Manx Shearwaters

Naturenutz · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:55 AM

I found this update on the washed up shearwaters this week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-wales-14790237

.I realise there is another thread somewhere here but cant find it.
I can see west hatch are doing a great job but i dont understand why the underweight birds cannot be fed to gain weight and then released to take there chances.
Why do we take the chance of survival ,even if very small ,away from the birds.I know body mass is looked at , but why not give them a chance as we know nature is always full of suprises and some may have survived.
I am not looking to upset or blame anyone here,just trying to understand why underweight birds are not given a chance.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 06:21 AM

There was one in the London area a few days ago. This was on the Thames seen from both Rainham + Crayford, though I think this was in reasonable health. Often they fall victim to large gulls.

Adam Cheeseman · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 08:59 PM

I'm surprised the RSPCA did anything to help wild birds at all. Incidents like this happen as a matter of course and we may not like it but that's nature for you. Not always, beautiful, cute and serene.

Cheers,

Adam

RoyW · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naturenutz

I can see west hatch are doing a great job but i dont understand why the underweight birds cannot be fed to gain weight and then released to take there chances.
Why do we take the chance of survival ,even if very small ,away from the birds.I know body mass is looked at , but why not give them a chance as we know nature is always full of suprises and some may have survived.
I am not looking to upset or blame anyone here,just trying to understand why underweight birds are not given a chance.

I would think that a combination of factors is taken into account, principally (but not necessarily only) these two:
1). Past experience has probably shown that individuals under a certain weight are extremely unlikely to survive even if they are fed.
2). The resources (funding) available to provide for birds in this type of situation is limited - if resources are given to individuals that will most likely die anyway, there then may not be enough for the ones that were more likely to survive and all may end up dying.