Pied-billed Grebe #24-3457

On August 21, a private citizen visited their local dump in Bath County and found a bird seemingly in distress. The bird attempted to fly away but repeatedly fell over after each attempt. This strange scene caused the finder to bring the animal to the Wildlife Center for examination, where the bird was identified as a Pied-billed Grebe, a relatively small water bird most often found in ponds or marshes.

Since the bird was found away from water, the Center's team suspected it had crash-landed at the dump where it was found. The Center's veterinary team conducted a thorough physical exam on intake and only found a mild abrasion below one of the bird's toes. Radiographs and bloodwork were also performed and did not reveal any underlying injuries or abnormalities. Given that the grebe appeared almost entirely healthy, the vet team suspected the abrasion below the grebe's toe resulted from being grounded for an extended period.

Grebes require being in the water to take off for flight, meaning the lack of water where the grebe was found is the most likely explanation for its inability to fly away. The vet team also determined the grebe's toe abrasion would likely heal independently and did not necessitate extended veterinary care. Vet staff monitored the grebe's condition over the next couple of days while transport for the grebe was arranged, and on August 23, it was released at Lake Moomaw in Bath County.

Oftentimes, a bird not being able to fly or take off can be indicative of a more serious issue, such as broken bones or infectious disease. If you ever come across wildlife in distress, don't hesitate to contact the Wildlife Center or your local wildlife rehabilitator for help assessing if that animal needs to be brought in for care. Thankfully, this grebe simply needed some assistance getting back to its appropriate habitat, but every situation and animal is different. Visit our Help & Advice page for more information on what to do if you find an injured or orphaned animal.