild and shouldn’t be allowed to reproduce in case it is a genetic issue.

07/07/2021

“Chris Harley, a marine biologist at the University of British Columbia, took his first steps on to Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach in late June and smelled death. Carpeting the sea rocks were tens of thousands of mussels, clams, sea stars and snails, emitting a putrid odour that hung thick in the heat.”

Sad situation on the west coast.

A marine biologist at the University of British Columbia estimates that last week's record-breaking heat wave in B.C. may have killed more than one billion intertidal animals living along the Salish Sea coastline.

07/06/2021

Look who’s on his feet and looking perky today!

07/06/2021

This young pigeon was found abandoned downtown. A kind person wrapped the pigeon in a towel until I was able to pick him/her up.

Pigeons are considered a domesticated species and therefore are not protected. This little one must have fallen from its nest and was sitting all alone on the sidewalk, huddled into a building. There was no sign of the nest or parent birds.

06/30/2021

I just applied to renew my certification in Wildlife Rehabilitation with the IWRC 🤞

To renew your certification without rewriting the exam, you must have a certain number of CE credits pertaining to wildlife work during your two years of certification. Here’s some of what I was up to in those 2 years, that I was able to use in my renewal application:

•banded ~100 puffin fledglings with the Puffin and Petrel Patrol
•a contract position as a Wildlife Technician with Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
•completed a Waterbirds of New Brunswick Census and presented it at The Atlantic Canada Seabird Working Group conference in NL.
•was accepted to do a psyc/bio masters degree at MUN where I study Breeding Success in Northern Gannets.
•was awarded the Wild Things Scholarship for my work with wildlife in NL.
•completed 2 years of field research and began writing a thesis.
•presented my research at a Nature Newfoundland & Labrador meeting.
•presented my research at The Atlantic Canada Seabird Working Group conference in NL.
•presented my research at the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists Conference in New Brunswick.
•assisted in teaching 3rd and 4th year biology classes at MUN where I lectured on Wildlife Rehabilitation & The Impact of Outdoor Cats on Wild Bird Populations.

Now I wait to hear back on if my renewal application has been approved. I will update when I find out 🤞

The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

06/29/2021

Here are some of the puffin rescue and releases I've done over the years with the Puffin & Petrel Patrol. Ive done this every summer for approximately 10 years, up until I became pregnant with my twins two years ago. I’ve also banded over 100 pufflings, for record/research purposes.

When the baby puffins (pufflings) leave the nest at night, they follow the moonlight to find their way out to sea. Puffins spend their entire lives at sea, aside from when they come to land to nest. Being such a foggy province, the moonlight is often hard to see and the pufflings follow the lights of cars, houses or stores and then end up perched on the land. Being a seabird, they become stranded, as they cannot fly strongly enough to make their way back out to the ocean when so far inland. Seabirds obviously cannot live on land, so without our help they would die. I believe it was summer of 2013 that there were over 500 pufflings rescued by the Puffin & Petrel Patrol team.

To learn more, check out the Puffin & Petrel Patrol NL!

06/29/2021

06/28/2021

How To Protect Ground Nesting Birds: Some species of birds, such as the dark eyed juncos commonly nest on the ground, leaving them vulnerable to predators/free roaming pets, lawn mowers and being stepped on. A few years ago when asked about how to protect a nest on the ground, I suggested that the nest be covered with wire, with large enough spacing for the parent birds to pass through or be covered with the top of a small animal cage. (Use strong wire, not netting material, to prevent the bird from getting stuck). The cage in this photo is what the person had come up with and with his permission I am sharing it so others can see how to go about protecting a nest on their lawn.

*We should only interfere and help wildlife if absolutely necessary. Parents birds do a wonderful job raising their chicks. This idea should only be used when necessary.*

06/14/2021

FLEDGLING SEASON - know the difference between a nestling, fledgling and adult bird!! It's that time of year when fledgling birds are mistaken for injured birds and are taken away from their parents by well meaning people. Fledgling birds do NOT need to be rescued, they require a few weeks on the ground to learn how to fly. After approximately 2 weeks, they will be gone. During this time, enjoy their presence from afar and do not disturb them. Keep your pets indoors and supervised while out, as fledglings are very vulnerable to predators.

HATCHLINGS/NESTLINGS - are bare or covered in fluffy down feathers. Their eyes are often still closed and they have big brightly colored mouths. At this stage of development they belong in the nest.

FLEDGLINGS - are well feathered and may have some fluffy down feathers poking out between their juvenile feathers, giving them a fluffy appearance. Their eyes are open and they have bright colors (yellow or pink) in the corners of their mouth. Some fledgling birds will have different colored eyes than adults, such as fledgling crows which have blue eyes. At this stage, they spend time out of the nest, hopping around, stretching their wings and learning to fly. During this time the parents watch from above and continue to feed their young.

06/12/2021

A baby gull I had rehabbed 5 years ago now. Most people would never guess that this bird is a baby gull. They’re so cute and fluffy as babies. I believe adult gulls are beautiful too, however, many consider them to be a nuisance or pest. I believe they’re just doing the best they can to survive on this planet.

*I am not currently accepting wildlife for rehab*

06/09/2021

Baby OR Fledgling? - I receive a lot of messages like the one I got today about this little fledgling. Fledglings are often mistaken for babies who have fallen out of the nest and need rescuing or mistaken for being injured adults. Fledglings like the one pictured below, are young birds that have “fledged” from the nest. They spend one to two weeks on the ground, learning how to fly while the parents care from them from afar. The parents will continue to feed fledglings until they’re fully eating on their own, which is made obvious when the yellow on the sides of their beaks have fully disappeared.

If you find a small bird, unable to fly and are unsure what to do, don’t hesitate to reach out. Make sure to send me a photo of the bird 🐦

06/09/2021

Oh my 🥺

“Hopefully our newest swan family is in the clear, but at least all of Boston is pulling for them!”

06/08/2021

Hi wildlife lovers,

I have a huge passion for wildlife and love sharing my passion and knowledge with others and helping wildlife in the process.

I am a certified wildlife rehabilitator (2015) through the IWRC and plan to update my certification in the near future. I have a few years of experience rehabilitating injured, orphaned and sick wildlife. As of 2019, I have taken time away to raise my twins and hope to return to helping rehab wildlife in the future. Before I do so, I will be updating my certification and I am also in the process of putting together my applications for government wildlife permits and won’t be doing any rehabbing until those are approved. However, I will always be here to offer my best advice to those in need of assistance.

I am currently working on my Masters of Science degree in Animal Behaviour (research) at Memorial University with seabird expert, Dr. Bill Montevecchi. My research is on breeding success in the Northern Gannet colony at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve. I will be sure to share any updates on my research with you all.

I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for 3rd and 4th year wildlife biology courses at Memorial University of Newfoundland where I have lectured on topics such as Wildlife Rehabilitation in Newfoundland and Domesticated Cats as a Threat to Wild Bird Populations.

I have volunteered for a number of years with The Puffin and Petrel Patrol where I rescued and released many pufflings and Leach’s storm petrels. I also weighed, measured and banded 100+ pufflings before their release.

I hope you enjoy my journey with wildlife,

LeAnne

06/08/2021

06/08/2021

😍

Magawa, who was awarded a gold medal for his heroism, is set to enjoy a happy retirement.

06/08/2021

06/08/2021

A female moose calf is lucky to be alive after a dramatic rescue on the Sheep River, just outside of Calgary.

06/08/2021

Today I gave a lecture for Bill Montevecchi’s 4th year university biology class called Human and Wildlife Interactions. Today’s topic was about outdoor cats and the impact they have on bird populations - a topic I’m very passionate about. I’ve lectured for this very class topic in the past, but this time was a little different. Due to covid restrictions class was virtual and this was my first time doing any presentations since having my kids. Thank you Bill, for inviting me back as a guest lecturer!