I do bird rescue in Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand ... native and exotic birds, anything that needs my help. (If you click on thumbnails of photos, you can see larger versions).
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Blue or Brown Teal ducklings
Just in this morning found in the water with no parents about. All dried out now and trying to get them to feed. Dear wee things :)
Crikey! The biggest escapee artists ever!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
February update
Certainly has not been as frantic re birds as last year, thank goodness, but has been busy. Little Chaffinch has been released. I was really concerned about her as I hadn't seen her for a few days and then a friend phoned and asked if I had released a female Chaffinch a few days ago cos there was one in her garden that was very friendly and flying into her house to pinch her canary's seed! Yes, my wee Chaffinch. She remains there and the kind folk are keeping an eye on her and feeding her. Yeah, I am very pleased.
One of the birds I have in at present is a Seagull that was hit by a car. Must have brain damage as it was, 5 days ago, completely uncoordinated, couldn't stand, couldn't feed. However, it is doing well now and yesterday, was practicing flying as I held it.
It is also feeding quite well now. Fingers crossed for its full recovery.
Daisy the Shelduck is a bit restless at present and beginning her February molt... this is the time of the year when all the Paradise Shelducks go to a communal site as they go through their big molt. Apparently they cannot fly for 2 to 3 weeks so huddle together for protection. Well, poor Daisy won't be joining them I'm sorry to say but am giving her extra attention and cuddles which seems to settle her down.
The two Quail are doing fine - 'Pumpkin' the Californian Quail is now bigger than 'Raisin' the Brown Quail and Pumpkin is much more outgoing and friendly than Raisin. I've decided to keep these two as I worry about their safety with cats about and even more so, the Weka. Our Quail population in the area is down a lot primarily, I think, due to the Weka unfortunately. The Weka eat the quail eggs and the babies.
Okay... I'd better go and do another feeding round!
One of the birds I have in at present is a Seagull that was hit by a car. Must have brain damage as it was, 5 days ago, completely uncoordinated, couldn't stand, couldn't feed. However, it is doing well now and yesterday, was practicing flying as I held it.
It is also feeding quite well now. Fingers crossed for its full recovery.
Daisy the Shelduck is a bit restless at present and beginning her February molt... this is the time of the year when all the Paradise Shelducks go to a communal site as they go through their big molt. Apparently they cannot fly for 2 to 3 weeks so huddle together for protection. Well, poor Daisy won't be joining them I'm sorry to say but am giving her extra attention and cuddles which seems to settle her down.
The two Quail are doing fine - 'Pumpkin' the Californian Quail is now bigger than 'Raisin' the Brown Quail and Pumpkin is much more outgoing and friendly than Raisin. I've decided to keep these two as I worry about their safety with cats about and even more so, the Weka. Our Quail population in the area is down a lot primarily, I think, due to the Weka unfortunately. The Weka eat the quail eggs and the babies.
Okay... I'd better go and do another feeding round!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Brown Quail, Californian Quail and a Chaffinch
The Brown Quail and the younger Californian Quail are doing very well and during the day, they are now in an outside aviary. Brown Quail is more skittish than the Californian but both are very cute. Don't know what the future will be for them though - I worry about releasing them cos of cats and the Weka who attack the quail. For the moment, they seem quite content and seem quite good friends so time will tell.
The little Chaffinch is also in an outside aviary now and is a delightful little bird. Any newcomers to the aviary, she greets and welcomes and ends up cuddling into them. She is currently sharing aviary with a fledgling blackbird that is almost ready to be released and then hopefully, I can put a young Thrush in with her. At the moment the baby Thrush has a sore leg (caught by a cat) and I am keeping her quiet.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Not a pheasant chick.....
Tis a Brown Quail chick. I have never seen a Brown Quail Chick in the wild but locals tell me that they are seen around here but are very shy birds - much more shy than the Californian Quail. However, this Brown Quail is thriving and has doubled in size and should be fine. It has made friends with my Chaffinch chick who is now fully grown and could be released but if I release her, Brown Quail will be lonely. So for the moment, they remain in a cage together.
The earlier C. Quail died unfortunately. Don't know why but just stopped eating. However, 4 days ago I was brought another C. Quail baby which was probably a day or two old. I have had it 4 days now and although it was a touch and go first 2 days, it is now feeding fairly well and gaining some weight. It is slightly bigger than a Bumble Bee now! Fingers crossed - I so hope I can pull this one through!
The earlier C. Quail died unfortunately. Don't know why but just stopped eating. However, 4 days ago I was brought another C. Quail baby which was probably a day or two old. I have had it 4 days now and although it was a touch and go first 2 days, it is now feeding fairly well and gaining some weight. It is slightly bigger than a Bumble Bee now! Fingers crossed - I so hope I can pull this one through!
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