Booby

Wildlife rehabilitator Angie Messmer watches as the new addition to her menagerie of wild animals, a Brown Booby, stretches its wings in the the back room of the Hoquiam Licensing & Transportation Agency where she works. The bird was picked up from Westport fisherman Jeff Dungey, who said that the large, brown seabird jumped onto his boat while he and his crew were near Willapa Bay checking crab pots. The bird is typically found in more southern climates, like the Hawaiian Islands and the gulf of Mexico, making its appearance off the Washington coast highly unusual. Messmer says that there are a few options for the animal, including soliciting an airline to donate a round trip trip for a handler to return the bird. In the meantime, the booby continues to consume about 2 pounds of fish and squid per day.