Mr Percival.

This young male presented himself at Mossy Point down south looking very forlorn and badly injured with a large wound to his chest and 2 large hooks, one deep in his leg - he was sure in a lot of trouble. But with a big thanks to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Carmel and her friend Peter, he was picked up and rushed to the vet.

Mr Percival from Mossy Point

Chest wound on Mr Percival.

Moruya vet operated on Mr Percival and we can't thank him enough.

Mr Percival was then transported further south to go into intensive care with team member Penny. This was Penny's first pelican in care and he owes his life to her. With twice daily flushing of the wound and a full time job to go to, Penny certainly was kept busy. She did a fantastic job ensuring Mr Percival didn't get an infection and physio on his feet as well as intensive antibiotics.

Well done Penny. So 14 days later he was released but didn't want to go - he knew he wasn't quite ready. So back home with Penny for 3 more days of TLC.

Happily after convincing him he was a pelican, he as seen swimming with the other birds.

Penny will check on him every day. Quite an experience for a young bird and you Penny should be very proud of yourself. A mighty job well done!

Betty

Pelican Number 804

 You know the saying – "the old grey mare she ain’t what she used to be"

– well thank heavens Leonie is still fit.

We were 1 ½ hours south of Wollongong trying to catch a pelican when a

call came in back at Wollongong about a pelican at the golf course in real

trouble. So we high-tailed it back to find him in a creek right at the

back of the golf course. The greenkeepers thought he’d been shot as half

his wing was mangled – however the exact cause of the wound is still

unknown. Unfortunately he got himself in the water and we couldn’t find

him amongst the lantana and stinging nettles. Yes we both got hurt, and it

was getting dark. So next morning early we went back with the kayak and

nets. Leonie strung one net across the creek south of him and I got the

other net over to the north. With Leonie in the kayak in the bushes, I

clambered down to him where he was on a log to get him to swim towards the

kayak. A quite dangerous situation and with Leonie covered in mud she

grabbed him. The poor thing – a horrific wound – straight to the vet

where unfortunately he was euthanized. We are still shaking our heads as

to how and why this poor bird had to suffer so much!

We sure need some young blood in our group though as these 2 old girls are

wearing out!

Betty           

Kiama Casualty

A late night call to Australian Seabird Rescue from a resident out with her family who spotted this female pelican with something wrong with her neck - sure was!

We headed down in daylight and caught her straight away. She presented with a deep wound to her neck just starting to become infected. So off to the vet for assessment then back later that day for an operation. A big thank you to vet ""Than" of Canon & ball and an hour later she was in care with lots of stitches.

So a course of antibiotics and some TLC (even though she was a very cranky patient) she is now back out where she belongs.

Sadly it's the same old story - hook injury! But perhaps if we keep reminding people about safe fishing, it might sink in.

Betty

Oliver holding the pelican with the neck injury found in Kiama.

A worthwhile day on the Lake

A cold July morning couldn’t stop this mob of volunteers when there’s a job to be done for the good of our environment and wildlife.  Without the invaluable help of our team members John, Sam, Eddie and Michael, who own hovercrafts, this task would have been almost impossible. 

There are a few islands on Lake Illawarra, but tidal movements mean that man-made rubbish accumulates on Bevan Island near where the lake opens to the sea.  So 11 volunteers spent two and a half hours picking up rubbish, with the Hovercraft boys ferrying some 23 large bags of rubbish back to the mainland – the environment can now breathe a little easier.

Even though we do regular clean-ups around the lake and harbours this was a mighty effort - a great big thank you to all involved.

As usual the majority of rubbish was cans and bottles, both glass and plastic and bait bags.

The people who use this waterway and in fact any waterway need to be more aware and stop and think and ensure their rubbish goes home with them – otherwise the marine and birdlife will dwindle away in search of cleaner areas to dwell and breed, leaving the waterways barren – wouldn’t you!

Betty

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.