WAY TOO CUTE

Check out this little cutie.  Whilst we do get babies this time of the year (some who lose their way) they never cease to amaze me.

This little one was reported in a vacant yard at the back of a very busy industrial/shopping area – very lucky she didn’t land on the road.

On her very first flight seeking out the fishing grounds, she has ‘fallen’ out of the sky exhausted so we picked her and put her in a nice quiet warm room for the afternoon – after rehydration and a couple of fish she promptly went to sleep.

Her beak is only 28.5 cm long but will grow quickly to about 35cm.  The baby pelican’s top beak is grey.  At approximately  10 – 12 weeks old they leave their nesting area – a big adventure for a little bird.  She was released late  afternoon in a safe area with the local flock to show her what to do.

I have observed her twice a day – every day and she is coping very well and has learnt to stay with the ‘big boys’ and hopefully away from humans.

This sort of experience warms your heart and confirms why we love what we do.

Betty     

CARELESS FISHING LEADS TO TRAGEDY ON FAIRY MEADOW BEACH

A call came in regarding a dead bird, tragically a Pied Oyster Catcher, which was on Fairy Meadow Beach, entangled in fishing line, with a band on its leg. 

Australian Seabird Resecue Team members, Terry and Fran, headed out to collect the bird whilst I checked things out with our mates at SOSSA.  Being an endangered species it was delivered to Lindsay Smith of SOSSA and he checked his records.  It was a sad result for Lindsay as he had banded the bird as a chick (approximately 12 days old at the time) in December 1992  on Flinders Isle off Port Kembla.  Yes, that’s right, 21.5 years old only to meet its fate due to someone not caring – it is presumed someone was fishing among the cunjevoi and rocks, the line became snagged and he/she just cut the line.

What a horrible death for the poor thing as the tide came in.

Oyster Catcher tangled in fishing line

Please – STOP – THINK – REMOVE AND TAKE HOME ANY FISHING LINE OR DEBRI.  IT REALLY IS VERY EASY TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

Betty