Photo Credit: Julie Lesznar
It has been ten years since a Cocos Booby last came through WildCare’s doors. This month, that streak ended when a juvenile booby was found beached near McNears Beach, exhausted and making no attempt to fly away as people approached, a clear sign that something was seriously wrong.
By the time the bird reached WildCare’s hospital, our medical team could tell this was no ordinary patient. Cocos Booby are seabirds built for life far out over open water, and a bird this far from home, unable to even take flight, needed help fast.
What Our Medical Team Found
At intake, the young booby weighed just 984 grams and had a body condition score of 1 to 1.5, a score that reflects severe emaciation. Despite the low weight, our medical team found no wounds or injuries. His temperature measured 103.6°F, within normal limits, and his attitude told a different story than his body condition: he was bright, alert, and responsive, with a bite strong enough to make the exam a two-person job.
The team attempted to draw blood for further diagnostic testing, but the booby grew increasingly agitated during the attempt. Rather than risk additional stress to an already fragile patient, the team made the call to stop. Instead, they tubed 45cc of warm saline to begin rehydrating him and settled him into quarantine with fresh fish for the night.
A Picky Eater on the Mend
Video Credit: Julie Lesznar
By the next feeding, the Cocos Booby was self-feeding well, though he made his preferences known early. He would only eat fish tossed onto the towel in front of him, refusing anything offered from a bowl, and worked his way through up to five fish at a sitting.
This behavior is actually typical for many adult wild animals that come through our hospital. In the wild, boobies catch live, swimming fish rather than eating dead ones, so tossing the fish mimics that natural movement and gets a reluctant patient eating far better than a still dish ever could.
Over the following days, his body condition and energy continued to improve. After a short three-day stay at WildCare, he was strong enough to be transferred to International Bird Rescue, a specialty facility equipped for his continued care and eventual return to the wild.
Why This Sighting Is So Rare
Cocos Booby are normally found far out over tropical Pacific waters near Cocos Island, off Costa Rica, and rarely wander this far north. Strong fliers and skilled plunge-divers, they spend nearly all their time over open ocean, snatching fish just below the surface, and only come to land to nest. A sighting this far outside their normal range, let alone a patient in need of rescue, is a rare event for our region and for WildCare.
If the name Cocos Booby doesn’t ring a bell, that is likely because it is a fairly new one. This bird was long known simply as the Brown Booby, and Cocos Booby reflects a more recent taxonomic split recognizing it as its own distinct species. This shows just how much we still have to learn about the wildlife in our ecosystems, which is exactly why conservation and education are so critical.
Call WildCare's Living With Wildlife Hotline at 415.456.7283
This encounter is also a reminder of why quick action matters. A seabird that is beached and not flying away is very likely in distress. If you see a bird like this along the Marin coastline, do not attempt to handle the animal yourself. Call WildCare’s Living With Wildlife Hotline so our team can respond quickly and safely.