Clean the Bay Day

On Saturday 14th December 2013, a group of likeminded people came together to take part in the first annual ‘Clean the Bay Day’. They participated in a much needed clean‐up of a local, seemingly pristine beach. Volunteers from several wildlife and conservation organisations spent around 4 hours cleaning up Long Beach North, located in Beecroft Peninsula, Currarong. Despite heavy rain and strong winds, 11 enthusiastic people came together to show that organisations can and will work together to protect our environment.

With 11 sets of hands, they collected close to 35kg of rubbish, in approximately a 2km stretch of beach. This rubbish included 29 plastic cups, 23 aluminium cans, 103 foam fragments, 341 plastic fragments ‐ varying from under 2cm to 1m in size, 144 plastic food wrappers, A squid lure, A pair of undies, 2 beach towels, A beach umbrella frame, 6 pack of chicken thigh fillets, a loaf of bread and a massive clump of balloons ‐ 39 balloons with strings and plastic clips attached!

The volunteers come from all walks of life, but all have one common goal and passion – to keep our ocean and coastline beautiful, and to protect our precious wildlife. Members from Responsible Runners Jervis Bay, Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast, ORRCA (Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia) and Marine Mammal Research participated in the clean-up day. They are hoping to raise awareness of the issues surrounding our local areas, and show what a small collective of people can achieve when they all have a common goal.

Jervis Bay and surrounds is a haven for wildlife species and people need to be aware of the consequences of these huge build ups of marine debris. Even a beach that looks clean and pristine will often have a huge deposit of pollution, either from beachgoers, or carried in on ocean currents. People need to be educated that lazily throwing out a piece of rubbish can have disastrous effects on a species. Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast members are all too familiar with the devastating effects of marine pollution to wildlife. Members regularly partake in patrols of their local areas to look for entangled birds. Particularly pelicans that often have fishing line entanglement and hooks embedded in their bodies. Many people believe that a hook will simply rust and fall out of a bird, this is completely untrue. The hooks can cause massive infections and ultimately lead to a bird having to be euthanased.

Members from ORRCA (Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia) also attended, with two members traveling from Sydney on the day to show their support. ORRCA is the most experienced and successful whale rescue organisation in Australia. They assist with, monitor, and give advice on marine animal entanglements, strandings and collect data on marine mammal species. Jervis Bay based members of Marine Mammal Research also attended. MMR is a collective of researchers and volunteers who are passionate about the marine environment Their objective is to conduct sound scientific research on marine mammals and to educate the public on these animals.

Responsible Runners Jervis Bay is a local group who integrate running/walking with weekly cleanups to reduce marine debris, build stronger communities, and raise awareness about the health and environmental dangers of single‐use disposable waste, particularly plastic, to effect positive behavioural change. They submit data on all hauls to Tangaroa Blue's Australian Marine Debris Initiative. The Responsible Runners group meets at Ocean Street beach car park, Culburra Beach every Sunday at 4:00PM and various beaches in Jervis Bay on the 1st Saturday of the month. They have an active Facebook page members can request a beach that needs some TLC. Everyone is welcome and it’s also a great way to exercise.

Shari

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

Fate of a Fiesty Duck

Last weekend a resident of Sanctuary Point noticed a Chestnut Teal duck in her garden that was trailing a length of fishing line. She called Australian Seabird Rescue and Shari & Shawn from Sanctuary Point successfully caught him. The local vets xrayed him, which showed that the position of a fishing hook attached to the line was very low in his gut and chances of his survival were slim. Shari and Shawn were coming to Wollongong to release a young penguin rehabed from its exhausting adventure, getting lost on uncertain currents in Lake Illawarra and now ready to go back home there, so they called Betty, Wollongong's ASR wildlife carer. She suggested bringing the duck to her and she would get another opinion from the vets at Cannon and Ball in the Gong who specialise in birds. Very quickly he proved a lively little bloke this duck, fiesty in fact and a bit of a Houdini......

Vet Kim of Canon and Ball could see from the xrays his chances could go either way, she explained later that the hook was embedded very close to his 'gizzard' and damage to it during surgery would be fatal. He escaped during this first consult and was not easy to catch even in small confines of the consulting rooms, "He's pretty fit" thought Kim, "worth a try!"

Xray of Fiesty Duck showing location of hook

He came through surgery very well and his rehab with Betty is promising, (he needed post op care, antibiotics and time for his wound to close). He has a check up with vet Kim tomorrow, if all is as good as it looks then he will be released this weekend at Sanctury Point, just over a week from his first capture.

Hook and line surgically removed from Fiesty Duck.

Fiesty Duck in his rehabilitation accommodation.

This looks like a pretty good outcome for the fiesty duck but there is a big moral in his story. Water birds and animals suffer dreadful, painful injuries and death from fishing line and fishing hooks, so please pass on this message to everyone you know who goes fishing:

DON'T leave fishing line and fishing hooks unattended in the environment

DO check that you have not inadvertently dropped any of your line or hooks

And if you hook a bird:-           

DON'T cut the line, gently reel in the bird until you can hold it securely with its wings folded to its body. Seek help from your nearest vet or ring ASR 0431 282 238.

A bird entanged with fishing line means it can be in a lot of pain and most often will suffer a painful, slow death.

Annie

Latest branch news

NEW MEMBERS:

 Firstly,  I would like to welcome Amy, Kate, Linda, Kiala, Monique and Paul to our Branch ... it is fabulous that you have joined us and I look forward to seeing you at the workshop if you can make it (Sunday 15 December).

 RESCUES/REHAB UPDATE

 We have had another busy few weeks with the pelicans... many affected by botulism.  Betty has five in care at the moment and I would like to particularly thank Julie for all her support - she has been assisting Betty on a daily basis with medications/feeding and the general housekeeping which is required.

 We have also had a big effort by Shari and Shaun during the past few weeks with a range of rescues.... thanks guys.  Many of our members have been working as a team when needed - fantastic work!

 As previously mentioned, if you have a spare afternoon or day that you are able to assist and/or undertake a proactive please call Betty on the ASR hotline  0431282238 - I don't want to see Betty burnout.... we all know what the consequences would be if that occurred.  The Christmas period is going to be a challenge as many of us will be away and I would like to arrange for Betty to have a few days without the phone... we will need to discuss this at the meeting.

 WARRAWONG BBQ

 I would like to thank Lidia, John, Michael, Fulvia, Kay, Leonie, Tess, Kath and Jennifer for running the BBQ at Bunnings, Warrawong, we banked approximately $1100, which is a fantastic effort! 

  JOINT CLEANUP:  14 December 2013:  Longbeach North, Beecroft Peninsula, Currarong:  11am

 Please don't forget that we have organised a joint cleanup with ORRCA, Marine Mammal Rescue & Responsible Runners, Jervis Bay on 14 December -  bring a picnic lunch if you are able to hang around to talk to our friends from other wildlife rescue organisations.

 Let me know if you can attend as I will be taking my car and have some spare seats.

 ASR WORKSHOP FOR NEW MEMBERS/REFRESHER FOR CURRENT MEMBERS:  Sunday 15 December 2013

 I am  conducting a workshop for new members on Sunday, 15 December at the Port Kembla Sailing Club near Berkeley Boat ramp from 9.15am to 3pm... so if you require a refresher (every two years) please let me know and you can participate in this workshop.

 BRANCH MEETING:  Monday, 16 December 2013

 The last meeting of the year is on Monday, 16 December at the Illawarra Yacht Club -  so come along for a quick meeting; light refreshments and a social chat.  It is a pity our southern friends are a bit too far away to join us..... but we certainly acknowledge all the work that people do and I will make every effort to come down the coast to catch up in the new year!

 Kirsten

 

Oily peli's at Greenwell Point

Last Sunday Betty received a call from Australian Seabird Rescue team member Shari, to say there were a bunch of pelicans at Greenwell Point covered in oil. So a scramble was on to get there asap. Betty and Kathryn took the ASR van with Kirsten and Jeff following close behind. Betty and Kathryn thought they were only 5 minutes from their destination when low and behold they rounded a corner and came across a herd of cows crossing the road heading for their afternoon milking (not sure what "Mr Cow" was doing amongst them!). 

We had to wait for a herd of cows to cross the road! They were very interested in us.

After waiting patiently for them all to cross (we didn't have much choice did we!) we continued on our way. Shari and Sean were waiting for us when we arrived at Greenwell Point along with Judy from WIRES who had come along to help. Shari and Sean had already captured one pelican. This one not only had oil on his feathers but had a bad wound on his back. The nooses were set and Shari and Sean managed to capture another of the oily pelicans while Jeff snagged one using the beak grab method. By this time the birds had become rather wary and while still hanging around hoping for a free feed, they were not coming close enough to capture. So unfortunately this left at least 3 more oily birds out there.

The least affected of the pelicans was taken to Judy's for treatment and overnight care in an enclosure usually reserved for wombats! Betty and Kathryn took the other 2 back to Wollongong in the van, with the birds protesting all the way.

We stopped at the Berkeley fish shop to pick up supplies for the birds dinner  and Betty noticed a sick pelican in the wetlands. Jeff had attempted to catch this bird in the morning but at that stage she still had enough energy to continuously keep out of his reach. So no rest for Kirsten and Jeff as they were called on their way home from Greenwell Point and using the kayak successfully picked up the now very sick bird. She has botulism, which is very prevalent at this time of year. With a few days of TLC, many of these birds are able to make a full recovery. Meanwhile, the two oily birds were installed in their new home. Their bath would wait til the next day as it was so wet and miserably cold by this time.

The oily pelicans are washed and given antibiotics.

It has been a busy period for ASR and Betty has had a lot of birds come into care. We don't know how the Greenwell Point birds became covered with oil so the worry is how many and what other wildlife are affected.

Many thanks to Shari, Sean, Judy, Betty, Kirsten, and Jeff for their help in the successful capture of 3 oily birds and also thanks to the member of the public who first noticed and reported them.

Kathryn

Just a few updates:

 

*  Fantastic result for the BBQ on Sunday at Shellharbour... we banked approx $1700... so well done to the team:  Tracey, John, Michael, Eddie, Leonie, Tess, Jennifer, David and Kay!   Thanks to those of you who donated some bits and pieces to the cause.  Our last BBQ for the year will be at Warrawong Bunnings on 30 November.

 

*  There are still a number of Shearwaters being found in the area.. keep us informed... Unfortunately the birds are so exhausted their rate of survival is low; however, our focus is getting them off the beaches where possible so they are not mauled by dogs or foxes.  Again, keep up the PROACTIVE PATROLS - there are birds out there with injuries - notify Betty on the hot line 0431282238 if you spot a bird that needs assistance.

 

*  There is a clean up at the Berkeley Boat Ramp on Sunday, 3 November from 9.30am... if you are able to come for an hour or so that would be great - it is filthy.  Annie and Julie's  Bushcare group will be cleaning up Hooka Pt at the same time.  Wear closed in shoes, and bring your own water, sunscreen and hat.

 

*  Shari has put forward a great initiative where ASR members join in with a multi-group CLEANUP at Jervis Bay, Long Beach, on Saturday, 14 December 2013, from mid morning.  She is approaching groups such as the Marine Mammal Research Volunteers, ORRCA, and Responsible Runners at Jervis Bay.  If you are interested I thought we could integrate a patrol into the day and have a picnic lunch.... mark your diaries and I will forward more information when it comes to hand.  We are looking at the media covering the initiative.  I am hoping some of our friends in the southern area can join us....

 

* Kirsten will be co-facilitating three workshops with the Wollongong Council during National Recycle Week:  if you are able to attend one of the workshops I have provided the details below.

 

It is being promoted as 'Birds in the Bag' and relates to promoting less plastic bags in our environment.  We are engaging with the community at large to identify ways in which this can be done.

 

Monday 11 November, 12.30pm-1.30pm @ Wollongong Library, 41 Burelli Street

Thursday 14 November, 11am-12noon @ Thirroul Library, 352-358 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

Tuesday 19 November, 2-3pm @ Warrawong Library, Level 1, 67-71 King St

Book now: at the above libraries or phone Council's Green Team on 42277262. Email: gt@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

 Kirsten

Sapphire’s Story

On 25^th August Shaun and I attended to a call to pick up an unwell Little Penguin, that  Barry an Australian Seabird Rescue team member from down south, had picked up earlier from Dalmeny. We met Barry in Ulladulla and the very sick, underweight and lifeless bird came into our care. I initially thought that the penguin wouldn’t survive the car trip home, he was dehydrated, incredibly skinny and just about to give up the fight. There was barely any movement from the carry cage on the way home, his head was being held upright by towels and Shaun and I both didn’t believe there was much hope for this one.

We got home, administered fluids, antibiotics and Spark by stomach tube and set up our penguin cot, with lots of soft towels, a hide box and hot water bottles. He weighed a measly 540g, an adult Little Penguin should be 1kg or over. Things were not looking good. We performed a thorough examination of him, scrupulously checking for ticks, as he was showing signs of paralysis in the neck, feet and legs. There were no ticks to be found, but we realised his feet and legs had many superficial wounds and grazes. We tended to the wounds as best we could, washed away the sand and applied an antibiotic and soothing ointment to them. The next thing we noticed was a limp right flipper, bright lime green faeces and after many calls to Betty we came to the conclusion that Sapphire was suffering from Botulism. We decided that the other injuries could be dealt with once the Botulism had been treated.

Shaun performing a tick search on Sapphire the penguin on Day 1

Very sick Sapphire on Day 1

The next morning I tentatively went in to check, hoping for the best. He was still with us! He was still very much in a critical condition, flopped over, being supported by towels and very lethargic. I continued to feed him by stomach tube throughout the day. By day two he was standing for short periods, was aware of his surroundings, holding his head up and trying to walk. Later on in day two he accepted force fed whitebait, much to his disdain. Day 4 and Sapphire was holding himself upright without the aid of towels, still not walking but an incredible improvement. I continued with fluids and feeds four times a day and he began to rapidly gain weight. By Day 5 he was ready for his first warm bath, he was not impressed and it lasted approximately 2 minutes until I took him out to dry off , back to bed for Mr Cranky!

Sapphire the penguin standing up on Day 4

First bath on Day 6 fro Sapphire the penguin.

As I was preparing to force feed some fish to him on day 8, I could see a twinkle in his eye before a sharp snap, and the fish was gone! I held out another, snap! It was a breakthrough moment and Shaun and I became pretty excited. From here on Sapphire readily (greedily) took fish from our fingers.. that was until he started to get really cheeky,  if we weren’t fast enough getting the next fish to him he’d grab our fingers… we transitioned to feeding him with silicone tongs very quickly!

Sapphire the penguin tarting to free feed.

Shari feeding Sapphire the penguin.

He began to dramatically improve, getting fatter and more vocal by the day. That little flipper was still lame but he regained full movement in his feet and legs, he had beaten the botulism! And it was time to move out! Well, into the outdoor enclosure anyway.. Once moved outside he began to improve even further, and his true personality began to shine. He would call out loudly at sunrise, when he was hungry, while he was eating, when he’d finished eating, and on sunset. He soon worked out that when he called, I came running (with fish in hand). I was wrapped around his little flipper, and he knew it!

On day 31 he weighed  850g, nearly double of when he first came into care, he was well on his way to recovery. After many phone calls to Betty and Penny, we decided to give him a deep bath to test his flipper out. Unfortunately there were no signs of improvement so Betty took him for an assessment at Cannon and Ball Veterinary Clinic, they found that the flipper had an old injury and the decision to take him to Taronga Zoo for further assessment and treatment was made.

Sapphire the penguin having a bath outside.

Sapphire the penguin having a bath outside.

 Shaun and I made the trip up to Taronga Wildlife Hospital for the handover, and met with Libby Hall. She kindly gave us a fantastic tour of the veterinary clinic, hospital and rehabilitation facility and very generously gave us a visitor pass to do some “research” on the zoo! We really appreciate the lovely gesture and thanks to Libby we had an amazing experience of seeing what goes on behind the scenes at the zoo.

I’m in regular contact with Vanessa at the Wildlife Hospital at Taronga Zoo, and Sapphire is settling in nicely. He is continually recovering and putting on weight, and being as vocal and cheeky as ever. The latest news is that he will not be suitable for release into the wild due to his flipper. A release into the wild would mean certain death for a penguin who cannot swim or fish. He will eventually join the zoo’s collection once he has fully recovered, served his time in quarantine and go on display with the rest of the colony in the Great Southern Oceans display.

A massive thank you to the team at Taronga, Libby Hall, Betty, Penny and Cannon & Ball Vet Clinic for your advice and assistance with Sapphire! Shaun and I both learned a lot while looking after him and are very happy with the outcome. We plan to sponsor/adopt Sapphire once he joins the Taronga colony and maybe even make a few visits to say hello.

Shari