Rare seabird stranded in El Paso during winter storm is returned home to Florida
UPDATE, March 15: About a month after it was found stranded in El Paso due to a winter storm, a wayward rare seabird has been flown back to her home state of Florida.
The El Paso Zoo had been caring for the Frigatebird. The zoo announced it returned the bird named ‘Amelia the Magnificent’ - which it said was in honor of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart - to Florida where she will be released in the wild.
The bird flew in-cabin with the zoo’s chief veterinarian on a Southewest Airlines flight in a special arrangement. Typically, officials said the bird would've flown in the cargo area of the plane.
ORIGINAL REPORT, Feb. 17: EL PASO, Texas — The El Paso Zoo has stepped in to care for a rare seabird found stranded in the Borderland as a result of the winter storm that hammered Texas.
Zoo officials said Wednesday that a "Good Samaritan" came across the displaced Magnificent Frigatebird, or man o’ war seabird, earlier this week in the desert and brought it to veterinarians at the zoo.
"A thorough exam and radiographs on the female Frigatebird under anesthesia confirmed that she had no broken bones or injuries, but was exhausted and very hungry," said the zoo's chief veterinarian, Dr. Victoria Milne.
While the bird is currently being fed and recovering in El Paso, zoo officials indicated they hope to be able to soon transport the bird to a rehabilitation center in the Florida Keys.
El Paso Zoo Director Joe Montisano said Frigatebirds are found along the Florida coast this time of year and typically do not return to Texas until spring.
How did the this soaring sea bird with a 7-foot wingspan, usually seen along tropical ocean waters, end up in El Paso?
"Large storms can cause native species to end up in odd locations, often times very worn out from their unplanned detour and in need of support," explained Montisano. "This was an unexpected event."
