January, 2004
This Frigatebird was blown off course by a heavy storm and landed on the deck of the BC Ferry, Queen of Prince Rupert. The ferries Captain Ted Rayner and his crew picked it up, wrapped it in a jacket and took it into the wheelhouse of the ship.

Captian Rayner then called Peter Hamel and Margo Hearne of the Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary in Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands and asked them what could be done with the bird. The Captain knew them both from the many birding trips they had taken on the ferry. They suggested that he contact Nancy & Gunther at the Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter. The Golinia's were well known and had an excellent reputation with their ability to rehabilitate injured birds and animals. The call was made and the bird was ferried to the shelter in Prince Rupert. The crew of the ferry delivered the Frigatebird complete with a cage to the Shelter.

The Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter covers a large area of the Pacific Northwest and provides care and rehabilitation to so many birds and animals that come under its wing. Upon arrival the Frigatebird was then examined for injuries by our local veterinarian, Dr. Paul Kennedy. It was found to be a little underweight with a bruised wing. The Frigatebird spent 3 days at the shelter before it was pronounced healthy enough to be shipped south to a climate that it was more accustomed to.

Medical gloves were always used while handling the bird, to prevent the contamination it's feathers. Below the bird is nibbling on Nancy's finger after wolfing down a meal of fresh fish.

The first leg of it's long journey back south with a complimentary flight, courtesy of

The Frigatebird was then flown to Vancouver where it stayed awaiting export permits to allow for its shipment further south. It finally ended its northern adventure by the California-Mexico border, where it was released back into the wild within the Tijuana River Delta.