Watch: Cape Nonprofit Saves Duck, Nursing Back To Health

BARNSTABLE, MA — Members with a wildlife nonprofit are nursing a duck back to health and the bird is on the mend. The Cape Wildlife Center, a part of the New England Wildlife Centers, are working to bring the common eider back to full health. A video, below, shows the duck happily sipping some water as it heals.

He was found stranded on a beach near the Barnstable Department of Natural Resources, Zak Mertz, the wildlife center's executive director, told Patch. The duck was found to be dehydrated and disoriented, and likely had recently suffered a head trauma.

An adult male, the duck was more lethargic than expected, Dr. Priya Patel, with the wildlife center, told Patch. They put injured sea birds in a test pool to see if they behave normally. "He kind of just floated there, which is unusual," Patel said.

Also, the duck has a bacterial infection, as revealed by blood work, Patel told Patch. His health started to decline within the first day, and he remains in critical condition with a fever, she said.

They prescribed the duck antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication and will be given fluids as needed. They're feeding him a "critical care diet," specifically for fish-eating sea birds.

Members of the wildlife center don't know exactly what happened to the duck. Around this time of year, Mertz said, "we have a lot of migratory sea birds visiting us from the north." In the case of high wind events and major storms, he added, birds tend to get beached and wash ashore.

When he's well enough he'll be moved to their outdoor pool for further observation.

If you see a bird on land that you think may be injured, Mertz said, it's important to know that many sea birds don't navigate well on land. First, identify the bird, and remembers that it's somewhat of abnormal behavior for a sea bird to be on a beach.

If you have any questions or want help in identifying a potentially injured bird, or any wild animal, call the wildlife center at 508-362-0111.

The wildlife center is a donation-funded nonprofit.