A visitor from Nunavut

Bernadette from Rankin Inlet, NU, contacted us last week about a Rusty Blackbird that never migrated south for the winter hanging out in her backyard. From her description, he was flying earlier that week but days later, the bird was on the ground most of the time.  Usually that can indicate that the bird is having difficulty finding food and could possibly be losing important flight muscles to stay alive. She immediately went out and caught him and placed him in a pet carrier with food and water.  There are no wildlife rehabilitation centres in Nunavut, so this bird would need to be shipped to  PWRC.  Arrangements were made to apply for an export permit and luckily Bernadette was flying through Winnipeg on Tuesday on her way East for Christmas.  Bernadette and the blackbird were suppose to come in yesterday, but weather conditions cancelled their flight and new arrangements were made for today.  A huge Thank you to Kristi and Cian for picking up “Rusty” at the airport and transporting him to our facility.  This bird will be staying with us until spring when his flock would be migration through Manitoba.

Interesting facts:

• Rusty Blackbirds winter in South-eastern United States and summer in the Canada and Alaska.
• Are closely related to the Common Grackle
• They enjoy eating insects, small fish and some seeds
• They nest in Boreal forests
• This is the first Rusty Blackbird admitted to PWRC and my first ever in 17 years of wildlife rehabilitation

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