KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – A 34-year-old man was arrested last week on accusations that he threw rocks at a great white heron at Bill Baggs State Park, seriously injuring the bird.
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According to his arrest report, Edgar Estuardo Valenzuela, of Miami, was arrested Friday on a charge of wounding or killing an endangered species.
The report states that the incident was reported on Jan. 20 by a woman who had taken photographs of the injured bird.
Authorities said the woman claimed the incident happened near The Cleat bar.
According to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, the rare bird was left feathered, fractured and a little scared to say the least, but now is well on his road to recovery.
“Every once in a while we get these cases that are actual, legitimate cruelty toward animals,” said Amanda Burke, with Pelican Harbor.
According to Pelican Harbor, a man, later identified by authorities as Valenzuela, was fishing at the state park in Key Biscayne and was upset that the bird was after his fish, so he reportedly grabbed a large rock and chucked it at the bird, taking him out.
“They called us to see what we could do to help him,” said Burke. “He was further down, crouched down in the grasses. He was trying to hide and his right wing was dropping significantly. Once we picked him up, we saw he was bleeding all underneath his wing too.”
X-rays revealed two different fractures.
Doctors performed surgery on the bird and put in pins before starting rehab right away.
Burke said the bird will be there for a while, with their focus, like all animals they treat, on getting him eating, independent and back home where he belongs.
According to the arrest report, surveillance footage in the area helped to identify Valenzuela as the culprit.
As of Monday afternoon, the Guatemalan national remained jailed at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on an immigration hold.