TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Injured Crane Gets A Leg Up

STAFF photo by Robert Burke / Tampa Tribune.

A sandhill crane wrapped in a sheet is carried into makeshift hospital trailer by Lynn Zablo, a volunteer from Odessa, to change it's prosthectic leg and foot. She's spending the day with Lee Fox's wildlife bird sanctuary. Lynn captures most of the reported birds who need medical care and it's run with only donations with a few volunteers

ADVERTISEMENT

By LOIS KINDLE The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

Updated: 01/14/2008 07:45 pm

Additional Photos

WIMAUMA - Just before Thanksgiving, Lee Fox received a call for help from her friend Lynn Zablo.

Zablo, who lives in Pasco County, had rescued a female sandhill crane that was in shock after losing its right foot and part of its leg.

In critical condition, the bird needed immediate treatment, so Zablo brought it to Fox, who operates the Save Our Seabirds sanctuary in Wimauma. Fox immediately warmed and hydrated the crane, and gave it medication to treat the shock and prevent infection.

What came next might be considered a minor miracle, Fox said.

In the past, she had tried using makeshift prosthetics on other injured birds to no avail. But this time, with this bird, it was different, she said.

"We decided to try a prosthetic again, rather than put her down," Fox said. "It was developed by Lynn's stepfather, Tom, and made of PVC pipe and a rubber sink stopper."

As soon as the crane was stabilized, Fox attached the prosthetic, placing the bottom portion of the bird's leg into the pipe, which was stuffed at the bottom with memory foam to cushion the impact of walking. Fox said she began physical therapy immediately and made the bird stand so "she could recognize she still had a leg."

After three-and-a-half weeks, Fox asked Zablo to take the crane home to Odessa to intensify the therapy. Fox said she couldn't devote the amount of time needed to actually get the bird walking because she cares for more than 70 other birds at the sanctuary.

"After only three-and-a-half days and 10 to 12 hours of additional therapy, Lynn had her walking," Fox said. "She walked on Christmas Day, so we named her Christmas" shortened to Chrissie.

Once the bird was "up and running," Zablo brought Chrissie back to Wimauma so she could join the flock. She walks as regally as any sandhill crane and looks relatively normal, except for the plastic leg and blue gauze wrapping.

"Her recovery has been unbelievable, especially after I gave her to Lynn," Fox said.

Zablo won't take all the credit, though.

"Chrissie has tremendous will and determination," she said. "Every time I saw her want to move, I just helped support and get her going. She did most of the work."

Although she can never be released back into the wild, Christmas' life will have a purpose, Fox said. The bird will need continued monitoring, and as she matures, the length of her prosthetic will need to be altered to match the growth of her good leg.

"She'll help foster baby sandhill cranes and encourage others to eat when they come to rehab," Fox said.

Fox is founder of Save Our Seabirds, an organization dedicated to rescuing injured native and migratory birds, treating their injuries and releasing them, whenever possible, back into the environment. Fox also works to educate the public about the human impact on these birds and things that can be done to prevent needless injuries.

Formerly known as the Pinellas Seabird Rehabilitation Center, the nonprofit group began in 1990 after receiving state and federal permits to handle wildlife.

Fox said almost all of the birds brought to her for care are injured by people or careless human behavior. They have been hit by cars, golf balls and rakes or have discarded plastic six-pack rings, fishing lines, plastic bags or string caught in their beaks or feet.

An anhinga recently came in to the center with a woman's scrunchie tangled in its beak. The bird would have starved because it couldn't open its mouth to eat, Fox said.

The current flock she's caring for include 11 sandhill cranes, China geese, Peking ducks, barred, barn and screech owls, kestrels, egrets and herons, vultures, ibis, cormorants, seagulls, red-shouldered hawks and a wood stork.

Fox spends more than $1,000 a month on meat, grains, fish and mealworms to feed her charges and hundreds more on medication, fluids and veterinary services. She also spends about $400 a month on rat food to raise vermin for birds of prey.

Some of the expenses are covered by cash donations, but Fox and her husband, Paul, bear the brunt of the costs.

"It's getting harder and harder because I can't keep taking money out of my pocket," Fox said. "We're on retirement income now."

Nevertheless, she has no plans to stop pursuing what has become her life's passion. She has rescued thousands of birds over the past 20 years, and each has touched her heart in some way. But Christmas' recovery has had special significance.

"Most birds give up if they're not better by about two weeks or so," Fox said. "You can see a kind of depression set in, and their whole demeanor changes. Chrissie had such a fighting spirit. She never gave up."

HOW YOU CAN HELP

WHAT: Save Our Seabirds is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing injured native and migratory birds.

WHERE: 2709 County Road 579, Wimauma

NEEDS: Cash donations for food. Also needs bird cages, paper towels, gloves, medical supplies, cleaning supplies and building materials

INFORMATION: (813) 633-1210 or www.seabirdrehab.org

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT