Red-listed Glossy Ibis Released in Volgograd
In Volgograd, a red-listed glossy ibis has been released into the wild. Just recently, it was wandering lost through the streets of the Krasnoarmeysky District until volunteers caught it to help.
As a reminder, residents had reported the unusual bird walking around the southernmost district and sought help from volunteers.
« It was called different names: some thought it was an ibis, others an albatross, » wrote Alina Erina, head of the Ptichy Ostrov (Bird Island) center. « In fact, it is a young glossy ibis. Our volunteers went to the site several times, but the bird disappeared each time before we arrived. Then yesterday, a kind-hearted girl wrote to us. We immediately explained that it was important to catch the bird to help it, and she managed to do it! We promptly took the bird to the center. It turned out to be a teenager, still very small. Diagnosis: traumatic brain injury (likely from hitting an obstacle), a bruised shoulder, and a minor eye injury. Most alarming: it was severely dehydrated and on the verge of exhaustion. These days of wandering the city clearly took a toll without water or food. But the good news is that the injuries are not critical, and its condition is stable. We are now restoring its fluid balance and treating the bruises. »
As biologist Viktoria Faifer explained, although glossy ibises are birds from the Red Book of Russia, encountering them in the Krasnoarmeysky District is not so difficult, as they nest near Sarepta station.
After treatment and taking the opportunity to recover, the bird was ready to be released. In the footage shared by Alina Erina, the bird can be seen walking quite confidently into the marshy area, as if it had never left it.
