Sunday 28 October 2012

Lucky Strike



A call came in for help at 7.30 Sunday night of the long weekend from a young woman Melissa. She had just put her horse to "bed" in the paddock and noticed a pelican on the ground in the distance.
So on the phone to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Ollie who came straight over even though he had visitors - thanks mate! Thankfully Melissa met us and under torchlight we headed across the paddock with half a dozen horses wondering what we were doing. Melissa told us the horses had already checked out the pelican but backed off quick smart when she snapped at them. There are power lines across the paddocks so it appeared the pelican had clipped these. We picked her up and put her immediately in to care.
Certainly a lucky strike - but next morning couldn't stand so off to the vet for assessment and yes she has got away with hitting the power line with a bruise on her bill and a small wound on her wing. After a few days of care and rehab she has been released to continue her life. A big thank you to Melissa as the pelican would have perished that night either from the cold/shock or fox attack.

Betty
This pelican survived despite striking a power line.

Sunday 21 October 2012

Oh Dave!


Betty with helpful holiday-maker Dave who ripped a calf muscle while trying to help capture a pelican!




Australian Seabird Rescue team member Carmel spotted an injured pelican while visiting Lake Conjola but unfortunately didn't have a cage with her - she did catch another bird with a hook though - attended to it and released the bird - well done Carmel.

A quick ring around to see if anyone wanted to go saw Ollie and I heading off early next morning. A female pelican she appeared to have a broken leg or pelvis. As she couldn't stand easily we were unable to get her straight away so we went and had some breakfast. On our return she'd got herself over the other side sitting down and not wanting to move. Enter Dave - "l'll help" he said "but it's too shallow for my boat so I'll wade in and swim over and herd her back to you". A good suggestion - good on you Dave!
So here's our hero holiday-maker running though the shallows after a swim when he went down in a heap - obviously in trouble and Little Miss Pelican laughing at him. Dave was rescued by another holiday maker on a kayak. Score; pelican 1: Us Nil. 

The rest of the day was spent in Milton hospital emergency department. Oh Dave! He's ripped his calf muscle and will be on crutches for 3 weeks - so much for his holiday! Thankfully he has a sense of humour and sent photos of his "wheelchair holiday" back to his workmates. Nine hours after we left home we returned weary only to have to go back the next day to get the bird. Which of course we did and took her off to the vet for assessment. Unfortunately our worst fears were realised - her knee was badly broken.
A great big thank you to Dave for trying to help and team ember Ollie for his patience.

Betty 

Friday 19 October 2012

Sunday Drama



The day started out sunny and calm but that was stopped by a call from the boys at South Beach Surf Club, Wollongong. Pelican on the rocks with something wrong with his wing. Quick ring around - no Australian Seabird Team members available except Kirsten who was at work. So off I went. On the way I got a call from Kiama, 1/2 hour south - pelican with line tangle. Help Kirsten! The lifesaver and I tried to catch the bird at South Beach but he got himself in the surf. So I waited for Kirsten to come to Kiama with me. On arrival we located the pelican on a lamppost but she wouldn't come down for fish. So back to Wollongong to find the other bird. We were nearly there - another call about a pelican on a beach about 3km north of Wollongong - ah ha, so he'd been drifting. We located him now in the lagoon. Kirsten tempted him with some fish and whist he was eating Kirsten jumped on him landing in the water (sorry about your good clothes!) Still we managed to get him. Well done Kirsten! He went into overnight care to see the vet the next day. Unfortunately the poor thing had been born with a birth defect and wouldn't thrive or survive any length of time.
But there's still the Kiama bird to catch - so the adventure continues.....

Betty

Saturday 13 October 2012

Swanee



Out looking for a pelican with a large hook in his leg, we spotted a bird a the sandpit in Lake Illawarra looking very forlorn and reluctant to join the other pelicans for a free feed! He appeared unable to fly so on the phone to "hovercraft" John - fortunately he was at home and came straight over to pick up Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver. On approach though the bird did fly - great he must be OK.
But on the way over John had spotted a swan unable to fly so he and Oliver went to pick him up - success - he presented with poor quality feathers on his wings so straight off to the vet. A big thank you to Kim of Cannon & Ball veterinary for seeing us immediately as swans are prone to capture stress. It appears he has been caught in one of the many spot fires around the lake but his new flight feathers were strong and healthy - so ok to release and in a safe area he would be fine in a couple of weeks. Once again the hovercraft boys have been invaluable to us in assisting in search and rescue. Thanks John and Oliver

Of course there's still the pelican with the hook in his leg to be located and helped - eyes out there everyone please - thank you.

Betty.

Oliver holding the swan with damaged feathers due to a fire.

Thursday 11 October 2012

Shearwater



A wedge-tailed Shearwater was picked up by fellow rescue group WIRES on Windang beach, exhausted. She was handed in to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Kay who noted the only apparent problem was a superficial wound to her head - probably from a seagull. So into care for a couple of days to get her back on her track. She had a band on her leg so we got onto the phone to our mate Lindsay of SOSSA (Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association) who once again with his comprehensive records was able to give us her history. She was banded on the 30th April 2005 as a fledgling off Wollongong, so who knows how many thousand kilometres she's flown in that 7 years. But her instinct has told her to come home to mate. Lucky for her with Kay's care she has been released to do just that. Unfortunately we didn't get a photo of this very pretty bird.

Betty