A desperate
call came in to Australian Seabird Rescue about a pelican unable to move very
much and blood on its wing, located on an island in Lake Illawarra. It was
freezing cold and gale force winds but the bird had to be rescued. With only 2
experienced kayakers (one at work and the other hesitant) and me not well
enough to even attempt it – a dilemma!
I
remembered that new team member Julie mentioned she had a kayak. I rang to see
if she could help. Without hesitation she said yes even after I said she was
going to get cold and wet. So off we went, 2 on the kayak to the island. This
poor female had her right wing smashed and almost severed. Without any trouble
we picked her up and Julie paddled us back to land then off to the vet to be sadly
euthanized. Presumably she had been
blown in to the bridge or an overhead cable that straddles the lake. But
without Julies help she would have died a slow horrible death as the ravens
would have found her. So a big thank you to Julie and welcome aboard.
Betty
