INDIAN SHORES, Fla. — More than 300 sick and injured birds were brought to Seaside Seabird Sanctuary for care in June, and dozens of them were sick from toxins caused by red tide.

What You Need To Know

  • Seaside Seabird Sanctuary cares for sick and injured birds

  • Since June, they've seen an increase in birds sick from red tide

  • Brown pelicans and cormorants are most likely to be affected by toxins

  • Birds sick from red tide toxins wobble and may have glazed-over eyes

“We definitely have an influx of birds coming in the sanctuary due to red tide, on top of the other birds that we have with baby bird season and regular injuries,” said Christina Chilbert, sanctuary development manager.

Sanctuary workers mostly see brown pelicans and cormorants impacted by the toxins, according to Chilbert.

Birds that have toxicity from red tide will wobble and stumble when they try to walk and could have glazed-over eyes, Chilbert said. They also lose their appetite. It’s crucial they are brought into the sanctuary within the first 24 hours, she said. 

“The sooner you can get the bird to us, the better chance they’re going to have," Chilbert said. "For us to be able to give them fluids, flush out that toxin in their bodies and also just give them clean fish. Having access to clean fish is really important.”

Once at the sanctuary, the birds are given fluids to flush out the toxins. 

“We know when they’re getting better when they start to eat their fish and they’re kind of standing up and excited to be eating,” Chilbert said.

The birds don’t typically eat the dead fish that wash up on the shore or float on the water, according to Chilbert. Instead, they eat fish that are still alive but have the toxins inside of them.

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary cares for sick and injured birds, along with more than 100 resident birds. They also have more than 100 birds ready to be released back into the wild.

Red tide is the reason they haven’t released them yet. Chilbert said they’re worried if they release them when conditions are bad, those birds could become sick and have to be brought back in for care. The sanctuary plans to monitor conditions and try to release them on Wednesday. 

“That’s my favorite part is just watching them go back out into the wild. It’s really sweet,” Chilbert said.

If you see a sick or injured bird, Chilbert said you should call Seaside Seabird Sanctuary at (727) 391-6211 and press 1. You can find out where the sanctuary is located and how to help the organization on its Facebook page.