Hi Everyone, May was busy at WBR with 52 rescues attended. Sadly it was our swans which took the brunt of the hurt with 12 needing help. The Gold Coast's 'favourite bird' came a close second with 11 ibis getting themselves into trouble. Then there was all the beak-entangled darter … a total of 4 needing to be caught in May bringing the total to 5 caught over a one month period. All were … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone Things were hopping again in April, and I don’t just mean the ibis … although there was plenty of that too. In total WBR attended 45 rescues; up considerably on the previous two months but consistent with the annual monthly average. Everyone's attention during April was on the Commonwealth Games. It was an exciting time for all Gold Coasters and the many visitors who attended. … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone March was fairly quiet at WBR with only 31 rescues. I took a week off towards the end which partly accounts for the reduced numbers. During late March the BIG event on Gold Coaster's minds was the Commonwealth Games. Preparations meant that road closures and diversions had to be avoided if one was to have any hope of arriving at a rescue in time. Notwithstanding, in most areas … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone After last month's high rescue numbers (53) February was quiet with only 32 birds needing help. Great for the birds and of course it meant less pressure on me. The weather probably played a part in this because we experienced so many very hot, oppressive days and torrential rain, all par for the course during a Gold Coast summer. This tends to slow everything down, especially … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone. January was very busy with 53 rescues attended. What ever happened to the good old days back in November and December last year when rescue numbers were closer to 40 and more manageable. The extraordinary thing about January was the number of swans that got into trouble. I had to catch 25 birds! That's almost triple my monthly average. The reasons varied but hookings and fishing … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone, December was a lot quieter than recent months with 36 rescues attended, plus several releases. The lower number was due in part to some restrictions I'd made. These had become necessary because lots of people who learn about WBR from the website call without heeding the very clear message accompanying the phone number. It says ... I rescue pelicans and swans, plus any species of … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone, Delighted to report that rescue numbers were lower last month with 41 birds attended in November, plus several major releases. Rescues for ibis and particularly for swans were very low. This is a great result because GC's swans have had a real hammering all year, WBR having to catch almost 100 birds, many requiring hospitalisation. We held our AGM for the Donations Committee … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone, October was flat out at WBR with 55 sick or injured birds needing help, plus I did several major releases. I managed to generate quite a lot of publicity for the many hooked and entangled birds caught in September. Adding to last month's appearance on 7 Local News were two more appearances this month. I also did two radio spots on ABC Gold Coast FM and had a letter to the editor … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone With only 32 rescues in September it looks like a quiet month, especially compared to the last 3 months, but in fact it was busy. I was out of action for the first week, then on light duties for another few days, however with the kind help of Mary (aka The Blue Bird of Happiness) from Tweed Heads, who travelled to the Goldie and caught two badly hooked birds, and Hammy from Pelican … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone, August was another very busy month at WBR. Including releases I attended 54 sick or injured birds. That makes 162 rescues performed in the past 3 months. Sheeesh! Last year WBR completed more than 500 hundred rescues but if this keeps up 2017 could top the 600 mark. Not good for the birds. Rescuing so many birds means I come into contact with a LOT of people, many of whom are … [Read more...]