Special to the Star-Bulletin
A red-footed booby that followed a yacht to Alaska
and subsequently was returned to Hawaii by plane is
suffering from a respiratory infection and feather
damage, and will be fully recovered in about a
month, officials say.

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Well-traveled
sea bird on the
road to recovery

The booby, returned by
plane from Alaska, should be
well in about a month

By Heather Tang
Star-Bulletin

An under-the-weather tropical bird is giving wildlife officials a lesson or two for the future.

The 2-year-old sea bird, a red-footed booby, returned to Hawaii on Saturday after an accidental 1,000 mile journey across the Pacific Ocean, may aid local biologists' understanding of the species.

Upon arrival and inspection by Hawaii agriculture officials, the fowl, which followed an Alaska-bound yacht for eight days, was transferred to Maui for rehabilitation.

Since its unscheduled trip north, the bird has recovered from a bout with hypothermia but now suffers from a respiratory infection and broken and soiled feathers.

Maui wildlife biologists say treating the bird will help them learn more about the species.

Training with animals also helps familiarize staff with the species, said Beth Flint, wildlife biologist at the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Last year, the center handled about 30 red and brown-footed boobys after an oil spill in the area left wildlife covered in petroleum.

"This guy provides valuable training for volunteers and employees. If we have another oil spill, he'll have helped train the staff," said endangered species veterinarian, Greg Massey.

"Taxpayers don't have to worry either, no money has been spent on the bird except $30 to air freight it between islands," added Flint. Massey agreed: "Not much is being spent, maybe $50 to $60 for food. Volunteers provide labor so the cost is real minimal."

The sea bird will stay at the center for about a month longer while biologists treat his respiratory infection, bathe him and wait for his broken feathers to molt back, said Massey.

The booby began trailing a private yacht as it left Hawaii last week and was brought on board after being battered by fierce storms for eight days. Upon docking last week in Kodiak, Alaska, the bird was flown to Anchorage, suffering from exposure to the cold temperatures up North.

The red-footed booby is a common tropical sea bird in Hawaii found at the Kaneohe Marine Base on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii's offshore islands. The species typically flies between 170 to 340 miles everyday to forage.

"They're quite proficient at long-distance travel," said Flint. "These guys are really tough."