Photo courtesy of IBRRC

The largest oil spill disaster in US history, Deepwater Horizon Incident began on 20 April 2010 when a BP well blow out in the Gulf of Mexico. It is yet to be contained and so far has polluted nearly 50,000 square miles of fragile Gulf waters including critical wetland habitat and over 2,000 birds including Pelicans, Gulls, Dunlins, Gannets, Herons, Egrets, Terns, Ibis and Spoonbills.

For daily statistics of affected wildlife including birds, sea turtles and dolphins visit International Bird Rescue Research Centre (IBRRC) .  We will probably never know just how many animals will suffer and perish as a result of this terrible environmental tragedy and their habitat, their home will take generations to recover.

We have been contacted by many people knowing that we are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of pelicans and seabirds expressing their dismay at the oil spill and are wondering how they can help. We have listed below a number of informative websites of US organisations that are contributing to the rescue and rehabilitation of affected wildlife. The collective sentiment regarding donations is that although ‘BP will fund the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of wildlife affected by the Deepwater Horizon Incident there continues to be thousands of sick, injured and orphaned animals all over the world every day that need help your help. These animals are cared for by local wildlife rehabilitation organisations and you’re strongly encouraged to support them and the great they do.’

If you wish to make a donation to Pelican and Seabird Rescue please click on the PayPal button, post a cheque or money order or talk to one of our dedicated volunteers when they’re in your area. Please identify if this is a donation for the Deepwater Horizon Incident and we will ensure it is forwarded to the relevant US wildlife organisation.

Helpful links include:

International Bird Rescue Research Centre
International Bird Rescue Research Centre Blog
Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
Save Our Seabirds Inc.
Oiled Wildlife Care Network
The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

Scientific Name: Anhinga melanogaster

Quite a large water bird – body length approx. 85 – 90cm with a wing span of up to 1.2m.

The Darter hunts for its prey underwater using a spearing action. It floats very low on the water surface, often with its body submerged and only the head and neck visible.

Mostly found in wetlands where the water has a depth of at least half a metre, with well vegetated banks and trees and logs.

Common reason for coming into care is fishing line entanglement and fishing hook damage… the solution? Please always dispose of fishing line correctly.

There were nine Award Categories to choose from and the PaSR team entered the Brisbane Airport Community Award Category. The project entered was titled ‘The rescue and rehabilitation of native birds in South East Queensland as a direct consequence of fishing’.

And guess what?

… drum roll…

We won!

Congratulations to the entire PASR Team!

The valuable contribution from each individual team member makes a huge difference to thousands of injured birds throughout South East Queensland every year. You go the extra mile and that is what makes PaSR so special. Without you many birds would suffer unnecessarily and die without the opportunity to be helped. Thank you to all our families and friends who so lovingly support our work, understand our passion, and forgive us for sometimes neglecting other life pursuits due to rescues and the responsibility involved in rehabilitating injured or orphaned birds.

To all our local vets please accept Very big heartfelt thankyous! Your support and dedication help us so much. Extra special thanks to Raby Bay Vet, Brisbane Bird Vet, Brisbane Bird and Exotics Vet and Belmont Road Vet. Thank you also to the Australia Zoo Hospital. Wildlife rehabilitators would be lost without the specialist treatment you provide to injured wildlife.

To the many people who care about birds and phone our rescue hotline to report an injured, sick or orphaned bird – thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to care. To the many more of you out there who have helped us along the way, taking us onto your boat, climbing the tree with us, diving into the water, writing a proactive letter
or giving a generous donation.

Thank you to Brisbane Airport who sponsored our award and SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership. Thank you also to the many organisations and government agencies that take an interest in our work and are proactive in wildlife and environmental conversation.

We’d like to congratulate all the other category finalists and winners for 2010 and wish you much success with the amazing work you’re all doing. It was inspiring for us to learn of the many projects for the preservation of South East Queensland Waterways. It gives a hope that the birds we rehabilitate are being released into fresh, clean, healthy water sources that are managed and monitored by passionate organisations and individuals.

For more information please visit the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership.

Cleveland
Australian Magpie with entanglement on foot.
Last seen early April 2010 on Shore Street, North Cleveland.

Clontarf
Australian White Ibis with entanglement on leg and blood on feathers.
Last seen mid May 2010 on Duffield Road near the Girl Guides building, Clontarf.

Colmslie
Australian White Ibis with fishing line entanglement on both legs.
Last seen early June 2010 at boat ramp Colmslie Recreational Reserve, Col Gardner Drive, Colmslie.

Crestmead/Marsden 
Lapwing Plover with fishing line entanglement on its leg.
Last seen early April 2010 in Capricorn Avenue, Crestmead.

Marsden/Browns Plains
Male Wood Duck with fishing line entanglement on its leg.
Last seen early April 2010 Chambers Flat Road near the Logan City Council Depot.

Ormiston
Great Egret with sore leg.
Last seen early June 2010 Hilliards Creek Park, Sturgeon Street, Ormiston.

Priestdale
Australian Wood Duck or Pacific Black Duck with broken wing.
Last seen early June 2010 Underwood Park, Underwood Road, Priestdale.

Sandgate
Australian White Ibis with fishing line entanglement on both legs.
Last seen mid May 2010 on Flinders Parade near swimming pool, Sandgate.

Shorncliffe
Australian White Ibis with fishing line entanglement on its foot.
Last seen mid April 2010 in Moora Park, Park Parade, Shorncliffe.

Shorncliffe
Pied Cormorant with hook in wing and trailing fishing line.
Last seen early June 2010 on Shorncliffe Jetty access via Moora Park, Park Parade, Shorncliffe.

Shorncliffe
Great Egret with fishing line entanglement on both legs.
Last seen early June 2010 on Shorncliffe Jetty access via Moora Park, Park Parade, Shorncliffe.

Shorncliffe
Great Egret with fishing line trailing from wing and tail.
Last seen late May 2010 onShorncliffe Jetty access via Moora Park, Park Parade, Shorncliffe.

Waterford
Purple Swamphen with broken leg.
Last seen early June 2010 Ninky Court, Waterford.

Wellington Point
Silver Gull with fishing line on leg.
Last seen early June 2010 Reserve Esplanade, Wellington Point.

Images Source: Morcombe, M. 2002. Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. Brisbane.

If you are researching information on Pelicans and Seabirds, please also contact us or make use of the information here in the Education Centre. The team at Pelican and Seabird Rescue not only rescues and rehabilitates wildlife, we aim to educate people on how to understand and conserve our precious fauna.

This area of the website is dedicated to current rescues of injured birds. We are seeking your help…

If you have time to look in your local area or if you accidently come across the birds listed here can you please call our rescue hotline immediately – 0404 118 301. We would ask that you stay with the bird to keep an eye on it. It’s very important that you make no attempt to catch the bird. This will only spook it and make our job of catching it much more difficult.

Please visit back here for updates of new rescues that you may be able to assist us with. Thank you for your time and for caring enough to help our feathered friends.

As skin surface cracks or breaks due to pressure from the inappropriate perches or housing, bacteria on the skin surface infects the sore.

If Bumblefoot is not treated correctly and quickly, permanent joint problems can follow. In serious cases, the infection travels, affecting other organs.

Waterbirds and seabirds in care are particulalrly susceptible to Bumblefoot, as their feet are not used to taking the full weight of their bodies for long periods of time. Generally the water supports their weight.

Symptoms of Bumblefoot include:

• Swollen foot pads, webbing and joints
• Red foot pads, webbing and joints
• Sores on foot pads, webbing and joints

Actions to take to avoid Bumblefoot:

• Use appropriate housing – avoid concrete, gravel or bitumen. Opt for soft flooring such as grass, sand or leaf litter. (Never use straw or hay as these contain spores and can lead to aspergillosis)
• Supply appropriate perches (ie. soft perches such as paperbark) of differing thickness.
• Clean the perches regularly or supply new ones.
• If appropriate and safe, provide ponds where the bird can sit in water – taking pressure off their legs and feet.

If as a registered carer you cannot supply the right housing, then please contact the carer’s group you are registered with and organise to pass your patient onto another carer. The bird’s welfare and hopes for future release are much more important than pride.

Here is an easy recipe for ‘Lori-Wet’ – a mix for honeyeaters (Noisy Miners, all sorts of Honeyeaters, Wattle Birds, Friarbirds, Lorikeets, Silvereyes, etc.).

Lori Wet

Ingredients:

375g Rice Flour
125g Heinz High Protein Cereal
125g Rice Cereal
325g Glucodin
400g Sustagen

Method:

1. Mix ingredients.
2. Store in a dry, cool place.
3. To serve, choose the amount desired and add warm water, mixing to the desired consistency (lorikeets tends to prefer a more watery mix – consistency of milk, and others prefer an almost porridge cosistency). Experiment to see what your patient prefers.

Be aware that heat can make this food ‘go off’, so replace the servings regularly.

This Lori Wet mix has also been used to supplement a diet of insects when raising Pardalotes. Nectarivores also eat insects, so a good supply of meal worms will be appreciated by your feathered patients.

Our goal is to fill this website with useful contacts and information about the care and conservation of our precious native feathered friends. It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran wildlife carer, you’ve found a Pelican with fishing line caught around its leg, or you simply want help with a school assignment on seabirds… you’re at the right place.

You’ll discover the first thing to do when finding injured or orphaned birds, what you can do to help protect our unique fauna, the latest news on Australian Wildlife, as well as tales from carers as they work to rescue, rehabilitate and release native birds.

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