Shy Albatross

How’s this for handsome! These magnificent big birds spend their life at sea - even to sleep and only come to land to breed.

Unfortunately this big boy has injured himself somehow (perhaps a collision with a ship or worse still a horrible encounter with a cranky fisho). He’s then been barrelled in the big sea and found himself on a beach just north of Wollongong when Australian Seabird Rescue got the call.

With the local avian vet unavailable an SOS was sent out to Lindsay of Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association (S.O.S.S.A.) who knows all there is to know about our seafaring friends. So off we went for Lindsay to check him over. He seemed waterlogged and had a bruise to the chest, so Lindsay helped me set him up for overnight care and to be taken to Taronga Zoo in the morning.

7am Lindsay was back to check him then off we went to the best facilities available – Taronga Zoo hospital.

With immediate attention at the hospital, blood was taken, wings, feet and legs checked, it appears this big boy was just exhausted with the only apparent injury the bruise on his chest. Further checks and tests will be done after he settles from the car trip.

So knowing he was in the best possible hands Leonie and I headed off on the long trip home. A great big thank you to the staff at Taronga hospital, and to Lindsay.

Mr Albatross is due to be released in a few days.

Betty

Betty goes for a swim!!

Well this juvenile certainly tested us. Being reported to the police as remaining in the same spot for 1 ½ hours on the water’s edge and delinquent kids throwing sticks at him, he was unable to move so the police stayed with him until I (Betty) got there. On attending I was confident I’d be able to just pick him up – wrong! Though I had “a wing in hand” his instincts kicked in and he headed for the water, taking me with him. Completely submerged the police had to fish me out – thanks fellas!

So dripping wet I waited for Kathryn and Leonie with her kayak. We tried for a long time but failed to catch him. Being weak his last effort to get away was to crash land on a townhouse roof. So I contacted the fire brigade to help. Leonie went home but Kate had left work early to help and bring me some dry clothes. Thanks to Bulli fire station who got him off the roof and back onto the sand with a blast of water. Kathryn also had to go home but no way I was leaving him so freezing cold waited for Kate. But now the bird was very nervous and almost dark, we had to leave him overnight. Early morning he was still there thankfully so contacted Kate to come help Oliver and I. A couple of kilos of fish and a lot of patience with Kate and Oliver in the pouring rain, we got him and into safe care to await a vet appointment. He has an infection and is very anaemic but with TLC and antibiotics he will stay in care for a few days and then hopefully off into the wild to continue his young life.

Betty

Kate with the juvenile pelican after he was finally caught. He is anaemic and  has an infection but should recover fully with a does of antibiotics and some TLC.

A very sad story.

One never knows how the day will run when Australian Seabird Rescue heads out. This day turned out very sad. We don't like telling sad stories but the thoughtless acts of some people has to be related.

We were down the south coast for the 4th time to try and catch a pelican who has a hook and lure beside her eye. Being injured she is being very elusive as it would be affecting her vision.

Whilst coaxing the birds in, this poor little baby (pictured) - barely 6 months old and obviously starving , came in and we caught her. Some thoughtless fisherman has hooked her and just ripped the hook out consequently shredding her pouch beyond repair. Is a 50c hook more valuable than a life! She had to be euthanized. Her injury was probably her first encounter with mankind - she didn't even get a start in life.

I don't believe we are all heartless so if you are out there with your family or friends enjoying fishing, could you all please be careful.

We still have to catch the other bird and in order to buy petrol and medicines we have to raise our own funds. We are all volunteers and we do it because we love it but any help would be appreciated.

Betty

Pelican with badly town pouch.

Spark plugs and pelican don't mix!

It never ceases to amaze me what happens to our majestic sea and shore birds through no fault of their own.

On my usual morning patrol I spotted a female pelican with a tangle of fishing line on her wing. So I raced home to get fish and contact team member Oliver to help. We went back to the harbour to catch and release. Whilst enticing the birds in, this poor big male pelican hobbled out of the water. We caught him and found a big hook in the web of his foot, fishing line tangled around his leg and attached to a spark plug. He also had a hook in his wing. One can only assume that this was some "bright sparks" experiment (too lousy to buy sinkers) that didn't work so was just discarded and left lying around to be trodden on by this unfortunate bird. It could have been a child! It was his lucky day though and he has been attended to and released. Not so lucky for the female who is still out there with the line tangled on her wing. This will affect her feeding as she is unable to preen her flight feathers. But Australian Seabird Rescue will keep looking for her.

Betty

Spark plug and line found tangled on a pelican at Berkeley

Lulu of Callala Bay

Meet 'Lulu' a very pretty young pelican (no they don't all look the same) from Callala Bay.

Lisa and Lulu in Callala Bay

 

This young pelican owes her life to Lisa (pictured) who also lives in Callala Bay. She was spotted by Lisa in the water in all sorts of trouble. After phoning Australian Seabird Rescue and realising our one hours travel time, Lisa took it on herself to try and catch her which she very bravely did. Lulu's leg was really badly tangled in fishing line and a hook in her wing also, who knows how long she had been tangled. With the help of a couple of young fellas and staying on the phone with them, I talked them through how to remove the hook and fishing line. They managed to free Lulu from the line while Lisa held her. She was released but didn't go! ALARM BELLS! something else was wrong. It was getting quite late by now so I asked Lisa to pick her up again. A phone call to Judy of Wildlife Rescue to see if she could babysit Lulu overnight - no problems. So Lisa then transported her to Judy for overnight care and rehydration as she was weak. On collecting her the next morning it was apparent she had an infection from the hook and a bad limp. So off into care back in Berkeley until 100% better.

Without the commitment of Lisa the outcome may not have been so good. A great big thank you to Lisa and Judy for your help. Well done.

Betty

Dumped Ducks

These beautiful ducks found dumped in Lake Illawarra were rescued and now living a happy life with Kate.

These 2 ducks were dumped in Lake Illawarra within days of each other! Whoever the heartless person was they were giving them a death sentence. Domestic ducks don’t drink saltwater or eat the same food as wild ducks.

The first duck was found in a terrible condition on the break-wall;  absolutely terrified , dehydrated and starving. He was picked up by team member Kate in the kayak.

The second duck also starving was found hiding in the grass.

With thanks to Kate they are both now living happily at her home with some chooks for neighbours.

People who can’t care for their animals or no longer want them, need to get in touch with the relevant authorities to seek help.

Both these birds would have perished if they hadn’t been spotted by Australian Seabird Rescue on regular patrols.

Betty

No rest for ASR members on ANZAC Day!

A very cold windy ANZAC day and new Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver on his regular check of Port Kembla Harbour, found a pelican in trouble. So a quick call to base for help. On arrival the bird had gone onto the break-wall which has locked gates.

With a big thank you to Luke of the Water Police who unlocked the gate for us, I caught the bird. But on the break-wall also was a juvenile with a float and about 6 feet of line tangled in her wing. So I handed the first bird to Policeman Luke and tried to catch the juvenile. She wouldn't be in it so decided to come back later. The big male had a big hook in his leg and line tangled around that had cut into his leg plus a nasty wound to his wing. So transported him to go into care then back to get the juvenile, who was thankfully still on the break-wall.  Another call for help to the Water Police and Officer Luke unlocked the gate again. The bird was caught quickly and after attention was able to be released.

Without the help of the Water Police and Officer Luke these birds would still be in trouble - thank you again.

Betty