The back story to our recent swan patient. Every bird we receive involves multiple people, and sometimes multiple organisations, to get it from rescue to release. Wildlife health and rehabilitation really is all about collaboration. A great outcome for all involved.This month, a resident’s quick thinking helped save a black swan at Northbrook Wetlands after spotting a fishing hook and sinker weight in its neck.

After the call was received, a small rescue crew made up of members from Council’s Greenspace team and Environmental Services Unit deployed to the wetlands to locate the swan in question. 🦢

The swan, affectionally named ‘Darrel’ by Council staff, was treated for his injuries and lead poisoning at the South Island Wildlife Hospital — and has now been safely released back to his mate at Northbrook. ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less

We recently had a swan brought to us with a fishing hook stuck in its neck. Bloods showed it also had a high lead level. Lead is a heavy metal and once consumed, the body cannot naturally get rid of it. Treatment requires a medication which binds to the lead to allow it to be eliminated from the body.
Lead exposure in wildlife occurs from ingesting old lead fixtures and paints, lead ammunition, lead fishing weights, and through contaminated pools of water due to leaching from lead objects.
Swans are large birds that come with big attitudes so treating them in the hospital has its challenges. Thankfully for all involved, it got released back into the wild today. #swan #blackswan #bird #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #wildlife #wildlifehealth #wildliferehab #wildliferehabilitation #wildlifehospital #wildlifemedicine #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

One of our volunteers, Josh Overend Photography, captured this korimako out the front of the hospital recently. With a lot of trees and a stream nearby, we are visited by several species of both native and non-native birds and insects. Bellbirds are among several native species to be sporting a yellow crown at the minute as flowers attract them with nectar in order to cover them with pollen in the hopes they'll spread it around to other pla#polleno#bellbirdl#korimakoi#bird##birdsofaotearoae#nzbirdsb#springp#wildlifehospitalp#wildlifed#siwh##southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less

Telltale signs you're a wildlife vet...
Sometimes our patients really like to tell us what they think of us. There is no such thing as glamour in wildlife medicine but boy is it reward#wildlifevetf#wildliferehabilitationa#wildliferehabr#wildlifehealthe#wildlifemedicinei#wildlifehospitalp#siwh##southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less

This is perhaps not a sight that many people get to see: a pied shag nestling. It suffered a fall and wouldn't have survived without intervention. It was transported from Kaikōura following initial stabilisation thrProject WellBird - Kaikōura Wildlife Hospitalpital. As with the other baby birds we've been caring for, this kāruhiruhi needs regular feeding for growth. This involves a bit of dress-up so that it doesn't associate humans w#babybird #shag##piedshag##bird##birdsofaotearoab#nzbirdst#springn#wildlifep#wildliferehabilitatione#wildliferehab #wildlifehospitali#siwhe#southislandwildlifehospitalildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

They might be small in the scale of predators but check out those talons on this little owl. Between their feet and their beak, they can make light work of rodents, lizards and the odd small bird.
Although introduced, ruru nohinohi have become naturalised in the South Island, occupying their own ecological niche. This means they are not deemed as a threat to Aotearoa's endemic manu species.
Little owl are a favourite patient for many of our volunteers and these little birds of prey pop up in our care often. Lately we've had a few through our doors with head trauma, assumed due to objec#owlr#littleowl##birde#birdofpreyb#nzbirdsy#birdsofaotearoao#wildliferehabilitationb#wildliferehabd#wildlifehospitalf#wildlife #siwhl#southislandwildlifehospitalfehospital ... See MoreSee Less

We received this tarāpunga from Project WellBird - Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital a week ago for management of a beak injury. Arriving with a painful crusty lesion on its upper bill, it has responded well to treatment. Now, with the last of the scab shed, it is just days away from release back to the wild.
Red billed gulls, and gulls in general, often get a bad rap. They may appear to be everywhere, and are often thought of as pests by many. However, these charismatic birds are in decline just like many of our bird species. We typically receive these birds with injuries related to fishing tackle and eating piping hot food, a problem believed to occur from stealing or being fed hot chips.
#bird #tarāpunga #redbilledgull #Gull #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehab #wildlifehospital #wildlife #Conservation #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation involves making some tough decisions. This can be especially true when time, effort and resources have already been put in to a patient. Wildlife are neither pets nor domesticated. Being around humans and being handled by them is stressful. Our focus is to get them healthy enough for a wild existence. As such, we have to weigh-up the interactions required for their care against the end goal of release.
We regularly receive kererū due to window strike but this poor bird collided with a vehicle. Initial assessments revealed a wing injury and within days a crop wound appeared and surgery was required. As treatment progressed, it became clear that the wing injury was worse than initially suspected and it was deemed not fit for release. Sadly, humane euthanasia was required due to compromised welfare. Decisions like these are always made with the individual's welfare in m#welfarel#AnimalWelfarel#wildlifed#wildliferehabilitationa#wildliferehabr#wildlifehospitalp#wildlifed#kererue#kererūe#bird##birdsofaotearoae#nzbirdsb#siwh##southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less

Our four eldest pohowera chicks have moved on from the hospital to an external facility where they have space to get some flight strengthening and have reduced human contact. This will be the final stage before release to the wild. We still have three younger banded dotterels to raise as well as another egg incubating.
Between the banded dotterels and the oystercatcher, we've gone through a large quantity of insects, meat and supplements to recreate a nutritionally appropriate diet during the growth phase. As a charity, we rely solely on received donations, grants and sponsorship to fund this care. At a time when the cost of living is rising, so too are our expenses. If you, or your business can help finance our work, and our goal of a larger, purpose-built facility, please visit wildlifehospital.co.nz/help-us/#gif#charitya#birdsb#nzbirdsb#birdsofaotearoae#pohowerao#bandeddotterelt#chicksh#wildliferehabilitationa#wildliferehabr#wildlifehospitalp#wildlifed#siwh##southislandwildlifehospitalpital ... See MoreSee Less