CROW Clinic: Birds, turtles feeling the impact of red tide in SWFL this year Published: February 22, 2021 6:05 PM EST Updated: February 22, 2021 9:37 PM EST While it looks like there are fewer spots of red tide dotting our coast, the effects of it can last much longer by taking a toll on wildlife. The CROW Clinic on Sanibel Island has admitted nearly 100 royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) as patients so far this year. Of those birds, 66 have signs of red tide poisoning, showing how algal blooms can disrupt the food web. So, it’s a welcome sight when the CROW Clinic releases an animal back into the wild.