Sad end for a beautiful swan

On Sunday we had a swan brought to us by the police, from Antrim.

It appeared to have a badlt broken leg. We do not do any veterinary treatment involving anaesthetics on the first day or 2 after coming in as we have found to our sadness that the stress the bird is already under can cause it to not wake up. So the vet administered the usual pain meds etc and it came back to us for a 2 day rest. ON Wednesday morning it went to the vet to get an xray.

The vets were hopeful that the leg could be splinted or pinned in necessary.

After taking the xray the vets was shocked by the image. His knee was completley dislocated, all the nerves and ligoments in there where torn and irrepairable and it also looks like its been that way for some time. It certainely wasn't a recent injury.

sadly a swan could never survive with only one leg. They are too heavy and the legs are set so far back that their balance would be completley wrecked so we had no choice but to say goodbye to him.

What is really sad is that swans will pair for life and he was an adult male in gorgeous breeding conditons so there probably is a female somewhere in the area that is now alone.

Here is the xray they took. Our vets were very good in letting us have borrow the xray to show what happened. You can clearly see where the two bones are seperated. Very sad outcome but we can't save them all..

Nice news on a cold morning :D

Woodcock released this morning. Picked it up lastnight. was found in the middle of a housing estate in Belfast, in a driveway, tired, hungry and cold.. Had a night of rest, lots of food and heat.. was fighting fit this morning so found a nice quiet wood and released him.. Totally gorgeous birds. the plumage is amazing.

The area he was released into is a lovely mixed woodland, plenty of cover and bordered on either side with open countryside so he has the choice of where he wants to go..

The weather is badly effecting everything.. the animals, just like ourselves, are just not used to this degree of coldness. PLEASE do be vigilant and feed the birds in your area.

TACT has now got a facebook page.. check it out guys and gals.

I hope to try and keep all these more updated now we have alittle more free time..

just search TACT Wildlife Centre

night night..

latest unusual arrival

A gentleman brought in a rather rare and unusual bird to the centre today. It is called a Little Auk and are small black and white sea birds, not very unlike a puffin, alittle smaller but lacking in the huge colourful beak.

He was found on a wet road in belfast so chances are he has simply got lost and disorientated with the stretlights and landed on the road by accident.

He is going this evening to have a BTO identiiable ring put on his leg so if he turns up anywhere else in the world he can be recorded and traced.

Then he will be released back to the sea this evening.

Here are some pictures for you. he is very sweet..

You can see from the pics. their legs are set rather far back on their bodies. they aren't that steady on land and are designed for swimming and diving for fish.. So he likes to lie down alot.. :D

I quite like his little white eyelids..

TACT on CBEEBIES

A few months back we had CBeebies Green Balloon Club spend the whole day here filming an episode for their Northern Ireland Series..

We got word today that it will be shown on the 16th December at 3.30pm..

So make a note and tune in :D

Debbie

Construction continues at full speed

Well, its been a while and work is flying ahead at the Centre.

The rows of centre pens which are over 30yrs old now and well passed their best are finally nearly down.

We are tearing down one pen and contructing a new one in its place while the next one if being removed.. that way we can get to using them asap.

The Centre row are now completed and looking brilliant. And already occupied with a variety of species including gulls, herons, collared doves and even a sparrowhawk..

The end pen we have not yet got any creatures in but I am sure this will change rapidly judging by the steady influx of creatures needing help.

We are all very pleased with how they are turning out.. Seeing the old pens and knowing how bad it looked was getting everyone down so to see how well it is looking now and hopw close we are getting to completion of this project is lifting everyones spirits.. even in this damp day..

So here are some up to date pictures to show the progress,

Thanks for looking..

Centre row finished and occupied..

Double doors fitted to every enclosure for safety

Can you spot the sparrowhawk watching you!!!

Large end pen awaiting new occupants..

All the pens have a semi covered roof and also are backed with willow screeen to make the animals inside fel safe and calm while they are rehabilatated..

Sparrowhawk recovering from a respitory infection awaiting release.

Building begins on new pens atlast!

Anyone who has been to TACT in the past will know that several of our pens have remained unused for around the last year. They are over 30 years old and are pretty much condemmed to destruction now..

Well in the last year & half we have ben working hard to get these torn down and new ones rebuilt.

Last Spring we received funding to build some very large pens which were desperetly needed for the likes of the birds of prey and the foxes. These we had to contract out to in order to get them finished intime and the they flew up..

See pic below. Image showing new large pen, new fox enclosure, pond area and new feed sheds and baby station..

Well the latest contstruction work has now begun and finally we are getting rid of all the old pens down the centre of the Walled Garden.

Work has been done already and foundations and the main structure is already up on one and the next is in progress.

We also started work on the new pigeon loft. The frame is now up and roof should be going on next week all being well.

So its full steam ahead..