Friday 11pm - Pied Oystercatcher

This very handsome, very young Pied Oystercatcher found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Considered vulnerable it was important to do whatever for him.

Young Pied Oystercatcher found in a shipping container at Port Botany

He was taken to the Exotic Animal Hospital in Sydney by a worker at the Port Botany (Botany Bay) shipping container terminal after being found in one of the containers. The Animal Hospital rang me and asked if I could take the bird but they had to come after duties hence the 11pm arrival time in Wollongong.

Tucked in safe for the night I took him early next morning to my mates Lindsay and Janice of SOSSA (Southern Ocean Seabird Study Ass) for advice on the best care for him.

Lindsay, with his over 40 years experience explained the poor thing had been “kidnapped”. Apparently the parents would have warned him of on incoming danger and to hide and they would come back for him, so he’s run into the container. Not yet fledged it was decided to take him back to Port Botany and let the parents find him.

BUT a dilemma!!!! The terminal doesn’t work weekends and despite a lot of phone calls we couldn’t get access to where he came from.  It was decided he had to go to Taronga Zoo Hospital to be cared for until fledged as after two and a half days the parents would have stopped looking for him. These birds are very territorial and the local birds would probably kill him so release in Wollongong was out of the question.

After a weekend in care dining on mussels, fish, octopus and my toes he was off to the Zoo in Sydney on Monday with a big thank you to Lindsay for transporting him as I was unable to go and no A.S.R. Volunteer was available.

With all the best facilities at the zoo he will be taught to forage for food himself and released where he came from in about 3 weeks when he can fly.

Thank you S.O.S.S.A., Taronga Zoo Hospital and Homebush Exotic Animal Hospital.

Betty