Australasian Gannet

A late afternoon call to Australian Seabird Rescue from a holiday maker at Manyana regarding an injured bird on the beach prompted action. We were 2 hours away and it would've been dark by the time we got there so Wildlife Rescue was contacted. Thankfully they had a member who lived close and he headed out to get the bird. In the meantime I contacted the lady to throw a towel over the bird to prevent him going back in the surf. So the bird was rescued - fishing line untangled and an overnight stay with Wildlife Rescue. Julie and I went down the next morning to collect him. He still had 2 large hooks in his wing so we brought him home - removed the hooks and kept him in care for a couple of days to ensure he had 100% use of his wing.

With a clean bill of health he was released back into the wild. The ASR "mermaids" went into the surf to ensure he kept going and after about an hour of preening and getting the human smell off him he took to the sky.

Welcome to ASR Kate, seen here with Julie in the surf - all in the line of duty eh? Both girls down to their knickers to make sure the bird got away OK. I was very brave and stood on the beach taking photos. A big thanks to Wildlife Rescue for their help. It's great to be able to work with other groups to save our wildlife. 

A magnificent bird, the Gannet is a pelagic seabird that spends all its time at sea except for breeding. So this fellow, even though far from land, has had an awful experience with mankind due to careless fishing practise but thankfully the story has a good ending.

Betty

Australia Clean-up Day

The Australia Clean-up Day was postponed last Sunday due to the bad weather. Australian Seabird Rescue will be doing a clean-up this Sunday, March 11, 2012. Meet at the Reddal Parade Carpark, near Lake South Primary School, 9am. For more details contact the ASR hotline number 0431282238. Lets hope for an improvement in the weather!

Are there sharks in the Georges River?

This pelican caught in the Georges River had a hook under her eye attached to 2 hooks on her wing. She is now recovering  in care.

Australian Seabird Rescue of Number 749 begs the question - " Are there sharks in the Georges River?" -  of course there are - but I didn't tell Leonie until after her big effort of jumping out of a boat to try to catch this bird. Even a junior surf ski that she had borrowed couldn't beat the thick slushy mud and mangrove roots. This poor bird couldn't fly as she had a hook in her bill just under her eye attached by fishing line to 2 large hooks in her wing -  but boy could she still swim fast! She would've died of starvation and infection but for the resident who took Leonie out in his boat. After Leonie exhausted herself I went out with him for one last go and was lucky enough to grab the pelican and get her in the boat. But it was necessary to get her to head for deeper water first which of course she didn't want to because of her injuries.

Anyway a great big thank you to resident Lyn's husband for the use of his boat and this young bird is now in care and on the road to recovery.

Betty.

Two pelicans tied together at Koona Bay!

These 2 pelicans had been tied together with fishing line!

Friday 20th January - an early morning call from a fellow doing a seagrass survey reported 2 pelicans caught together with fishing line. He and his mate had caught the birds, cut the line but after letting them go realised the birds had broken wings. He told me he was in Haywards Bay so off I went on my own as I couldn't find a Australian Seabird Rescue team member to help me immediately. After getting lost in Haywards Bay ( a new suburb) trying to get to the water, I bailed up a fellow and his wife out walking. Keith was his name so I "kidnapped" him to show me how, to get down to the water - thanks to his understanding wife.  After going across a couple of paddocks, there was no sign of the fellas. I gave the phone to Keith to try to locate them. It turned out they were actually in the next bay - Koona Bay. So off we went again. By the time we arrived by road they had re-caught one pelican so in the back seat of the truck he went while they went out in their rubber duck to find the pelican. He was soon brought to shore so into the back seat also. Then back to Haywards Bay to return Keith to his wife before I went off to Wollongong with my 2 feathered passengers to the vet. Both these boys escaped actual breaks and after a thorough check by our valued vet are now in care to mend their bruises and get some TLC (even though they made a mess of the back seat!). The full waiting room of clients at the vet thought it was quite comical - 2 pelicans standing up in the backseat.

Anyways - a great big than you to Keith of Haywards Bay for helping me find my way and also to Nick and his mate in their rubber duck.

Finally thanks to Julia who helped me with the birds after the vet.

These very handsome boys will be back in the wild in about a week

Betty

Early morning at Kanahooka!

The early bird might get the worm but this poor handsome boy couldn't! With a piece of cotton thread wrapped firmly around his beak he could neither feed or preen so was quite weak and waterlogged. But after a bit of "fancy" footwork in the muddy shallows by Leonie he is now safely in care and after a bit of R & R and a good feed he will be released back in his own stamping grounds. Thanks to the member of the public, Chris, who spotted him, this lucky bird should have many more happy days fishing.

Betty

Port Kembla SLSC members help rescue a pelican in the surf

We thought our swan was a nice Christmas Day story but this Boxing Day event tops that (although all successful rescues score an impressive 10/10).

An afternoon call to Australian Seabird Rescue, about a pelican on the rocks not looking too good at Port Kembla beach demanded attention, so off we went. But on our arrival this very bedraggled young pelican had got in the surf and was drifting out to sea. We all know our lifesavers are heroes and they certainly proved that on this day. Port Kembla SLSC has always alerted us to birds in trouble including seagulls and didn't hesitate to help us rescue this wayward young bird. Very waterlogged and confused this young lady, between 4-6 months old, was brought into care and after a big feed and rest was on her way to a life of adventure and hopefully to have her own babies one day. Without the help of Melanie, Jake and Tynella she most certainly would have drowned as being waterlogged she couldn't fly and would've drifted out on the ocean until....?

Thanks to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Leonie who doesn't hesitate to dive in to save a bird. An extra big thank you to Port Kembla SLSC.

Betty

Port Kembla Lifesavers Melanie, Jake & Tynella help Leonie rescue a pelican from the surf.

Swan has ride in a hovercraft!

John and Leonie with the swan ready to go for a ride in the hovercraft!

Leonie with the swan ready for release after some TLC

This beautiful swan has John to thank for his rescue. John is a valued member of our Australian Seabird Rescue team as he covers areas of Lake Illawarra in his hovercraft that are inaccessible to other vessels. So a quick phone call to base from John got fellow member Kay organised to go with him to rescue the swan.

Other team members were already in another area responding to a pelican with the all too familiar fishing line problem.

The swan was picked up and brought into care and after a complete check over, some TLC, good food and R&R he was happily released on Christmas eve by John and Leonie, back in the same area where another swan was patiently waiting for his return - presumably his mate. A good result and nice Christmas story.

We are very lucky to have other members with hovercraft also who are always willing to help at the drop of a hat. Thanks fellas.

Betty