Thanks to British Food Imports for donating Fairy dishwashing liquid to the hospital. When we receive oiled birds, or if patients need assistance regaining their waterproofing, we give them a bath in detergent, with particular products such as Dawn and Fairy being the preferred choice. The process can involve multiple baths over a hospital stay, using a lot of product per bird. Most recently, several of our kororā patients, such as this one, got the spa treatment.
#bathtime #kororā #littlebluepenguin #littlepenguin #wildliferehabilitation #wildlifehospital #wildliferehab #wildlifehealth #wildlife #nzbirds #birdsofaotearoa #bird #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

There's been some additions to the hospital's penguin colony with some Fiordland Crested Penguins. This one was undergoing its moult on arrival. Penguins go through a catastrophic moult, meaning they lose all their feathers at the same time, rendering them land-bound and unable to feed until they are waterproof again.
Tawaki are one of many bird species that rely on the ocean's food supply. You can introduce your tamariki to the world of sea birds at our educator's free family-friendly talk at Papanui Library at 2pm,#tawaki #fiordlandcrestedpenguinr#penguins#penguinsofinstagram##birdi#birdsofaotearoai#nzbirdss#wildliferehabilitationl#wildlifehospitalo#wildliferehabp#wildlifehealthe#wildlifel#siwha#southislandwildlifehospitallandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

Kōtare are a common species to be admitted to the hospital. These birds tend to keep their distance in the wild, so it can be difficult to appreciate their plumage if you come across one. Like kererū, on closer inspection, sacred kingfishers have feathers that appear to shimmer.
This particular one was unable to support its own body when it arrived and required propping up in the incubator. #Kōtare #kingfisher #sacredkingfisher #bird #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #wildliferehabilitation #wildlifehospital #wildliferehab #wildlifehealth #wildlife #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (Christchurch)
Looking at you! This International Bird Day, could you be our next superstar to help us with our precious manu?
Are you interested in volunteering with the SIWH? We are currently seeking 5 or 6 enthusiastic volunteers.

Are you interested in making a real difference for some of NZs most precious wildlife?
Are you reliable, hardworking, and able to commit to a regular weekly shift?
Are you also able to commit to a minimum of 6-months volunteering?
Our main volunteer duties are: cleaning enclosures & aviaries, washing towels & food bowls, along with preparing diets. There are also opportunities for bird handling and assisting with treatments as you learn the ropes.

Shifts times are: (9am - 12noon/1pm) and (4pm - 6pm/6:30pm).

If you are interested, please email your name, phone number, and details of any relevant experience to: volunteering@wildlifehospital.co.nz

If you are interested, please email your name, phone number, and details of your relevant experience to: volunteering@wildlifehospital.co.nz

#volunteering #charity #morepork #ruru #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation
#wildlifehospital #wildliferehab #wildlifeveterinarytrust #wildlifehealth #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

We have said goodbye to this cheeky fella who has been released from the hospital. Kea are very intelligent birds, with an IQ similar to a 4-year-old child. This, of course, means that they can give us the run around at treatment times, and they are quick to suss out our techniques used to catch them in the aviary when we need to medicate them. This one loved to hang from the ceiling and watch the goings on upside down.
Thanks to the work of @keaconservation many wild keas are individually identifiable through unique bands on their legs. If you spot a kea in the wild, please report it on their kea database. You can also learn the sex, age, and name of those keas that you have spotted by entering their band number and colour.
#kea #parrot #parrotsofinstagram #alpineparrot #psitaccine #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehab #wildlifehospital #wildlifehealth #wildlife #bird #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less

Check out the beak on this pāngurunguru! Giant petrels are the largest of the petrel species, and they have an impressive (and dangerous) beak. Even when they are exceptionally sick, as this individual was, they still present a challenge to our vets and volunteers. Usually reaching us underweight and in kidney failure, getting them onto IV fluids requires careful handling and good control of the head. Not only can this beak snap shut with great force, but the tip is curved to a sharp point. A bite from one of these birds could inflict great injury. If you find one of these birds on the beach (or even your back garden, which is where this one popped up!), please call DOC in the first instance (0800362468). Do not attempt to touch or handle these birds without advice.
#beak #petrel #giantpetrel #pāngurunguru #TubeNose #bird #birdsofaotearoa #nzbirds #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehab #wildlifehospital #wildlifehealth #wildlife #siwh #southislandwildlifehospital ... See MoreSee Less