Cold Kills

Trust Secretary Morag came across a young poorly Blackback gull today on the beach.

Realizing it was poorly she brought the bird to me to check it out.  I could find no external injuries of any kind but with the persistent frost over the last week, I was certain it was hypothermic and possibly starving as well.

Putting it in a heated insulated box I gave it some rehydration liquid, being in such a weakened condition it was unable to eat. As is often the case with birds close to death, it picked up briefly after an hour or so, but later passed away peacefully.

Long Cold frosty nights,  frozen ground and inadequate food supply kills many birds during the winter.