Seabirds & Waders
Norma Henderson
WIRES
Northern Beaches Branch
The Rescue – be prepared
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Wear glasses for eye
protection
Have gloves ready
Take special care of
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Long thin legs
Long thin bills
Feathers
The Rescue
Waterbirds can be smelly, they
 Deficate
 Regurgitate
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Best container is a CARDBOARD BOX
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Contact the Bird Co-ordinator
Feeding water birds
Rehydrate with glucose or Vetafarm Spark
Force-feed initially. Teach self-feeding
Seagulls
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Often nest on unused
boats
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Easy to rear
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Imprint badly
Gannets
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Juveniles in trouble
Look for:Fishing line entanglement
Fish hooks external
Suspect fish hooks internal
Internal parasites
Shearwaters
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Beached washed birds Spring – arriving after long migration, starving, exhauxsted
Autumn – juveniles disoriented by lights, winds etc.
Penguins – moulting, oiled, injured
Taronga Zoo for long-term rehab
White-faced Heron
Chicks come into care abandoned
Watch long legs and leg paralysis
Darters and cormorants
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Long necks
Sharp hooked beaks
Attitude
Hold bird facing away
Wear eye protection
Wear long protective gloves
Release
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As close as possible to
capture site
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Seagulls - anytime
Penguins - evening
Pelicans - anytime
Waders - morning
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