That Time of Year Again

With the nesting season in full swing, it's the time of year that many of us dread due to the carnage of young birds to predators or on the roads etc. Yesterday it was the turn of a gull which I found along the riverside trailing a wing. I took it home and called the Scottish SPCA who promptly picked it up.

 This is their busy time of year with numerous calls about birds having fallen from buildings and road accidents etc. Their new number is worth noting 03000 999 999, for some of you will find injured birds this summer. Three days ago I found another gull bleeding from the chest, it died shortly afterwards. I think the increased traffic on the A96 is adding to the casualty numbers, since birds fly over the bridge and collide with vehicles. 
Earlier today it was the turn of a duckling handed in by one of our long standing electricians. He found it in his garden with an apparent broken leg, perhaps dropped by a gull or a crow.

 I could not determine if it was a break and took it to Moray coast vets who quickly established that it seemed to be a bite to the thigh possibly by a cat or a rat. The puncture wound was infected and was promptly administered antibiotics, I have to follow this up with an anti inflammatory and hopefully the duckling will survive - which is more than can be said for most of the ducklings on the river. One of our Trust members saw a crow take the last one of a brood trying to reach the water yesterday, and I saw a gull take one earlier in the week from the water, seems there is no safe place for ducklings at all.

 At least the Cygnets are doing well with two very protective parents and many watchers.