‘HOOKED!’

Easter Sunday morning, sunshine was interrupted by a call to Australian Seabird Rescue from a resident, Dave, at the local mobile home village, reporting a pelican on the island with its wing down and unable to fly.

Onto the phone to Sam, one of our invaluable hovercraft owners, I asked if he could pick me up and take me to the bird.  Sam had a mate, Bruce, visiting from America, who came across and waited on the shore while Sam and I went to collect the poor thing.  The picture is compliments of Bruce.

Betty & Sam rescuing a pelican with a broken wing.

On inspection, the poor bird not only had a break, but a nasty wound at the site.  There is no doubt it was a serious hook injury (I have seen many, sadly).  Somebody has hooked the bird and just yanked so hard to get their 20c hook back, they have snapped her wing.  So, straight to the Greencross Vets, thankfully they are opened on Sunday, to be euthanized.

Thank you Sam for helping me save her from a horrible slow death.

If only…. you know, everyone – it really is so easy to stop, think and assess the situation before causing this sort of damage with a tragic ending.

Betty

Swanee

Out looking for a pelican with a large hook in his leg, we spotted a bird a the sandpit in Lake Illawarra looking very forlorn and reluctant to join the other pelicans for a free feed! He appeared unable to fly so on the phone to "hovercraft" John - fortunately he was at home and came straight over to pick up Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver. On approach though the bird did fly - great he must be OK.

But on the way over John had spotted a swan unable to fly so he and Oliver went to pick him up - success - he presented with poor quality feathers on his wings so straight off to the vet. A big thank you to Kim of Cannon & Ball veterinary for seeing us immediately as swans are prone to capture stress. It appears he has been caught in one of the many spot fires around the lake but his new flight feathers were strong and healthy - so ok to release and in a safe area he would be fine in a couple of weeks. Once again the hovercraft boys have been invaluable to us in assisting in search and rescue. Thanks John and Oliver

Of course there's still the pelican with the hook in his leg to be located and helped - eyes out there everyone please - thank you.

Betty.

Oliver holding the swan with damaged feathers due to a fire.

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

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

The first day of summer saw the Australian Seabird Rescue phone running HOT!

A big effort by Leonie in the kayak and then hitching a ride with John on his hovercraft saw a handsome pelican rounded up. He had a hook and lure deeply embedded in his leg, and line through his wings. So it was off to the veterinarian Col Pinney, who removed the hook. The pelican is now in care with a very sore leg but will be back in the wild in a few days.

Then a call about a bird at Windang also with a hook who has escaped capture - but we will get him - patience!

A call then came in about a sick bird on the other side of the lake. As we were already on the road after our trip to the vet we continued on to Windang. This was a little female with botulism. She is now in care and after a few days should be OK.

A big thanks to Leonie and to John in his hovercraft and also to Vet Col Pinney for attending the bird straight away.

7.30pm and time to settle down for the  night - WRONG! A call came about a pelican with a hook in his chest. We attended but it is almost impossible to catch a bird at night so we'll get him at sunrise. Whilst that was happening another call came about an injured bird at Port Kembla - off again. Sadly this turned out to be a seagull that died on the way home.

All in a day's volunteering and loving every bit of it!!

Betty

Hook & lure embedded in pelican's leg

Rescue of Numbers 716 & 717

With many thanks to Jean - a resident at Jetty's Van Park on Lake Illawarra who keeps an "eye out" for pelicans on that section of the lake - this little girl is now in care.

Pelican enjoying a ride in the kayak with Leonie!

Leonie's skills on the Australian Seabird Rescue Kayak managed to bring her into shore (after I had dragged Leonie out of Line dancing class!). This was the 2nd rescue for Leonie on the same day using the kayak. The other pelican has an eye injury so after a trip to the vet, she is now on the road to recovery.

Unfortunately we don't have many volunteers available on weekdays - it's lucky Leonie is fit! A big thank you to Sam for offering to use his hovercraft. These craft are invaluable to us for there are many places on the lake we are unable to get access to otherwise. 

Thanks to all our hovercraft boys.

Betty