UNLUCKY

Egret found with broken wing.

This dainty little bird, an Egret, somehow got herself in trouble.  On a calm Saturday night a call came in to Australian Seabird Rescue, from the Port Kembla Rail.  A worker had found her hiding in the bushes.  Not a mark on her and absolutely snow white, unfortunately her left wing was broken.  So strapped up warm and safe for the night the outcome was never going to be good.  One wonders how she managed to hurt herself - although this type of bird is quite common, they all have a place in the ecosystem and we should be ensuring all species a future.

Betty

A little story about Princess Penguin Penelope

Princess Penguin Penelope was found by a concerned beachgoer in November, who was walking her dogs. The sub adult Little Penguin had scrambled up onto the rocks at MM beach in Port Kembla and was looking a bit sad and sorry. Lucky for her Candice ,the lady who found her, called Betty at Australian Seabird Rescue and we arranged to go pick her up.

Princess Penguin Penelope recovering from her ordeal.

When I got her home I noticed that she was covered in dry feather sheath and was incredibly itchy. She was constantly preening at herself and hardly noticed when I came in to change her bedding or pick her up for her fluid administration. Betty kindly called Taronga Zoo to ask about known skin conditions but we were told it would pass and she'd be back to normal once the old sheath had fallen off.

After a few days on a regal diet of pilchards, seatabs and spark she started to look wonderful. As Penelope was underweight I kept her for a few days to fatten her up to give her the best chance of survival at sea. She quickly stacked on the grams and we released her on a gorgeous sunny, wind-free day. She was quite hesitant to leave her cage but once she felt that saltwater on her feet she knew exactly what to do and swam out into the ocean. Old mother hen (as Betty likes to call me) was very worried and kept watching until she was out of sight, I'm sure she looked back to say thanks! Let's hope Penelope stays out of trouble and lives a long, healthy life where she belongs.

Shari

Penny Penguin

A great outcome for this young penguin. 

 

Penny Penguin taking off back into the surf after 15 days of being in care.

 Perched on the rocks looking very sad and sorry for herself she was luckily picked up by the Port Kembla lifeguards who rang us immediately (thanks fellas).

 

Rehydrated and ‘tucked’ in for the night we were off to the vet the next morning where it was confirmed she had an infection and only weighed 636grms.

She was placed on antibiotics for a week and daily big feeds of fish.  15 days later and a healthy 1.12 kg she was happily released and took off at speed across the sand and dived into the surf.  Thanks to vet Mike Cannon she’ll now have a happy life .  Amazing little birds – it is always a pleasure to see them on their way.

Betty

No rest for ASR members on ANZAC Day!

A very cold windy ANZAC day and new Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver on his regular check of Port Kembla Harbour, found a pelican in trouble. So a quick call to base for help. On arrival the bird had gone onto the break-wall which has locked gates.

With a big thank you to Luke of the Water Police who unlocked the gate for us, I caught the bird. But on the break-wall also was a juvenile with a float and about 6 feet of line tangled in her wing. So I handed the first bird to Policeman Luke and tried to catch the juvenile. She wouldn't be in it so decided to come back later. The big male had a big hook in his leg and line tangled around that had cut into his leg plus a nasty wound to his wing. So transported him to go into care then back to get the juvenile, who was thankfully still on the break-wall.  Another call for help to the Water Police and Officer Luke unlocked the gate again. The bird was caught quickly and after attention was able to be released.

Without the help of the Water Police and Officer Luke these birds would still be in trouble - thank you again.

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

Breaking news - repeat offender!

Today Bill and Rhonda were called to the Northern Break wall of Port Kembla Harbour. There they found a very sorry young juvenile pelican begging for fish from a fisherman. He had a graze on his wing and was very dirty and undernourished. When they looked at him they noticed he had a number on his wing which Australian Seabird Rescue had marked on him 5 weeks ago when he was first found huddled up beside a dead adult pelican that had hit powerlines and died. This adult could have been his parent and the juvenile on his first flight from the island off  Port Kembla where he hatched. After rehydration and feeding, he was released into a group of older pelicans. He had been doing well and learning to catch fish himself until one day, when we checked on him, he had flown away.

But today we were reunited with him! He has been rehydrated and fed again and released with the older birds. We will regularly check on his progress, but who knows when we may meet again.