Women rescue bird stranded in aftermath of Hurricane Zeta
A bird in New Orleans is safe and sound thanks to three women who went above and beyond to rescue him after Hurricane Zeta.
Essential worker Carrie DeMay, who is the geographical information systems manager for the city of New Orleans, was getting ready to go to work when her friend and neighbor Mechelle Gehler told her she saw a frigatebird on the sidewalk outside of their building, and had what looked to be a broken wing.
"It was just extremely heartbreaking to see this beautiful creature struggling and not really have had anywhere to go," DeMay said in an interview with "Good Morning America."
Knowing that most emergency workers were helping with the aftermath of Zeta, DeMay called her friend Sydney McMath, who was a certified wildlife rehabilitator when she was living in South Carolina.
Once McMath arrived, she could tell the bird was injured and needed help. They decided to call the bird Reginald.
"Carrie asked what we should name it and that was literally the first male name that came into mind. Seems like a nice, dignified name for this fella," McMath said.
McMath was able to get close enough to pick Reginald up and bring him back to her home.
"I had never held one of these guys in real life -- they’re massive," McMath told "GMA."
Reginald took up residence in McMath's tub while the storm died down.
"He takes up most of the tub. I have him propped up on towels to make his wing comfortable, and he’s been eating fish and drinking, and also snapping at me like a sea dragon," McMath said.
McMath said she's helped rescue about 20 birds in the last six weeks, but Reginald is now on his way to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine's Wildlife Hospital, where he will receive treatment for his injuries.
"The plan with Reginald, ultimately, hopefully, is that he will be repaired and rehabbed well enough to be released into the wild," McMath said.
