GGOWEROWER BBIRDIRD HHOSPITALOSPITAL

Keeping wildlife wild Issue 15 2011/2012 £1.75 Welcome for a waxwing Newsletter no 15 Every little helps!

GOWER Bird Hospital has now been Conservation Trust all refer wildlife registered as a charity for 15 years. From casualties to Gower Bird Hospital because humble beginnings, the hospital has grown of our excellent veterinary and rehabilitation and improved tremendously and this has facilities. only been possible because of the ongoing Without Gower Bird Hospital there would be and generous donations from our nowhere for most wildlife casualties to go to supporters. More than 20,000 patients have receive the specialist treatment and arrived at Gower Bird Hospital since 1996. rehabilitation they need. We are a relatively During 2010 we admitted almost 2,000 small charity providing an essential and patients – an increase of 25% on the unique service which is totally dependent on previous year. your donations. Local veterinary practices, the RSPCA, Every pound really helps – thank you! RSPB, National Trust, PDSA, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the Bat

SCANDINAVIAN VISITOR — Hopefully this What’s uncommon berry-eating inside waxwing is back where he belongs by now. Pages 2-3 Page 8-9

started eating blueberries. He continued ORE than 20,000 patients (174 Rearing At the to recover and was soon fit enough to be cutting Mdifferent species from large babies is moved outside to one of our rehabilitation edge of goshawks to tiny goldcrests ) have arrived one of our aviaries. After 16 days at the hospital he hedgehog at Gower Bird Hospital in the last 15 years biggest was released and hopefully returned to challenges care but we still get ÒfirstsÓ. Scandinavia the following spring. In December 2010 our first waxwing Page 10-11 Page 15 arrived. Found in Swansea city centre and Waxwings migrate to the UK in autumn brought to us by the RSPCA, the waxwing to spend the winter in relatively warmer had no obvious injuries and was a conditions and in spring return to Scandinavia to breed. Why our Top reasonable weight but was weak and pool naturalist Iolo somewhat subdued Ñ possibly he had Their main food source is berries and facilities are Williams been hit by a car and was still dazed. they can be spotted in Swansea feeding on vital in caring helps spread We set him up in one of our heated the whitebeam and rowan berries on for birds the word intensive care units with a mix of Kingsway! However, they are still a rare ( suitable food. For the first day he did sight so we were very pleased to have Published by Gower Bird Hospital. Designed and typeset by Eifion Jenkins 01834 813251. not respond, but on the second day helped this little individual back All pictures © Gower Bird Hospital, except where indicated otherwise into the wild. Printed by AST Print Group, Cardiff ( 02920 497901. Cover picture: Our first waxwing - © Barry Stewart

2 3 The young ones

VERY year hundreds of Enestlings and fledglings are brought to Gower Bird Hospital Ð itÕs then our responsibility to hand-rear them and release them back into the wild. We make every effort not to humanise these little individuals. Feeding is simple enough, but the most important part of the job is to keep human contact to an absolute minimum to allow the birds to develop as fully functioning wild birds. As soon as possible these youngsters are transferred from the intensive care unit to an aviary outside where they can These tiny long tailed tits were As soon as their feathers had mealworms and waxworms we experience different weather brought to Gower Bird Hospital developed they were had scattered in the aviary. At conditions and start to forage when their nest was destroyed transferred to one of our this point we stopped hand- for food for themselves. by a cat. They were kept in one rehabilitation aviaries furnished feeding and they quickly Thanks to our post-release of our heated nestling with lots of twiggy branches. became independent. studies, radio-tracking released incubators and after recovering Via our CCTV system we could We released them, fully fit and birds and fitting them with BTO from the initial shock of their see them flying around the capable of feeding themselves, rings, we are proving again and new surroundings started to aviary and within two days they just three weeks after their again that our methods work. HAND TO MOUTH — Feeding the house martin chicks. take food from tweezers. started pecking at the mini arrival.

Many house martin nestlings are brought to us between VERY young birds have no natural fear instead of becoming independent. Using June and September every year. As soon as they are instinct and will open their beaks to ask CCTV in our aviaries enables us to watch feeding well from tweezers they are moved into special for food as a response to any movement. from a distance and as soon as they start nest boxes in one of our aviaries. This is fortunate for us as we have to feeding themselves we stop hand- House martins have up to three broods a year and the become temporary foster parents. feeding. youngsters develop very quickly Ð as soon as they fledge However, continuing to hand-feed The difference is remarkable, within from the nest they are capable of catching their own food. when the birds are capable of feeding just a few days the natural fear instinct We have radio-tracked some of our released house themselves will result in mal-imprinting kicks in and a bird that was begging for martins and found that they cope extremely well, Ð the birds would become ÒhumanisedÓ food just a few days ago will now fly and their chances of surviving in the away from someone walking into the instantly joining the local wild groups and behaving ROAD TO RECOVERY — A in exactly the same way as their wild counterparts. song thrush fledgling. wild are greatly reduced as they aviary Ð exactly the behaviour we are constantly look to humans for food looking for.

4 5 Born to be wild — cutie Owl-right in the end destined to be a hunter

Barn owls have very strong talons for catching their prey but (as with all birds) feet are also extremely important for preening feathers. The barn owl even has a special toe (see inset) with a serrated edge which is used as a comb!

THIS kestrel nestling was found alone on talons that produces copious amounts of Within a few days he had started eating the ground in Penllergaer. How it had got smelly droppings. AWNY owls and barn owls are there was a complete mystery. T and was strong enough to be transferred We started the search for young kestrels of regular patients at the hospital. outside into a large rehabilitation aviary. Just like any other young bird, raising it a similar age as it is essential that young Around 70% have been hit by cars but Three weeks later he was fit and well, on its own would result in a mal-imprinted birds are reared with “siblings”. The only during 2010Õs very cold winter, one tawny bird that could not be released back place rearing kestrels of a similar age was weighing 456g and was released near owl arrived from Penclawdd having been where he was found. into the wild. Mallydams Wood RSPCA Wildlife Hospital found in a chicken run. Rescue centres are already inundated with near Hastings. A few days later we had a phone call tame birds of prey as well-meaning people The RSPCA arranged the transport and the He was very thin, weighing 313g and from the lady who had originally found make this mistake — the novelty soon kestrel was introduced to its new family obviously struggling to find food in the him to say she had found him in the wears off as the bird grows and changes where it made excellent progress and was harsh weather conditions. On arrival he chicken run again! This time he had from a cute baby to a large bird with sharp released into the wild. was given rehydration fluids and kept flown off very strongly, none the worse warm in one of our intensive care units. for his experience.

6 7 AnotherAnother firstfirst forfor thethe hospitalhospital

MORE than 3,000 hedgehogs have been admitted at Gower Bird Hospital Hog since 1996. They are brought in watch suffering from diseases and injuries or HEDGEHOGS of all ages are as orphaned hoglets. Hedgehogs are brought to us, either sick or thought to be declining and are now a injured. The most important species of conservation concern. thing to remember is that hedgehogs are nocturnal Simon’s aiming to master a prickly subject z c IMON has started his masterÕs i w e Sdegree by research at Bristol i n y University. As with all our research, the r animals and any hedgehog out G

welfare of the animal comes first Ð our h in daylight hours is in trouble. c n studies are carried out without changing i Even hedgehogs that appear to h C

the normal care, treatment or be bright and walking well are ©

rehabilitation of any of our patients. : usually just on the edge of e r

u succumbing to illness and can One of the most important parts of the t c

i die within days without proper research is developing a new way to P diagnosis and treatment. If you estimate hedgehog populations. The find a hedgehog out during the HELPING HAND This baby being hand-fed is helpless now but pretty soon will be fending for himself in the wild.. hedgehog lungworm only occurs in day please ring us. hedgehogs. This parasite is passed via hedgehog droppings to slugs and snails which are eaten by hedgehogs and so the slugs is a lot easier than finding BETWEEN May and October, baby hedgehogs or radio-tracked hand-reared hedgehogs when they cycle continues. hedgehogs so, if successful, this could hoglets are often brought to the hospital. Usually are released and have found that they manage It follows that if this particular provide a much more accurate way to the nest has been disturbed by people tidying very well, finding food and building nests just as lungworm is found in slugs then estimate hedgehog populations. that Òscruffy bitÓ of the garden. efficiently as their wild counterparts. hedgehogs must be in that area, so Simon When completed, this method could be In the wild, youngsters are fully weaned and is developing a method to find the DNA Some hoglets are genuine orphans, the mum may used across the UK, one of the main independent at just six weeks old. Because of this of the parasite in slugs. have been killed on the road. Hunger will make benefits being the conservation of habitat quick development female hedgehogs can have the hoglets leave the nest and they are often At present, hedgehog numbers are used by hedgehogs. We would like to two or possibly three litters in one season. The estimated by sightings recorded by thank the PeopleÕs Trust for Endangered found in the open squeaking for their mum. male hedgehog plays no part in rearing the volunteers and the number of Species and the Gower Society for As with birds, we keep human contact to a youngsters, the female does all the work hedgehogs killed on roads. Finding sponsorship for this project. minimum when hand-rearing hoglets. We have including building the nest!

8 9 WaterÕs the stuff of life Pool time is not just for fun

ANY different species It’s the Mof birds arrive at the hospital and our eight truth rehabilitation aviaries can be modified accordingly. We also have two specialised aviaries with pools for water birds. All birds need water to wash and keep their feathers in good condition but our pools are especially vital for water birds. GANNETS, with a Sometimes patients take a wing span of up to two metres, are couple of days to get to one of the largest Gower Bird Hospital and itÕs birds needing our always gratifying to see aquapens to water birds dive straight into recuperate. the water to wash and drink. CCTV is installed in all our aviaries and often we will all Picture: © Chinch Gryniewicz stop for a couple of minutes to watch a new arrival VITAL WATER Gull chicks like this one will be ready for release washing furiously in the in about six weeks. As their feathers develop they need access to water to wash and preen, ensuring their plumage is fully pool, obviously delighted to waterproof when released. FRIENDLY VISITOR Kittiwakes are one of the gentler species of gull. have a bath! End of the line for hooked gull

DISCARDED fishing line and tackle is a huge tangled around its foot was attached to the ground problem for water birds. As well as the obvious and a member of the public spotted its distress. We danger of sharp barbed fishing hooks, the line were able to remove the tangle of hooks and lures, itself can tangle around wings and legs. If the line the heron made a full recovery and was released a isn’t removed quickly, it can stop blood circulation few days later. as well as causing deep infected wounds. The gull on the right wasn’t so lucky. The visible If you see fishing line on the beach or on river hook was deeply embedded inside its mouth and it banks please pick it up and dispose of it safely – had swallowed two other hooks which had lodged well wrapped and put in the bin. Be careful of any deep in its throat. The hooks had been embedded sharp hooks. for weeks and the gull sadly died from a The heron pictured left was lucky – the line combination of infection and starvation.

10 11 Expert help means it’s nothing but the best Gower Bird Hospital is fortunate to have supporters and LEFT Dr Dan volunteers who are experts in their fields Forman.

BARRY STEWART BSc is an environmental consultant and BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) ORPHANED ringer and has a seemingly endless POLECAT knowledge of the natural world Another from birds to insects and plants as member of well as an endless ability to share the mustelid all he knows! family, which includes He is a BSBI (Botanical Society of otters, the British Isles) recorder and badgers, committee member of Gower weasels and Ornithological Society and stoats. Glamorgan Moth Recording Group. Picture: © Dan Forman

t Barry supervises Gower Bird r a Hospital’s ringing project. w e

t debate about the natural world Ñ Dan S Visit Barry’s blog R Dan Forman of Swansea y

r was honoured with the Distinguished

r www.goweros.blogspot.com which a DUniversity is an expert in many

B Teaching Award for exceptional provides an amazing resource for ©

fields of ecology and is the county : achievements. e r people interested in sharing wildlife recorder for mammals. He is particularly u t

c sightings in Swansea, Neath, Port i well known for his work with otters, As well as always being on hand to P Talbot and adjacent areas. polecats and water voles. advise us, Dan donates the proceeds of his talks to Gower Bird Hospital. A very We always receive excellent feedback interesting and informative talk about from students about DanÕs enthusiasm otters on Gower raised more than S always, we would like to thank our and his ability to stimulate interest and £200 for us. Avet, Brita Webb MRCVS, for giving her time so generously. At Gower Bird Hospital we have a well- equipped veterinary unit including Appliance general anaesthesia facilities and a of science dispensary. Brita is able to anaesthetise birds and A SPECIAL thank you to Paul Llewellyn MPhil, CBiol, animals requiring surgery and prescribe MBiol (pictured left). medications as necessary. Brita never Gower Bird Hospital’s first patron, Paul has nurtured charges for her time, saving the hospital us from the very beginning. His advice and guidance thousands of pounds every year. ensures that Gower Bird Hospital provides excellent care and rehabilitation based on an awareness of the individual’s natural history and ecology. This ensures that all welfare needs are met and that SAFE HANDS Brita is pictured right our work is backed up by good science. operating on a hedgehog.

12 13 And here’s to you ... Wildlife enthusiasts just

KEEPING WILDLIFE WILD is our motto reason we need your support – we do not can’t get enough of Iolo and Gower Bird Hospital depends on the raise funds by putting our patients on generosity of people who understand our display. principles. Each patient’s treatment and rehabilitation All our patients are wild birds and animals costs an average of £35. OLO Williams has been a – easily frightened by contact with people I We would like to thank The Gower Society, patron of Gower Bird and needing as much peace, quiet and Pennard Community Charity, Jean Hospital since 2007. privacy as possible to recover quickly. Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust, Pettifor Iolo was kind enough to The hospital cannot be open for visitors to Trust, Royal Pigeon Racing Association look around as this would cause too much and Walker 597 Animal Trust for their offer an illustrated talk on The distress for our patients and is another continued support. Wonderful Wildlife of Wales to raise funds for Gower Bird Hospital. A special thank you to Even Iolo was Bryncoch Environment Group for their very kind donation of £250. overwhelmed by the response t Ð the 300-seat lecture theatre t Aberdare Boys Comp School organised various events raising a total of £358. at Swansea University was t Dianne of Llanelli who raised £200 by hosting a charity evening. filled to capacity, but we had to turn more than 100 people t Steven Powell’s Sponsored Porthcawl Xmas Swim raised £50. away as there were simply no t The Ryan Hook-a-Duck Team raised more than £400 for Gower Bird Hospital at more seats! Pennard Carnival. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening which INSPIRATION Iolo and Ben, one of the youngest members of raised over £1,300. Our the audience. Iolo’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of wildlife apologies to those who didnÕt is an inspiration to everyone from nine to 90! Feeling twitchy? get in on the evening Ñ Iolo has Name these birds promised to do another talk for us and this time tickets will be available in advance so Keep an eye out ... everyone can get a seat. How to help 3 YOU can help by sending us a donation or setting up a standing order. If you would like to organise a fundraising event for Gower Bird Hospital, we would be delighted. Please let us know and we will provide any help we can. For example we can provide leaflets, 1 2 4 sponsorship forms etc.

Or you could nominate Gower Bird Look for the donation form included in

4, Sparrowhawk. 4, Hospital as the charity to receive the this magazine or just fly along to Answers Razorbill. 3, (juvenile). Siskin 2, woodpecker. spotted Great 1, proceeds from your pub quiz, school www.gowerbirdhospital.org.uk activity or other fundraising event.

14 15 Without your support ...

HUGE thank you to all Aour supporters Ð itÕs thanks to your kind donations that Gower Bird Hospital is here to provide care, treatment and rehabilitation for thousands of wildlife casualties. We would like to thank everyone who brings a wildlife casualty to Gower Bird Hospital. The best way to transport wild birds and animals is simply a closed cardboard box. Make sure there is plenty of ripped newspaper or an old towel in the box to support the patient Ð slipping about on bare cardboard is very stressful for an already frightened bird or animal. l If you would like to send us a donation but the form is ItÕs best not to put water in missing from this magazine, please make cheques payable the box as this will most likely to Gower Bird Hospital and send to the address below, or if get spilled resulting in a wet, you would like to donate by card, you can do this securely cold patient. Keeping the via our website. Please include your name and address for patient dark while travelling our mailing list. also minimises shock.

Getting in touch

Tel: 01792 371630 A phone call is always greatly appreciated prior to the admission of a wildlife casualty Gower Bird Hospital, Sandy Lane, Pennard, Swansea SA3 2EW Website: www.gowerbirdhospital.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Registered Charity No: 1053912