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The recent stormy weather has caused many casualties over recent weeks, but yesterday the GSPCA were called out to a rare bird on our coast at this time of year.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Earlier today one of our GSPCA Ambulance Drivers were called out to Grandes Rocques to rescue a bird that we only really see around Herm or Alderney during the summer months.”
“The bird we rescued today is a really poorly puffin a bird that during the winter months live far out at see as they only come on land to nest.”
“He has been called Oscar Puff and is currently in intensive care in our Wildlife Unit.”
“The last time we rescued a puffin was in February 2014 and prior to that over 16 years ago.”
“We help over 1500 sick and injured wild birds each year and with stormy weather we never know what to expect.”
“We are all keeping our fingers and toes crossed for Oscar Puff and to donate to his care and the other animals at the GSPCA you can go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) or why not sponsor a pen and to find out more http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf.”
“We have a number of web pages with wildlife advice or you can call 01481 257261 for help 24/7. More information can be found on http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice.”
“Another way to support wildlife, well we are relaunching our Buy a Brick Appeal as we are hoping to start building our GSPCA Wildlife Hospital in 2022 and to support this as yourself, as a gift or as a group or business please check out http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf.”
“We will of course keep you up to date on Oscar Puff’s progress.”
Kaelan Le Page, finder of Oscar Puff said "Walking along Grand Rocques this morning with our two dogs running around when we spotted Oscar Puff by some rocks."
"Thanks to my job, I could see he was a puffin in distress and we knew we had to get him some help."
"It looked like he’d got coated in oil, couldn’t fly and was clearly very tired."
"He allowed me to pick him up and was quite happily sat in my arms whilst we waited for the GSPCA."
"Oscar Puff has certainly stolen a piece of my heart!"
Puffins have a black back and white underparts, and distinctive black head with large pale cheeks and a tall, flattened, brightly-coloured bill.
Its comical appearance is heightened by its red and black eye-markings and bright orange legs. With over 500,000 pairs half of the UK population is at only a few sites and they are on Amber List species.
Puffins Latin name is Fratercula arctica and the are from the Auks (Alcidae) family.
Adults arrive back at their breeding colonies in March and April and leave again in mid-August. Some remain in the North Sea at winter, whilst others move further south to the Bay of Biscay.
Puffins feed on fish, especially sandeels.
