Injured Osprey's Rescue Caught on Video

An osprey injured in a boating accident on Sarasota Bay Saturday has a fighting chance at recovery thanks to quick action and teamwork.

The story began to unfold early Saturday afternoon when a boater enjoying the Bay happened to injure the bird. Rather than leave the hurt creature behind without a care, the boater, who has not been identified, flagged down Sarasota Marine Patrol Officer Ron Dixon.

Wanting to help, Dixon alerted the folks at Save Our Seabirds and a rescue effort began. The officer and crew from the nonprofit were able to locate the bird and scoop it out of the water. The creature was taken to the organization’s hospital for treatment.

A condition report on the bird is not yet available, but the Sarasota Police Department promised on its Facebook page to keep residents updated. The agency also managed to capture the rescue on video.

Save Our Seabirds is a wildlife conservation and education center located on Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. The organization is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sick and injured birds. It also has a strong educational focus. Its Wild Bird Learning Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost to visit is $10 for adults and $6 for kids ages 4 to 12. To find out more, visit the organization’s website at www.saveourseabirds.org.

Screenshot courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department