There’s something heartwarming about seeing humans step up for the animals that share our island paradise. This week we celebrate one such story, the successful rescue and release of Bobby, a juvenile booby bird, who found himself in trouble among the thick mats of sargassum along San Pedro’s shores.
Bobby’s story began when a concerned woman, walking her dog near Caribbean Villas, spotted him floundering in the seaweed. Too tired to escape, Bobby was exhausted and on the brink of collapse. She quickly called ACES Wildlife Rescue, and within minutes, Hannah O’ Mahony (ACES co-supervisor) and Ciarán O’ Mordha (ACES Executive Director) were on the scene.
“Ciarán waded through the water to capture Bobby,” Hannah shared. “When we got him back to the clinic, we did a health check. He wasn’t injured, but he was dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion.”
Bobby the Booby Bird Recovers
At the clinic, the ACES team began the careful process of nursing Bobby back to health. They rehydrated him with oral rehydration solution (ORS) and monitored his progress closely. Within a day or two, Bobby started eating fish on his own, a good sign that his strength was returning.
“Once he began eating well and gaining weight, we moved him outside to our seabird aviary to practice flying,” Hannah explained. “We also gave him a de-wormer since seabirds, especially those living in close colonies, tend to carry heavy parasite loads.”
Bobby spent about 3 to 4 weeks under ACES’ care. Before release, the team tested him in a saltwater paddling pool to ensure his feathers were waterproof, a crucial skill for survival at sea.
A Happy Ending
Finally, Bobby was ready. He was released last week, taking to the skies with renewed energy and joining his fellow booby birds at the colony on Half Moon Caye, renowned for its Red-footed Booby bird sanctuary.
“It was a mix of blood, sweat, and tears, but watching Bobby fly off was worth every second,” said the ACES team. A special thanks goes to John Romero, who had the honor of releasing Bobby during a trip with Amigos del Mar Tours, one of San Pedro’s well-known dive and snorkel operators.”
Why Bobby’s Story Matters
Stories like Bobby the Booby Bird’s highlight the kind-heartedness of our community. From the woman who first spotted him to the dedicated wildlife rescue team, it’s a reminder that compassion and quick action can make all the difference for the wildlife that calls Ambergris Caye home.
While sargassum is often blamed for marine challenges, Hannah explained that it likely wasn’t the cause of Bobby’s exhaustion. “Juvenile seabirds often stray too far while learning to fly, and he just got too tired. Landing in the sargassum certainly didn’t help him get out of the water, though,” she noted.
How You Can Help
Wildlife rescue work is tough, time-consuming, and expensive. If you’d like to support ACES and their tireless efforts, you can donate through their Global Giving page. Every contribution helps save more animals like Bobby.
Bobby’s release is more than just a happy ending. It’s proof that when humans show kindness and care for the creatures around us, we create small miracles, one rescue at a time.
