11th
October
By Alice
Simmons
A Manx
Shearwater was found by a couple in their garden in Evercreech who realised it
needed help and immediately called the East Huntspill wildlife centre.
The birds
usually only come in to land during the night to feed their young which are
reared in burrows in cliff faces.
The day
after the team at Secret World collected this bird, another Manx Shearwater
walked into a house in Taunton.
Both
birds were assessed and treated at Secret World before being taken to the RSPCA
at West Hatch where they have special facilities for seabirds.
Dan
Bryant, animal carer at Secret World, said: “For these birds to be found inland
is extremely unusual, especially as the breeding season is over.
"Usually
storms will force them to land but there don’t appear to have been any storms.
“As they
rarely see humans, they don’t have a fear of them. Many of these birds, which
pair for life, will migrate to South Africa for the winter, travelling a
journey of over 10,000 km.
"The
oldest known Manx Shearwater is 56 years old which is a record for sea birds.
“It was
amazing to see them but right that we should pass them on to West Hatch who
have experience of caring for these incredible birds.”
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