Field-Trip to the South Island Wildlife Hospital at Willowbank – Christchurch – 21st November 2018
Field-trip leader: Maureen
Field-trip report: Kathy
10 interested “birders”, ably led by Maureen, visited the Wildlife Hospital to see the treatment of sick/injured birds, this time a Keruru, Kea and Pukeko. The volunteers put in maximum effort including X-ray on arrival, surgery as necessary, hand and tube feeding, antibiotics etc. A veterinarian works voluntarily in her off work hours along with rostered volunteers, including Karen Talbot (an NPSNZ member). The place is very cramped but has its own X-ray machine, surgical operating theatre and anaesthetic machine, oxygen etc., and the place is managed solely on donations. Many birds are cared for in volunteer’s homes in the early stages to give maximum attention and chance of survival. The aim is to return birds to their natural habitat. Obligatory coffee followed.
