BIDDEFORD – An American bittern was given a second chance last week after Biddeford Animal Control Officer Garth Russell rescued it when it was discovered that the bird had become frozen to the ground in the yard of a home on Ocean Avenue.

Russell transported it to the Center for Wildlife, a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center in Cape Neddick.

“The bird seems to have tried to find shelter in an outdoor shower, the wing was seen by a neighbor peeking out from under the shower wall,” according to a post on the center’s Facebook page Jan. 23.

While at the center, the bird – fairly common to this area, but not at this time of year – was being treated for exposure, tissue damage likely caused by thrashing to try and free itself, and emaciation.

A bittern’s bone are hollow, one reason it may have a difficult time withstanding cold temperatures, said Sarah Kern with the Center for Wildlife. (Courtesy photo)Sarah Kern, education and outreach department lead at the center, said on Jan. 24 that the bittern was under close watch for frostbite.

“Frostbite can take up to a week or more to present,” she said, adding there would probably be bruising on the bird’s wrists and parts of its wing.

While frostbite is irreversible, Kern described the bittern’s status as bright, alert and responsive.

The bittern’s story is similar to that of a non-native black hawk that was rescued when it too was discovered frozen to the ground. The bird, which is believed to come from Central or South America, was taken to Avian Haven, a nonprofit organization out of Freedom. Experts determined that frostbite caused too much damage to the birds feet and it was euthanized.

Russell said a passerby discovered the bird frozen to the ground in a neighborhood along the ocean that’s not very populated this time of year.

“I would say (it was there) at least a day or two,” he said. “The bird was very lucky.”

To free the bird, Russell chipped away at the ice and snow with a shovel.

“I expected to take a large chunk (of ice) with the bird, but it broke off,” he said.

Kern said Russell in particular has led the way for other animal control officers in education about wildlife. A year ago, the Center for Wildlife came to Biddeford for a workshop with other animal control officers on how to handle wildlife and what resources exist to help them.

Russell said he has both formal education in his field and has learned on the job.

For instance, it’s important to wear protection over the eyes when dealing with birds.

“I’ve almost lost my eye a couple times,” he said.

Russell was dealing with a seagull when he was an animal control officer in Portland. He was holding the bird incorrectly when he went to reach for his keys in his pocket.

“It nailed me underneath my eye,” he said. “I learned pretty quickly to wear my sunglasses (when dealing with birds.)”

Russell said it’s not uncommon this time of year for a bird to become frozen to the ice.

“What happens is that they become exhausted. They’re tired and when they land, their body heat warms up,” he said, adding that their increased body temperature causes them to freeze to the ground.

Unfortunately, Russell said, there’s not much people can do to prevent this.

Kern said everything wildlife officials know about bird and animal patters is “going out the window.”

Changing in temperatures and habitats can cause anything from changes in migration patterns, feeding and reproduction cycles. An example of that, Kern said, is the squirrel population that exploded in 2018, which in turn, caused an owl and hawk boon.

“You never say never,” she said.

FMI

If you find a wild bird or mammal in need of help, call your local animal control officer or the Center for Wildlife at 361-1400.

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