Mission Accomplished

As viewers might recall, The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust was awarded £800 from the Nurturing Nairnshire event organised by Highland Region,  I put forward a plan to spend around £500 on various Trees , bushes and shrubs for lower riverside enhancement. The remaining £300 was to be spent on the bird rescue and rehab service at Douglas street. 

                         I can report that around 140 items have been planted and I am hopeful that over the years to come this will have a positive effect and add extra colour and fragrance to the riverside, as well as providing food for the birds. The species planted were Bird cherry, Rowan, Hawthorn, honeysuckle, broom, Scotch rose, and Gooseberry.
As for the bird rescue and rehab service, I am currently caring for 42 ducklings and 3 mother ducks which is full capacity until some of these are safely released to the river. 

The cost of this care is considerable, and involves provision of feed, bedding and heat. Previous posts include the building of a new Aviary and coop - now occupied by a mother duck and 13 ducklings.

This cost £480 and was met by the trust, ( I should have applied for a bigger share of the nurturing Nairnshire funding ! ) All in all the money was well spent, and I think if only everyone utilised money as well as the trust - the world would be a better place. Mission Accomplished ....for now !

Rescue and Rehab

This is the busiest time of year for all rescue and rehab centres around the country, and the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust has it's share at the minute too. 

Currently caring for 15 ducklings, one mother duck with a broken wing, and 3 sick pigeons.

Nine of the saved vulnerable ducklings will be released into the river in a week or two, the mother duck with her 4 ducklings only when it's safe to do so. 

The two recently hatched ones in 2 months time.

The Pigeons seem to be making progress fighting the Paramyxovirus. 

Vera should have been named Vinnie since it turns out to be a male, and he makes it plain to the other two. He has made great progress and am sure is beating the virus now, he can now feed himself and no longer has neck torsion spasms or cartwheels across the floor. After 4 weeks he is no longer in danger of dying from the virus.

The remaining two I still have to rehydrate and tube feed.  I have been working full time keeping on top of the situation, who said retirement is easy !!

The latest river duckling figures are 55 fatalities due to predators, and 28 surviving to date. The current cold weather does not help !