Submitted by Steve on 14:37, 12th Sep, 2014 | 0

Earlier today the GSPCA were called out to rescue one of the most regal and stunning of birds in Guernsey.

Animal Collection Officer Geoff George was called out to the Model Yacht Pond which is renowned for sea birds such as Gulls, but was faced with a much more unusual feathered bird.

The bird he was called to rescue was none other than a female kingfisher.

The bird has been rehydrated and seems in reasonable health but Shelter staff have now made her comfortable at the GSPCA.

Geoff George Animal Collection Officer said "This is the first kingfisher I have rescued and we can't think of a time when one ever came into the GSPCA."

"We're assuming she's been blown off course or found herself surrounded by salt water and become disorientated, but it is hard to say exactly why she was by the model yacht pond."

"I've rehydrated her and she seems in good health so we all have our fingers crossed at the GSPCA that she will make a full recovery and we can get her back to the wild very soon."

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "Kingfishers are one of the most beautiful species of the bird kingdom."

"GSPCA team members have called her 'Deborah Kerr' from the 'King and I' and we are hopeful this very pretty bird will make it back to full health very soon."

"With only 2 days until our Seafront Sunday it would have been an impressive bird to see her fly along the Seafront at the Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday but she will be in a care unit at the GSPCA, although some of our many parrots will be along the front on the Crown Pier for the public to see and even talk to including an African grey, Meyers Parrot and more."

A little on Kingfishers -

Kingfishers are small unmistakable bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface.

They are a vulnerable to hard winters and habitat degradation through pollution or unsympathetic management of watercourses. We are lucky to have a population of kingfishers in Guernsey but they are amber listed because of their unfavourable conservation status in Europe.

Their Latin name is Alcedo atthis from the family Kingfishers (Alcedinidae). There are an estimated 3,800 to 4,600 across the UK.

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