Since 2005 I have provided a free rescue service for injured native birds on the Gold Coast. During that time several thousand wild birds which would otherwise have suffered a miserable death, or been left seriously injured or maimed, got the help they needed. This is a unique rescue service because I specialize in catching ‘flight capable’ birds. They are the hardest of the hard to catch. I’m the only full-time rescuer along these 50 kilometers of coastline who can catch them.
In a typical year I take more than 2000 phone calls; drive 25,000 kilometers and attended 500 rescues of sick, injured or orphaned birds. These include ….
Swans
Pelicans
Ibis
Birds of prey
Herons/egrets
Cormorants
Gulls
Magpies
Ducks
Assorted other species
(Curlews, plovers, water hens, cockatoos, scrub turkeys, oyster catchers, pee wees, fig birds, noisy minors and welcome swallows)
Capture Reports
Beginning in July 2014 I’ve produced a monthly Capture Report which is automatically sent to donors so they can follow the activities of Wild Bird Rescues GOLD COAST. Each report contains pictures and inspiring stories about birds that were saved during that month, plus any special activities of the rescue service.
Examples of archived reports can be read below
For daily rescue action log onto Wild Bird Rescues GOLD COAST Facebook.
Capture Report, December 2019
Hi Everyone, Wild Bird Rescues ended 2019 by rescuing 31 sick, injured or orphaned birds in December. This brought the total to 387 rescues for the year. The stand out for December was the number of swans that came to grief. It wasn’t all that many, only nine in fact, but they got into plenty… [Read More]
Capture Report, November 2019
Hi Everyone, I hope you had a very Merry Xmas. By the time you receive this report the new year will be on our doorstep. I prepared it late in the month so that I could include an overview of WBR’s activities in 2019. In November WBR attended 34 sick, injured or orphaned birds. Anticipating… [Read More]
Capture Report, October 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues were steady during October with 35 sick, injured or orphaned birds receiving help, plus several releases. October being the last month of spring saw me attend quite a few chicks and fledglings; not something I normally do. Therefore I’ve decided to make this a bumper baby bird report. Angel WingBefore we get… [Read More]
Capture Report, September 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescue numbers lifted again in September with WBR attending 43 sick, injured or orphaned birds. To kick things off, I’ll ask you, what would a WBR Capture Report be without an ibis story to whet your appetite? OK, so all you ibis lovers can stop cheering now, and the rest you stop groaning…. [Read More]
Capture Report, August 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues were fewer in August with WBR attending 25 sick or injured birds. This lower number was mainly due to me taking a much needed break in the latter part of the month. Even so, there was plenty of action on several fronts. Two urgent swan rescues took place in the Runaway Bay… [Read More]
Capture Report, July 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescue numbers were up in July with a total of 42 sick or injured birds receiving help. Swans took the brunt of it with 18 having to be rescued and another two that I released. We managed to save most of those swans, however 3 had a particularly torrid time. The first story… [Read More]
Capture Report, June 2019
Hi Everyone, With only 23 rescues attended in June things were quiet, at least on the rescue front. In fact everywhere was quiet. The RSPCA wasn’t too busy and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital had days when they sent volies home and permanent staff were left twiddling their thumbs. This was great of course because it meant… [Read More]
Capture Report, May 2019
Hi Everyone Rescues were steady during May with WBR attending 31 sick or injured birds. It was a mixed bunch although the pelis experienced more than their fair share of drama. To Act, or Not to ActA question often faced by wildlife rescuers is whether an injured creature should be caught and taken to hospital,… [Read More]
Capture Report, April 2019
Hi Everyone Activity picked up in April with Wild Bird Rescues attending 34 sick or injured creatures. This is a manageable number and down from last year’s monthly average of 44 rescues. Last year was crazy so this year I’ve tried to keep the numbers in check by reducing non-essential rescues (i.e. rescues that can… [Read More]
Capture Report, March 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues of sick and injured birds during March totalled 24. The number would have been higher except that a few days into the month I had my bi-annual ‘rescue meltdown’ where everything becomes too much and I can’t see a way forward. I immediately arranged to have a few days off but it… [Read More]
Capture Reports
Beginning in July 2014 I’ve produced a monthly Capture Report which is automatically sent to donors so they can follow the activities of Wild Bird Rescues GOLD COAST. Each report contains pictures and inspiring stories about birds that were saved during that month, plus any special activities of the rescue service.
Examples of archived reports can be read below
For daily rescue action log onto Wild Bird Rescues GOLD COAST Facebook.
Capture Report, December 2019
Hi Everyone, Wild Bird Rescues ended 2019 by rescuing 31 sick, injured or orphaned birds in December. This brought the total to 387 rescues for
Capture Report, November 2019
Hi Everyone, I hope you had a very Merry Xmas. By the time you receive this report the new year will be on our doorstep.
Capture Report, October 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues were steady during October with 35 sick, injured or orphaned birds receiving help, plus several releases. October being the last month of
Capture Report, September 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescue numbers lifted again in September with WBR attending 43 sick, injured or orphaned birds. To kick things off, I’ll ask you, what
Capture Report, August 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues were fewer in August with WBR attending 25 sick or injured birds. This lower number was mainly due to me taking a
Capture Report, July 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescue numbers were up in July with a total of 42 sick or injured birds receiving help. Swans took the brunt of it
Capture Report, June 2019
Hi Everyone, With only 23 rescues attended in June things were quiet, at least on the rescue front. In fact everywhere was quiet. The RSPCA
Capture Report, May 2019
Hi Everyone Rescues were steady during May with WBR attending 31 sick or injured birds. It was a mixed bunch although the pelis experienced more
Capture Report, April 2019
Hi Everyone Activity picked up in April with Wild Bird Rescues attending 34 sick or injured creatures. This is a manageable number and down from
Capture Report, March 2019
Hi Everyone, Rescues of sick and injured birds during March totalled 24. The number would have been higher except that a few days into the
Capture Report, February 2019
Hi Everyone Rescues got off to a brisk start in February then the cyclone turned up off the Goldie and everything came to a grinding
Capture Report, January 2019
Hi Everyone Activity picked up during January with Wild Bird Rescues attending 38 sick, injured or orphaned birds. Species rescued included ducks, swans, ibis, pelis,