Birds

With winter and cold weather with us and potential snow on the way the GSPCA want pet owners and the public to consider all the animals of Guernsey. During a cold snap the GSPCA are on full alert, ready to deal with a variety of animals affected by the cold weather.

But you can also do your bit to prevent animals suffering over the cold period.

DO you have a pond?

The start of 2012 has already brought the Animal Shelter a number of sick and injured animals & birds from around the island but with the continuation of the windy weather we are asking everyone to keep a good look out.

The bad weather means it is difficult for hedgehogs and birds to feed normally and the young seal pups can easily be separated from their mothers.

The Animal Shelter is now at the fore front of animal rescue and rehabilitation. 

After two very large donations the GSPCA have been able to purchase 3 small and 5 large intensive care units worth over £3000.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Feed the Birds Day takes place on Saturday 29 October 2011. 

This special day reminds us about all the things we can do to help birds and other garden wildlife through the winter.

Birds really need your help as the clocks go back and the nights draw in. This year the GSPCA would like to encourage everyone to ‘Come Dine with the Birds’ and host your own wildlife garden party.

World Animal Day is celebrated each year on October 4. It started in Florence, Italy in 1931 at a convention of ecologists. On this day, animal life in all its forms is celebrated, and special events are planned on locations all over the globe. 4 October was originally chosen for World Animal Day because it is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment.

When the winds pick up and the bad weather sets in we are always ready to receive sick and injured wildlife.  Last night we had Charlie a very tired and weak cormorant brought in.

Charlie was given a warm enclosure, plenty of fish and is rapidly improving.  Quite often the weak and hungry sea birds we have brought in just need feeding and heating which can lead to a very fast recovery.

Over the last few weeks we have been working hard improving our wildlife unit to prepare for the seal pups and other animals that we have over the winter months.

As the days become warmer and the Islands’ birds begin to nest we are starting to see the first fledglings arriving at the Shelter for a bit of TLC and a warm box to rest in. While many of the birds brought in to us genuinely need our help after being rescued from the jaws of a neighbour’s cat or the family dog, we do still receive baby birds that are perfectly healthy and have been picked up rather hastily by well meaning members of the public.