Little Black Cormorant

Leonie with the cormorant found at Austinmer.

This little darling turned up when the big winds were on a couple of weeks ago. He must’ve been blown off course as he was in all sorts of trouble at Austinmer near the ocean pool when Australian Seabird Rescue received a call.

So off to Leonie’s for some warmth and TLC. She got him back on his feet, then moved him to a larger enclosure and pool where he made himself quite comfortable and ate a heap of pilchards. We decided to let him go but he wasn’t having any of that and wanted to go home to his private pool. A couple more days and plenty of pilchards it was time to move him on. So back to the lake and he waddled out of the cage – had a look around and was last seen wandering up the wharf to the other cormorants. He certainly owes his life to the lady who spotted him and Leonie’s nursing skills.

Betty

Juvenile Pelican who craves attention!

Well this young bird sure likes attention and he has certainly gained that in his short life so far.

Oliver with the juvenile pelican who craves attention!

He was first caught at Lake Illawarra in June with a hook in his wing, attended to and released. Then he was caught again in the same spot mid July with another hook. This one was in his wing but also deeper. He presented OK so was released.

Ever adventurous he was then reported sitting on the median strip on a very, very busy road. That was one for "Funniest Home Videos" with cars all around us he couldn't take off but boy could he run! Luckily I herded him off the road and caught him. I then took him to Berkeley harbour to be with other birds - not a good enough - 3 days later he was in the courts of a local sports club. Okay something was wrong! So off to the vet, Kim of Cannon and Ball, who diagnosed an infection in the bone so into care for 5 days on antibiotics.

Back to the vet and cleared to be released. Now what to do with this trouble maker? It was decided to re-locate him away from danger. So with Oliver's help he was taken way south of Wollongong to a spot with massive waterways and no busy roads. Last seen swimming happily amongst the oyster leases. Hope he has a long and happy life!

Betty

Juvenile Greenshank

Although wading birds are usually in shallow water, this young fellow had a run in with mankind but luckily for him, an alert member of the public, Barbara, and our Australian Seabird Rescue team member Colin, he was rescued. He had a hook in his wing, line tangled around his legs and another hook which had him caught on a very heavy mooring rope in Kiama harbour. With Barbara and her friend heaving on the rope, Colin was able to reach out and grab him. The hook was in a bad spot so to the Kiama Collins St Vet for help. The hook was removed and an antibiotic shot given, then into care for the night.

So back to Kiama the next day and with a full belly he was happily sent on his way. A good result thanks to Colin, Barbara and friend, and the vet.

Betty.

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