Thought some of you might enjoy this. Just before Christmas our office got a call from a bargain shop whose name begins with "Pound...", based on the trading estate on the estate at the edge of town. "We've caught a snipe in the shop" they said. As it was Christmas and only a mile down the road I decided to go out and fetch it (I must emphasise here that the RSPB is not a bird-rescue charity, we do not do this sort of thing as a matter of course, it was a personal decision!)
I got there, looked in the box, and found - not a snipe - but a water rail! It was very lively and clearly in the best of health, so I took it home overnight, kept it in the warm and released it first thing the following morning down at the edge of the canal. What it was doing in the middle of a trading estate I'll never know but the fact that all the local watercourses were frozen hard obviously had a lot to do with it.
Anyway, it made for a memorable afternoon. The title of this thread was a joke cracked by a colleague when they heard about it. Quite good, I thought, for a spur of the moment gag!
Hi Colin, what a little bargain hunter you are! Well done you, lovely happy story.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Here's one I briefly saw at Slimbridge a few weeks back (shame about the grass...). It's about moorhen size! They sound like squealing pigs when they call from the reeds!!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Hello birdmum,
As a conservation charity, the RSPB does not have any vets nor welfare facilities, but we are able to provide some basic welfare advise as well as offer current contact details for local vets, wildlife hospitals or welfare organisations who will be able to assist with any sick or injured birds. Examples of such include the RSPCA (0300 1234 999) and the Wildlife Hospitals Trust (01844 292292). Our funds go towards our conservation work and as a charity we are unable to fund any welfare organisations.
I can only imagine Colin's surprise at discovering a water rail and was glad to hear that there was a happy ending!
OK thankyou Mrs T.
In my eyes this work is conservation but everyone has a right to their opinion I guess.
The RSPB does of course recognise peoples concerns and opinions about animal welfare and takes them very seriously. The RSPB's conservation work involves not only restoring, protecting and managing habitats, but we also tackle wildlife crime and habitat loss as well owning and managing 200 nature reserves. We are actively involved in recovery projects for our most threatened species and work closely with farmers and landowners to help countryside birds. The RSPB realises that organisations such as the RSPCA are able to cater for animal welfare.