Latest News
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) There are increasing reports of sick sea birds being found washed up on local beaches. Do not touch them
and do not bring them to the Trust premises. Leave well alone. 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. Unfortunately, sister newspaper the “Berwickshire News” are no longer following suit. For those unable to read these items, and
those living outside the Berwick area, here are the last few editions...
11th August 2022
During August we find that there is a drastic reduction in the number of abandoned or orphaned youngsters coming in to our care. This
year we have more than usual. Last week we had in four House Martin chicks from, possibly, three different nests as they were in various
stages of growth, and four Pied Wagtail nestlings that were all well developed. After just a week they are perching and flying and looking
good in the picture this week. These came in from a camp site at Coldingham after children had knocked down the nests. I hope they got
a suitable telling off! Una has taken the House Martins to hand feed and I have the Wagtails. It is a full time job feeding them every half
and hour or so. They get extremely noisy when they are hungry. I also have two Wood Pigeons that came in as two day old chicks with
their eyes still closed. They are three weeks old now and the good thing is they only need feeding twice a day, although it’s taking longer
now to fill their crops. They have been trying to fly and it is quite funny watching them scramble up the branches. They can glide down
but can’t get lift to fly up yet. They will all come down to the Centre for Saturday as I’m there and they will need feeding. I think Una will
bring her House Martins as well.
I would like to thank everyone who phoned on Friday evening and Saturday about
sick Herring Gulls, for being so understanding about us not being able to pick up
sick birds. Avian Influenza is rife now in all areas of the town and I had at least
fifteen calls about sick gulls on Saturday. We feel so helpless in the current
situation but we cannot risk bringing the infection into the Rollo Centre and
putting the lives of the casualties there, at risk. One caller remarked that it was a
real miss not to see the Gannets diving into the sea when walking along the coast,
something he has enjoyed watching many times. On recent walks he had seen
none. On Bass Rock there must have been many young birds that died of
starvation when the adults died. It is just an awful situation. We did pick up a
young gull with a badly broken wing by the Swan Centre roundabout, but that has
had to be put to sleep. Many thanks to the member of staff from Farmfoods who
was very helpful.
At the Centre we are preparing for our Open Day on Saturday 13th August
10.30a.m. to 2.30p.m. and our A.G.M. which will start at 3p.m. There will be
plenty to see as we have three young Barn Owls, a Tawny (as well as Errol of
course), Lots of Mallard Ducklings, two Eider ducklings, two Cygnets, Pigeons, the odd Herring Gull, and a crow. I have forgotten to
count how many tiny hedgehogs there are but we are using loads of heat pads. Do come and have a look at what we do and how we do
it. There are tasty cakes, rolls and drinks at the refreshment window. A super Raffle and a tombola. Pick up a copy of our new book
‘Thirty Years and still Counting’, or perhaps a calendar. We also have lots of beautiful craft items for sale. Jim and Shirley will have their
usual plant stall and there will be a Bric-a-Brac stall too. We look forward to seeing regular supporters but everyone is welcome, it’s nice
to see new faces, so do come along. We rely on funds from Open Days to keep going.
Pat Goff
4th August 2022
This has been the most difficult year I think we have ever had regarding the Herring Gull and general seabird casualties. We have never
felt so helpless and it goes against all our ideals to not respond to help sick wildlife. Avian Influenza is now travelling through the Herring
Gull population of Berwick. There is nothing we or anyone else can do to help afflicted birds. Any bird with the infection dies within a day.
Fortunately most of the adults had raised their chicks this year before the infection became widespread. We have only five youngsters
left so if everyone allows a young gull in their garden a few days to fly, which is all it will need, we shall have them all away. How the
seabird population will cope with this horrible disease we don’t know. At the moment we can only hope the survivors will gain an
immunity to the infection. We have gone through this summer dreading any infection in birds we have in case it results in a mass cull of
all the other casualties in our care.
On a happier note, we noticed that one of the youngsters we took in was from a
building nearby but off the roof, wandering in the busy road to the recycling
centre, still unable to fly, was being fed by one of it’s parents whilst the baby was
in the small pond pen. The adult came several times and tried to feed it’s
youngster through the wire. Herring Gulls are very protective, caring parents.
The last couple of weeks have resulted in an increase of hedgehogs coming into
the recovery room. The smallest weighed just 47 grams. If you do find a tiny
hedgehog wandering or just lying by itself do look for others. If a nest has been
disturbed there may be three more babies about somewhere. Miss Maggot that
came in a couple of weeks ago has lost a large scab on her back where the
maggots were under the skin and is now looking much better. She has teeth and
is just having a little goats milk in a dish alongside her pate type meat. The tiny
ones just a couple of days old when they came in are down at the Centre but two
are on ‘First Aid’. They were so young they would not have had the protection of
the colostrum from their mothers milk. The picture shows Kay doing the prickly
job of feeding.
Can I put in a request for donations for small trays of pate dog food that is best
for very young hedgehogs. Any canned loaf dog food will also be gratefully received as prices are going up alarmingly. We are as happy
to have gifts in kind as money. It all helps us to keep the work going.
We are putting our Owlets into the big flight together to give them more room to fly. They are all young birds so should be fine until they
are old enough for release.
We are now preparing for our next Open Day which is on Saturday 13th August 10.30a.m. to 2.30p.m. which will be followed by our
A.G.M. at 3p.m. All the present committee members are happy to continue but if anyone would like to join please apply at The David
Rollo Centre, Windmill Way East, Ramparts, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1TU for an application form. Alternatively go to our website and
take details from there. You can also apply to have a specific matter discussed. Do come along everyone welcome. There will be plenty to
see and do and lovely cakes and if you are hungry a pulled pork roll will be on offer.
Pat Goff
28th July 2022
Last Saturday about 8 p.m. we had a call about a very young hedgehog that had been picked up at Alnwick Gardens by one of the staff.
It had a wound on its back but the finders were concerned that there were maggots in the wound. We asked them if they could bring it in
straight away. They were happy to do this and Dick and I met them at the Rollo Centre. When we saw the little hog we realised we had
to work fast. She was so tiny weighing only 108 grams. She had a wound on her back and we could see small maggots under the skin. A
Spray of F10 onto the wound makes the maggots exit the wound very smartly. All we had to do (sounds easy but not) was pick each little
maggot off with tweezers. It took us over half an hour but a final flush of the wound and we could not find any more. Her skin around
the puncture wound had a lacy effect where the maggots has eaten through it. The next job then was to make sure there were no hidden
wounds anywhere.
She was quite weak and was too young we realised to roll up. When we examined her mouth we found she had no teeth so we would
have to get Kay in to take the baby home with another three baby hogs she was
rearing. Kay came down and managed to get some rehydration fluid into her.
She was very thirsty and was happy to drink from the syringe. Kay said she
would take her home and try to get some milk down her before bedtime. None of
us were sure she would survive but Kay has been feeding her for a week now
and she was most upset when she weighed her on Sunday morning that she had
only put on eight grams but she is feeding and her first teeth are just coming
through. Her wound looks clean and is healing so we are keeping our fingers
crossed for her.
Kay has now brought her three babies down to the Centre as they have finally
come off milk. They weigh between 280 and 310 grams and are as prickly as sea
urchins when they roll up. They are gaining weight as they should do so they are
well on their way.
Our very young Cygnets are causing us a lot of worry. They came in as a group
of three from the R.S.P.C.A. They were very weak when they came and although
we have given them the best food and conditions we can one died last week and
another was dying yesterday. We are aware that some youngsters just don’t DO.
These two have not put on weight as they should, are quite lethargic and just want to sit with the others. The largest of the three is
doing very well as is another young one that came in later. We hope these two will survive.
A Swan we have been caring for since it hit power lines eight weeks ago is still unable to stand. It has been with us all this time so is not
suffering from Avian Influenza and we have asked the Vet to x-ray the bird. We have a feeling it may have nerve damage that is
untreatable and may need to be put to sleep. We have all worked so hard to look after her it will be sad if that has to be the final
outcome.
Please don’t forget our next Open Day on 13th August which will be followed by our A.G.M. All are welcome and there will be lots to see.
Pat Goff
week. Unfortunately, sister newspaper the “Berwickshire News” are no longer following suit. For those unable to read these items, and
those living outside the Berwick area, here are the last few editions...
11th August 2022
During August we find that there is a drastic reduction in the number of abandoned or orphaned youngsters coming in to our care. This
year we have more than usual. Last week we had in four House Martin chicks from, possibly, three different nests as they were in various
stages of growth, and four Pied Wagtail nestlings that were all well developed. After just a week they are perching and flying and looking
good in the picture this week. These came in from a camp site at Coldingham after children had knocked down the nests. I hope they got
a suitable telling off! Una has taken the House Martins to hand feed and I have the Wagtails. It is a full time job feeding them every half
and hour or so. They get extremely noisy when they are hungry. I also have two Wood Pigeons that came in as two day old chicks with
their eyes still closed. They are three weeks old now and the good thing is they only need feeding twice a day, although it’s taking longer
now to fill their crops. They have been trying to fly and it is quite funny watching them scramble up the branches. They can glide down
but can’t get lift to fly up yet. They will all come down to the Centre for Saturday as I’m there and they will need feeding. I think Una will
bring her House Martins as well.
I would like to thank everyone who phoned on Friday evening and Saturday about
sick Herring Gulls, for being so understanding about us not being able to pick up
sick birds. Avian Influenza is rife now in all areas of the town and I had at least
fifteen calls about sick gulls on Saturday. We feel so helpless in the current
situation but we cannot risk bringing the infection into the Rollo Centre and
putting the lives of the casualties there, at risk. One caller remarked that it was a
real miss not to see the Gannets diving into the sea when walking along the coast,
something he has enjoyed watching many times. On recent walks he had seen
none. On Bass Rock there must have been many young birds that died of
starvation when the adults died. It is just an awful situation. We did pick up a
young gull with a badly broken wing by the Swan Centre roundabout, but that has
had to be put to sleep. Many thanks to the member of staff from Farmfoods who
was very helpful.
At the Centre we are preparing for our Open Day on Saturday 13th August
10.30a.m. to 2.30p.m. and our A.G.M. which will start at 3p.m. There will be
plenty to see as we have three young Barn Owls, a Tawny (as well as Errol of
course), Lots of Mallard Ducklings, two Eider ducklings, two Cygnets, Pigeons, the odd Herring Gull, and a crow. I have forgotten to
count how many tiny hedgehogs there are but we are using loads of heat pads. Do come and have a look at what we do and how we do
it. There are tasty cakes, rolls and drinks at the refreshment window. A super Raffle and a tombola. Pick up a copy of our new book
‘Thirty Years and still Counting’, or perhaps a calendar. We also have lots of beautiful craft items for sale. Jim and Shirley will have their
usual plant stall and there will be a Bric-a-Brac stall too. We look forward to seeing regular supporters but everyone is welcome, it’s nice
to see new faces, so do come along. We rely on funds from Open Days to keep going.
Pat Goff
4th August 2022
This has been the most difficult year I think we have ever had regarding the Herring Gull and general seabird casualties. We have never
felt so helpless and it goes against all our ideals to not respond to help sick wildlife. Avian Influenza is now travelling through the Herring
Gull population of Berwick. There is nothing we or anyone else can do to help afflicted birds. Any bird with the infection dies within a day.
Fortunately most of the adults had raised their chicks this year before the infection became widespread. We have only five youngsters
left so if everyone allows a young gull in their garden a few days to fly, which is all it will need, we shall have them all away. How the
seabird population will cope with this horrible disease we don’t know. At the moment we can only hope the survivors will gain an
immunity to the infection. We have gone through this summer dreading any infection in birds we have in case it results in a mass cull of
all the other casualties in our care.
On a happier note, we noticed that one of the youngsters we took in was from a
building nearby but off the roof, wandering in the busy road to the recycling
centre, still unable to fly, was being fed by one of it’s parents whilst the baby was
in the small pond pen. The adult came several times and tried to feed it’s
youngster through the wire. Herring Gulls are very protective, caring parents.
The last couple of weeks have resulted in an increase of hedgehogs coming into
the recovery room. The smallest weighed just 47 grams. If you do find a tiny
hedgehog wandering or just lying by itself do look for others. If a nest has been
disturbed there may be three more babies about somewhere. Miss Maggot that
came in a couple of weeks ago has lost a large scab on her back where the
maggots were under the skin and is now looking much better. She has teeth and
is just having a little goats milk in a dish alongside her pate type meat. The tiny
ones just a couple of days old when they came in are down at the Centre but two
are on ‘First Aid’. They were so young they would not have had the protection of
the colostrum from their mothers milk. The picture shows Kay doing the prickly
job of feeding.
Can I put in a request for donations for small trays of pate dog food that is best
for very young hedgehogs. Any canned loaf dog food will also be gratefully received as prices are going up alarmingly. We are as happy
to have gifts in kind as money. It all helps us to keep the work going.
We are putting our Owlets into the big flight together to give them more room to fly. They are all young birds so should be fine until they
are old enough for release.
We are now preparing for our next Open Day which is on Saturday 13th August 10.30a.m. to 2.30p.m. which will be followed by our
A.G.M. at 3p.m. All the present committee members are happy to continue but if anyone would like to join please apply at The David
Rollo Centre, Windmill Way East, Ramparts, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1TU for an application form. Alternatively go to our website and
take details from there. You can also apply to have a specific matter discussed. Do come along everyone welcome. There will be plenty to
see and do and lovely cakes and if you are hungry a pulled pork roll will be on offer.
Pat Goff
28th July 2022
Last Saturday about 8 p.m. we had a call about a very young hedgehog that had been picked up at Alnwick Gardens by one of the staff.
It had a wound on its back but the finders were concerned that there were maggots in the wound. We asked them if they could bring it in
straight away. They were happy to do this and Dick and I met them at the Rollo Centre. When we saw the little hog we realised we had
to work fast. She was so tiny weighing only 108 grams. She had a wound on her back and we could see small maggots under the skin. A
Spray of F10 onto the wound makes the maggots exit the wound very smartly. All we had to do (sounds easy but not) was pick each little
maggot off with tweezers. It took us over half an hour but a final flush of the wound and we could not find any more. Her skin around
the puncture wound had a lacy effect where the maggots has eaten through it. The next job then was to make sure there were no hidden
wounds anywhere.
She was quite weak and was too young we realised to roll up. When we examined her mouth we found she had no teeth so we would
have to get Kay in to take the baby home with another three baby hogs she was
rearing. Kay came down and managed to get some rehydration fluid into her.
She was very thirsty and was happy to drink from the syringe. Kay said she
would take her home and try to get some milk down her before bedtime. None of
us were sure she would survive but Kay has been feeding her for a week now
and she was most upset when she weighed her on Sunday morning that she had
only put on eight grams but she is feeding and her first teeth are just coming
through. Her wound looks clean and is healing so we are keeping our fingers
crossed for her.
Kay has now brought her three babies down to the Centre as they have finally
come off milk. They weigh between 280 and 310 grams and are as prickly as sea
urchins when they roll up. They are gaining weight as they should do so they are
well on their way.
Our very young Cygnets are causing us a lot of worry. They came in as a group
of three from the R.S.P.C.A. They were very weak when they came and although
we have given them the best food and conditions we can one died last week and
another was dying yesterday. We are aware that some youngsters just don’t DO.
These two have not put on weight as they should, are quite lethargic and just want to sit with the others. The largest of the three is
doing very well as is another young one that came in later. We hope these two will survive.
A Swan we have been caring for since it hit power lines eight weeks ago is still unable to stand. It has been with us all this time so is not
suffering from Avian Influenza and we have asked the Vet to x-ray the bird. We have a feeling it may have nerve damage that is
untreatable and may need to be put to sleep. We have all worked so hard to look after her it will be sad if that has to be the final
outcome.
Please don’t forget our next Open Day on 13th August which will be followed by our A.G.M. All are welcome and there will be lots to see.
Pat Goff