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

Over 250 oiled birds are now being cared for at the Mount Manganui Wildlife Response Centre

The Mount Manganui Wildlife Response Centre now has 253 birds in care including petrels, shags, penguins and shearwaters plus 3 seals. Approximately 1300 birds have not survived. When the birds are brought into the centre they are assessed by vets and ornithologists to single out those which are physically strong enough to survive. The oil is too thick to remove by simply scrubbing. They are first bathed in warm canola oil which breaks down the fuel oil, then washed in warm detergent. The birds take about 5 days to preen the detergent from their bodies but they will have to be held in the wildlife centre for several months until their natural habitats have been cleaned of the oil.
A group of Hawke's Bay residents have knitted tiny woolly penguin pyjamas! These will be put on oil smeared Little Blue penguins to prevent them preening before their feathers have been washed free of the oil.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm

Back on the Rena, 88 containers have been lost overboard with 30 of these unaccounted for. Many of the remaining containers are in a precarious position and more are expected to be lost. Heavy seas have forced salvation efforts to cease and increased fear of the ship breaking apart.

Katie Cox captured exclusive close-up images 

of the grounded Rena off the coast of Tauranga.