The remnants of Tropical Storm Newton, which brought rain to the desert Southwest last week, also stranded hundreds of seabirds away from saltwater, prompting a major rescue effort by Tucson Wildlife Center.

In a Facebook post, the Tucson Wildlife Center said storm petrels, a dark-colored bird about the size and shape of a small swallow, were spotted in the desert. The strong winds from the hurricane swept up hundreds of the birds, leaving them in a possibly fatal environment.

The facility reported fielding calls of Storm-Petrels sightings.

"Hundreds have been sighted south of Tucson, blown in from the hurricane," said Lisa Bates, co-founder of Tucson Wildlife Center. "These guys are pelagic ocean birds from the Sea of Cortez. They won't survive in the desert or in fresh water, so it is imperative people get them to us so we can stabilize them and transport them to a California bird rescue."

"At night a wet parking lot looks like water and many of these birds will strand, in exhaustion, on the hard surface of the pavement," said Dr. Pat Latas, Tucson Wildlife Center's veterinarian. "The birds will be injured and physiologically depleted from the terrifying ride on the hurricane, and in desperate need of medical attention. Some can be saved and returned to the ocean. And those that die can help document the species and events, and help direct policy to conserve the ocean's seabirds — who are in great peril from human impact alone."

Dr. Latas advised anyone who finds a Storm-Petrel or any other stranded seabird to put it in a cardboard box lined with a soft T-shirt or cloth and bring it to Tucson Wildlife Center immediately. The bird should NOT be given food or water.

"If it is a larger bird, beware that they bite and have very sharp edges to their beak and hooks on the end that can do real damage," Dr. Latas warns. "For those larger birds, wrap them, burrito-like and place them in the covered box while transporting them to Tucson Wildlife Center as soon as possible."

For more information or if you see wildlife in need of help, call Tucson Wildlife Center at 520-290-WILD (9453). Tucson Wildlife Center, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and receives no government funding. To make a tax deductible donation to support the center's rescue work, go to www.tucsonwildlife.com or send a check to Tucson Wildlife Center, P.O. Box 18320, Tucson, AZ 85731.

Established in 1998 by Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger, Tucson Wildlife Center takes in more than 3,000 injured or orphaned birds and mammals each year. Bates is the only wildlife rehabilitator left in Southern Arizona who can handle the volume and diversity of wildlife in immediate need of rescue. In addition, Bates operates the only full-service, state-of-the-art wildlife rescue hospital in Southern Arizona, all free of charge. Tucson Wildlife Center staff and volunteers rescue and care for wildlife 24/7, 365 days a year. They serve eight counties: Pima, Pinal, Gila, Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee and Yuma.
- The Birding Wire