Nestlings and Fledglings: can you tell what it is yet?

Later than usual Stapeley is now getting a steady stream of nestlings, quickly filling up our incubators and generating lots of hungry mouths to feed, usually on an hourly basis.  The most common reasons for admissions are their parents being predated on and the nest being disturbed or destroyed.  Fledglings are also admitted but often they are brought in too quickly; we are always encouraging concerned members of the public to monitor the situation to make sure their parents are not around the corner waiting for those concerned to move on.

  

Nestling Blackbirds

Nestling Wood Pigeon

During the process of admission we identify which species the nestlings are, which can prove tricky at times. When presented with an alien looking tiny pink nestling they can all look very similar, a bird in its adult plumage is much easier to classify.  It is important to identify correctly in order to provide the appropriate diet and housing.  Key clues that help us determine the species is the size of the nestling, the beak shape, feather markings (if they have any!) also the location found and which birds are known to nest in the area. 

Their true identity becomes more obvious as they grow, although usually right we get the odd occasion when it turns out to be something different!  See how many of the nestlings you can correctly identify from the photos (without looking at the captions!).

Nestling Wrens

Nestling Magpies

Nestlings and fledglings need specialist care for the best chance of survival, it is best to take them to a Wildlife Centre rather than attempting yourself. Also you should avoid carrying out building work, pruning, tree-felling or hedge-cutting in spring and summer as this causes many nesting birds to be disturbed and nests destroyed while in use.

For more information and advice on young birds please see this link

http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/ENQWADFindingFledglingNestling/category/Wildlife/

Fledgling Black bird

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text and our orphans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070

Stapeley's orphaned badger cubs

At this time of year many badger cubs are exploring outside their den and learning new tricks. Over the past two months Stapeley has received six orphaned cubs, three were local from Staffordshire and Cheshire, the others from Northumberland, North Wales and the other was networked through RSPCA East Winch.  All were orphaned and many had had their mothers taken from them, victims of road traffic collisions.  When no one returns to feed them the cubs are often found weak and hungry and desperately trying to find food for themselves.  It is therefore imperative that they are brought in and cared for as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, one of the cubs was so weak that he had to be put to sleep.

 

When cubs are admitted it is important to obtain as much information as possible such as the exact location it was found, the more detailed the better. They are then weighed, checked over by a vet, blood samples are taken and any treatments they require administered.

One of the more recent cubs, a little orphaned female, was found next to her dead mother on the side of the road, which must have been very sad to see first hand.  In the wild the mother would wean them on regurgitated worms, I’m dedicated to my job but that is a bit far!  Therefore she was fed (a much nicer) meal of puppy chum and a bowl of puppy milk, three times a day.

Four of the five cubs have now been grouped together following a period of isolation. They are now found in the crèche shed where they are able to socialise.  This is off limits to most staff as we need to keep them wild.  Soon they will be released into a more natural setting, a paddock with an artificial sett and we hope to release them later in the year.  All our badgers are TB tested ensuring we are releasing TB free badgers.

                          

If you find a cub you believe has been orphaned, unless it is at risk or in urgent need of assistance, it is best to monitor the situation over at least 12 hours.  If your are concerned please call your local wildlife rehabilitator or the RSPCAs 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234 999.

IMPORTANT: If you have not already done so please join the RSPCAs campaign to put a stop to the cull: http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/wildlife/badgers

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text and our orphans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070

Delightful Ducklings

Opening an RSPCA box with 9 fluffy yellow Mallard ducklings you cannot help but say aww despite knowing the work they are going to create!  

I set up an incubator with a couple of towels, a cuddly toy, food and water. Each orphan was checked over before all being put into an incubator with a cuddly toy to snuggle up to as well as each other in the warmth.

 So they do not spill or get soaked in water, ducklings get a special device called a hopper to drink from. However they still manage to somehow splash it everywhere!

They are also fed what we call chick crumbs which have the specific nutrients they require and are small enough for them to eat, they usually all race straight to the bowls the second you step away. You can see them pecking away in the video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIpaalihpd8&noredirect=1

These ducklings have now moved into a pen with more space which is the next stage in their rehabilitation. With 9 of them running about it does not take long before it becomes messy, and just like most youngsters they do not clean up after themselves!  
 

They are growing fast so it will not be long before they move outside into one of Stapeleys duckling pens.

As with all orphans it is important that it is certain they have been abandoned before bringing them into a Wildlife Centre. Often the mother will be waiting for you to move on before she will go back to them. With ducklings it is important they stay together and are not put on the water without their mother. 

 

 

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text and our orphans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070

 

Doing our best for Badgers

During my role as a Wildlife Assistant I see a lot of really sad cases. I felt particularly sorry for a badger that had fallen into a nasty, thick, tar like substance; very smelly. Once the badger had been sedated by our vet we tried desperately to remove the tar, with butter and washing up liquid, which usually does the job.  However, despite our best efforts the substance would not budge and we were no further along with getting him cleaned up, the tar substance was just not budging.  The decision was eventually made by the team to put him to sleep, there was nothing we can do for him which was really sad. Where the badger had fallen in was now at least secure, so as to prevent any further casualties.

However it is not all doom and gloom at Stapeley, and it is fantastic to be able to see so many animals returned to the wild. We admit many badgers that have been hit by vehicles, as they innocently roam around their territories, unaware of the human dangers that await them. One such badger was brought to us with concussion, poor sight in his right eye and blood from its mouth.  Although initially collapsed on arrival the badger soon perked up when in admissions so he was quickly given pain relief and antibiotics and left to recover.  The next day a general anesthetic allowed a closer examination, his teeth were in good condition and there were no fractures - just some bruising- it always amazes me how tough they are!

Once feeding well and signed off by the vet an RSPCA Animal Collection Officer was organised, their exciting role was to release our badger back to the wild.  Badgers are always released in the evening when it is dark, which is an ideal time for badgers.  He was hiding in his box when the officer arrived to pick him up..a quick push with a broom though and he was soon in his transport cage - usually the easiest and least stressful method for everyone involved.  He was then loaded onto the back of the van to be released back to where he came from so that he would be familiar with the area and other badgers, seeing him drive off makes all our efforts worthwhile!   

I was really looking forward to a final picture of him being released but apparently he was too quick for our officer, a good sign though that he was ready for a release home.

BACK OFF OUR BADGERS - With the badger cull due to begin in under 3 months, it’s now or never for our wild badgers. We want to deliver 250,000 voices against the badger cull via the Number 10 petition to ensure that the Government can’t ignore us any longer, so please sign up today and help save the lives of 1000's of badgers:  http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257.

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text and our orphans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070

Stapeley Orphan Update

The two Feral Pigeon orphans we had some weeks back have moved on from their incubator to larger housing where they can perch and flap their wings to build up important flight muscles. They no longer need tube feeding and eagerly peck at seeds- its not long before it has all vanished!

                                           

Once they are bit bigger and the weather is good they will upgrade to a spacious outdoor aviary before release.

The Wood Mice are now in a big tub and very quick, we have to be careful when cleaning out as we do not want to release them in the hospital !!    Occasionally we see them peering out of their little house, tucking into some food or using their long back legs to jump around. The mice need to wait a little longer before being released so they are a little older (and wiser!!) and when more food resources are available.

                                                









The little female fox cub is much bigger and looking a lot more fox like now. She is being weaned onto solid food and we only syringe feed her three times a day now. Unusually we have not had any other fox cub admissions so she just has cuddly toys in her pen for company for now. It is important she is around other cubs of similar age to learn fox behaviour so we are in the process of networking with other wildlife centres to see whether we can help each other and ultimately find our girl some company, so they can be housed outside together and eventually released back to the wild together, later in the year.

                        

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text and our oprhans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070

Fortunate Fox

For wildlife getting trapped is a major issue because if unnoticed and unable to get food or water their condition will quickly deteriorate.

An adult male Red Fox was fortunate to be found and rescued by an RSPCA Animal Collection Officer. He had slipped and got himself stuck by the neck in a gap between a fence and a wall.  As well as becoming weak and dehydrated, the fox sustained some nasty wounds and bruising trying to free himself.

A female fox who had also got herself wedged in the same position was not so lucky and unfortunately it was too late for our officer to help her.   After some carefull maneuvering our very scared fox was freed and transferred to Stapeley for urgent medical attention.

Once at Stapeley fluids were given and all wounds treated before being left in a isolation cubicle with a heat lamp and allowed to recover, what a day for this poor fox!!  Initially he was not eating and so was syringe fed and given more fluids to rehydrate him.   This made a huge difference as within 24 hours he was much brighter; he was on his feet and had already begun to feed himself.  After a week in one of the isolation cubicles he was moved to an outside run and given more space to exercise.
                                       










He was then assessed for release a few days later by the team and it was all agreed that he was now fit to return him home. A great success and a very lucky fox.

                                           

For more information about foxes and advice how to help trapped or injured wildlife see the link below

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/wildlife/inthewild/foxes/-/article/WLD_Foxes

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To donate to Stapeley text: STAP70 £2 to 70070

3x Wildlife Assistant Summer Placements

'We are currently advertising for three summer wildlife assistants and we are listing it at StopDodo online at www.environmentjobs.com and on the RSPCA website http://bit.ly/1454kBG