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Remembering the Life of the 'Ocean Vet'Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Where do I begin? How do I find the words? How do you even begin to describe the impact that one person can have not on your own life, but on an entire country?
'Ocean Vet' Burnie dies in diving incident
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Dr Neil Burnie, the noted veterinarian and fisherman who is well known for his research on marine species, died yesterday after running into difficulties while diving at Horseshoe Bay Beach.
Tributes to an admired custodian of the sea
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The late veterinarian and ocean activist Dr Neil Burnie has been described as one of Bermuda’s best-loved characters and legendary custodian of the sea.
Bermuda Mourns The Loss Of Dr. Neil Burnie
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The island is today mourning the loss of Dr. Neil Burnie, the well-known veterinarian and colourful character with an unmatched passion for Bermuda’s marine wildlife.
Staff at BAMZ respond quickly to Hurricane Gonzalo damage
Thursday, November 06, 2014
It takes a great deal of time and energy to prepare your home for an impending storm — making sure your home is secure, that you have an ample supply of food and water, and, if you have pets, making sure they are kept inside and safe.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Jessie Moniz Hardy
Published Oct 23, 2014 at 8:00 am (Updated Oct 22, 2014 at 10:32 pm)
Settled: Cliffy the longtail after a failed attempt by Lisa and Dennis Whitehead to put him back in
his nest at Grape Bay in Paget. He is about one month old here
There’s a longtail named Cliffy exploring the world, thanks to the efforts of a Paget couple.
Dennis and Lisa Whitehead said a tearful goodbye this week to the longtail chick they rescued from drowning over a month ago.
“There was a nest in the cliffs just below our house,” said Mrs Whitehead, whose house overlooks Grape Bay. “We knew there was a chick in there and we saw the parents flying in and out of the nest.”
They suspected the birds were new to parenthood because the nest was a little too low in the cliff and too close to the ocean.
“A storm came up in late September and the waves were washing right into the nest,” said Mrs Whitehead. “We knew we had to do something or the chick would drown.
Safe hands: Dennis Whitehead rescuing
Cliffy the longtail during a storm that
flooded his burrow with seawater
Cliffy the longtail: All grown up and ready
to take on the world?
Longtail chicks normally take two months to fledge and leave the nest in August.“It was very late for longtail chicks. If it had been earlier in the season the proximity to the ocean would not have been a problem.”
Her husband clambered down to the nest and put the chick in a cat carrier.
“We put him back the next day when the sea had calmed down but the parents never returned,” said Mrs Whitehead.
They eventually fished the chick out again, fearing he would die.
“We took him to the Aquarium because we couldn’t feed him,” said Mrs Whitehead. “We did the right thing, because it turns out it is illegal to keep a longtail chick.”
Cliffy became one of six longtails being rehabilitated at the Aquarium. The Whiteheads visited him every week and were amazed to see how quickly he grew.
“I think he recognised Dennis,” said Mrs Whitehead. “Cliffy definitely would start to squawk and hop around when we visited.”
Just before Hurricane Gonzalo struck, Cliffy lost his appetite, a sign that he was ready to go off into the world.
Aquarium staff waited for the monster storm to pass, then released Cliffy from the roof of the Aquarium on Tuesday.