Latest News Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Sadly bird flu is now moving on from sea birds, to other species of birds, including geese, ducks and swans, and the Trust is receiving many calls from the public spotting sick birds. There is no treatment available and sick birds will often die within a day of showing symptoms. We cannot rescue or accept sick birds at the Centre as this would compromise those birds already in our care and could lead to the Centre being forced to shut down. Our advice, painful as it is to give, is to leave the bird and let nature take its course. Do not touch a dead bird or let a dog near it. The local Council is responsible for collecting them in a controlled manner. In some cases you may report findings to DEFRA on 03459 335577 or visit their web site for detailed advice here. *************************** "Swan Notes" News items written by Trust members and volunteers and usually appearing in the “Berwick Advertiser" newspaper each week. For those unable to read these items, and those living outside the Berwick area, here are the last few editions... 12th September 2024 We were very pleased to see some new faces at our very small Open Day last Saturday. We always welcome everyone, but it is nice sometimes to see newcomers. At our A.G.M. which was held in the afternoon there were not as many people, but this always seems to be how things are. Our Chairman for this year is Walter Curtis who was happy to stand for another year. Walter took us through a feasibility study that had been done on solar panels and batteries to reduce our fuel bills in the future. The Committee will continue with this study as there were several questions raised. Dick was excused attendance at the A.G.M. as he was at Galedin Vets Open Day with one of our little hedgehogs and giving out some helpful advice to visitors. The picture this week shows a hedgehog weighing under 300 grams that came in from Eyemouth. He soon came out to check food and water after he was settled in with a heat pad and fleece to keep him warm, number MX 96. This is another hog that will be with us over winter. We currently have 26 hedgehogs just about a handful of these will be able to released before winter sets in. This means that already we have about 20 that would love to have a sponsor. It is nice when they all have names instead of just numbers. Sponsoring makes a great gift for any wildlife lover. There is a free hedgehog calendar for 2025 with each sponsorship. It looks like the Hedgehog Hogwards Shed will be full again this year. Hopefully after such a wet, cool summer and autumn there will not be so many September litters being born. We usually get quite a few small hogs arriving at the end of the month and the beginning of October. I think our last two Herring Gull chicks will be ready for release this week. Sadly one that has been with us for a long time, and we have kept it longer than we should, will have to pay a final trip to the Vet. He is unable to fly as one wing can’t extend. We have done our best, but there is no way he can ever be released. Then we shall be able to deep clean the small pond area and hopefully get rid of the lingering smell of not so fresh fish. We are hoping the duck can also be released this week, as well as two Collared Doves. They have been with us some time but are well ready to go. One of our Tawny Owls was released last week by Adelene, who brought the bird in after finding it injured,  She was thrilled to see it fly confidently out to the trees near where it was found. It is nice to see them go off out into the wild again, and makes all the effort worthwhile. Our other Owls are doing well except one Tawny that is still in the ‘Claw and Talon’ room. He was getting better, but now has a sore eye. I think he will be getting checked over by a Vet today to see if there is anything else we can do to help him. Do keep a look out in Facebook and the jottings for details of our Christmas program. We are not having a big Christmas Fair of our own, but are having tables at other events so we can get our message to more people. It is amazing to me that some people don’t know who we are. Please continue with donations of food, papers and towels. They are VERY much appreciated. Pat Goff 5th September 2024 This week the picture shows little Harriet Hare. She came in as a tiny baby weighing just over 100 grams. This meant she was maybe a week old at the time. It took her some time to settle to a bottle routine of two feeds a day. As she grew the bottle was cut to just one a day in the evening. She was kept outside in her crate but inside an aviary so she was doubly safe. It has seemed a long time but is just seven weeks, which means she is now about eight weeks old. I weighed her on Saturday and she was 600 grams, since she is eating her solid food well her evening bottle was stopped. She was taking less and less milk each time so it was the right time to stop. Now she is out of her crate and has the aviary to run and build up her muscles. She can be released when she weighs 800 grams. Another three to four weeks. This weekend she got wet for the first time as it rained heavily on Sunday night. Peter put me a camera on the aviary so I can check in the morning how much she has been out during the night. I think she is enjoying the extra space she has. I am hoping that two Collared Doves will be released this week and also a solitary duck who was found in a bit of a state all by herself. She is fit again now but we are a little concerned about where to take her. We still have two Herring Gull youngsters. We are waiting for the youngest one that came in quite late to be able to fly before they go off. We are very eager to deep clean their pen. Although hosed daily, sometimes twice, there is still a lingering smell of fish when we go past. All our Owls are doing well although if you try to see them during the day they will probably all be hiding. We are preparing for our little Open Day session on Saturday 7th September. We are just opening to the public for a couple of hours. 12 noon to 2 p.m. There is a great tombola, so many people have brought in little prizes. The sales table has crafts, cards and calendars. There will of course be refreshments. Rolls and cakes, teas and coffees. You can also check out our hedgehogs that will be looking for sponsors for the coming winter. I don’t think we have ever had so many tiny hogs come in at this time of year. Most will have to overwinter with us so there will be plenty to choose from. We still expect more tiny ones at the end of September and early October from late autumn litters. It looks like the Hogwards Shed will be full to capacity again this winter. Our A.G.M. will start at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday 7th September and anyone who would like to come is very welcome. Find out how we spend the money donated and how much it costs to run the Centre and how we try to keep these costs down. See how much goods in kind are helpful to us. Gifts of food and cleaning products save us a tremendous amount of money each year and we are very grateful for all your help, whether cash or in kind. After our Open Day why not call at Galedin Veterinary practice.  They have an Open Day 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. We shall have someone there with a hedgehog to answer any questions you may have. There will be leaflets showing how you can help them in your garden. Pat Goff 29th August 2024 On Saturday 7th September 2024 we are holding our Annual General Meeting. Starting at 2.30 p.m. Anyone interested in what is going on at the David Rollo Centre is welcome to attend. We are opening the Centre for visitors from 12 noon till 2 p.m. on the same day. We shall have a tombola and sales table as well as refreshments. We shall have calendars and cards as well as gifts for sale. We shall have a better idea of the hogs that will be able to be released in the autumn and the rest will be available for sponsoring. This makes a lovely gift for a lover of wildlife. All the details will be available on the day. Do come along and see the animals and birds in our care and enjoy a filled roll and a piece of cake with a tea or coffee. You are welcome to stay for our A.G.M. if you wish. We shall also have a table at Galendin Vets for their Open Day on the same day 7th September. We shall have all the information about looking after hedgehogs in the wild and also have one of our little ones you can have a peep at. This week we had a lovely note and a cheque from Angela who was unable to come to our last Open Day. She sent us a cheque for the money she would have spent. Thank you so much. Dick is releasing another three Herring Gull chicks today. This leaves us with two, one much younger than the other but the older gull is a brilliant minder for the little one. He has been guarding this baby for weeks now. He doesn’t let any of the bigger gulls bully it or try to steal its food. We shall release these two together. It will be another week or two before the little one is ready. Then we can have a really good deep clean of the area. Gulls make an awful mess and although they are hosed and brushed down every day it is impossible to have a good clean when they are in the pen. Ten minutes after hosing, scrubbing and feeding it looks just as bad. Kay still has her little hoglet to feed at home. She is a very determined hog despite coming in so tiny. She has now gone on to four hourly feeds instead of three and although she has not got many teeth yet she tries to eat calciworms. She is going on very well at the moment. The Towers are now beginning to fill up in the recovery room as hogs come off their heat pads and put on enough weight to be moved on. Hopefully these hogs may get away before winter if we can get them outside for a while before they go. The tiny ones will be with us for the winter. Our Barn Owlet that came in very underweight is now improving. A very feisty bird. Hissing when we try to move him when cleaning his cage. He puts his head down and moves it threateningly, side to side, whilst hissing like a steam kettle. He also knows how to use his talons. He is putting on weight quite nicely. He is eating little and often at the moment. Too much too soon will not help him. The Tawny Owl with head trauma is slowly responding but is still nowhere near right. We can only follow the advice of David Rollo and give it time. The picture this week taken by Jackie shows the two little Collared Doves that were partly reared and then brought in to us. They are nearly ready to go. Pat Goff