Well - that
was a weekend that was - apart from out
of season scorching heat - we had 3 interesting rescues.
It all
started at 5pm on Friday with a call from new team members Narelle and her
daughter who had decided to go on a patrol and spotted a little female pelican
with a large lump on her neck. They contacted me (Betty) immediately and I went
straight over. On catching her it appeared to be an abscess or a tumour so off
to the vet. Many thanks here to Deiderik of Kembla Grange Veterinary practice
who saw us straight away despite clients waiting. He couldn't syringe it as it
was too solid so next morning back we went before the surgery opened and he cut
it out.
She is now
in care for 10 days so next time someone says "oh don't worry the hook
will rust" here's proof that they don't and do work their way into the
body. Untreated she would've died from infection or starvation so well done
girls you saved her life as did the vet.
Saturday a
pelican was reported with a broken wing but despite Narelle and I searching for
over an hour we could not find it. The area is a large inlet fed by the sea
that tapers into a mostly inaccessible creek. It was thought she must've
drifted out to sea or gone right up then creek to hide as there were lots of
people splashing around. Unfortunately it was a delayed call from another
rescue group making it even harder to locate the bird.
Sunday
morning a call came in about a swan not wanting to move. On picking her up I
noticed blood in her mouth. The fellow said he heard a bang on the roof
Saturday night but didn't think much of it then found her on Sunday morning. So
back home, rehydrated and mouth washed she settled down. Worried about
concussion or internals I kept her overnight for observation and happily
released her Monday morning clear of injuries.
Sunday 8pm
a fellow spotted a pelican in a drain with a broken wing. So that's where she
went!! A long way from where she was reported on Saturday. So on the phone to
co-ordinator Kirsten off we went with torches, rope, fish and fingers crossed.
There she was 6 ft down in the drain so over the fence and down we went after
letting the police know what we were doing. 9pm now and she panicked seeing
these 2 mad women coming over the fence with torches. We were unable to catch her
as it was very slippery. She then ran under a bridge. So back over the fence
and across the road. We found her in a totally inaccessible place surrounded by
reeds and who knows what else was down that steep bank. Unable to scare her
back under the bridge we had to admit defeat and headed home at 10pm to return
next morning and hopefully find her again.
Monday 7am
Team member Oliver and I headed back to find her with Kirsten on standby. She was
in the same spot so with Oliver hiding under the bridge I tried to scare her to
go to him. She refused to budge and while we were figuring out how to get her
she got sick of us looking at her and went under the bridge on her own. After a
mighty effort from Oliver scaling the fence for the fourth time, and a chase,
she was in his arms. Sadly though to be taken to the vet. But she would've died
a horrible death in that drain - she was already under weight and had lice on
her.
With 2 out
of 3 success stories - it sure was a weekend that was.
Thank you
Kirsten, Oliver and Narelle. Also vet Deiderik for fixing up the little girl I
still have in care and Greencross Vets for being open on a public holiday.
Betty
