Weston wildlife manager backs plans for new animal rehab centre
The manager of a Weston-based centre housing more than 40 different types of wildlife has backed ambitious plans for a new animal welfare centre in Lincolnshire.
Mark Birdsall, of Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre, has offered his support and expertise in owls, birds of prey and other wild animals to trainee vet nurse Lucy Steele who hopes to create a rehabilitation centre for injured wildlife to serve the entire county.
Lucy (25), who works at a vet surgery near Sleaford, spent a day with Mark and his staff at Baytree last Sunday where she learned more about handling and treating birds of prey, such as buzzards, eagles and kestrels.
Mark said: "I didn't know of Lucy until a friend of mine, a birds of prey courier, asked me if I could give her some of my time after some brought an injured buzzard in to her vet's surgery.
"Lucy brought it to me to see if I could establish whether it was a wild bird, if it was competitively bred and how badly its feathers and legs were damaged.
"So I went through with Lucy how to handle birds of prey, what injuries to look for, diets and how to fly them.
"The trouble is there's no other wildlife rescue centre around here and we're not equipped to take in any injured animals or birds.
"I get between four and ten phone calls a day through the summer from people who have found baby birds so it'll be handy to have someone like Lucy who we could direct people to in order to assist people by taking in injured birds."
Mark and Lucy plan to work together in raising funds for the Baytree centre and plans to open Wild Things Rescue, the word Wild standing for Wildlife in Lincolnshire and District.
Lucy said: "A lot of vets are having to put injured animals to sleep because there's nowhere to send them.
"I got sick of seeing birds passing away and because out vet's surgery could have up to ten species of wildlife a day brought in to us, I decided to set up a wildlife centre in my parent's garden.
"People have really got behind it and I've been sent an endless amount of messages saying that a rescue centre is something that's needed in Lincolnshire.
"Then one of my friends who runs a business which moves animals around the country put me in touch with Mark Birdsall."
Baytree Owl & Wildlife Centre opened more than 30 years ago and is one of the longest-running owl and bird of prey centres in Lincolnshire.
It started off as a specialist in housing owls from across the world, but the centre has grown into a place which keeps hawks, falcons, vultures and buzzards, as well as butterflies, red foxes, hedgehogs and a red squirrel.
Mark said: "Vets are obligated to take in animals or birds that are injured.
"But a lot of vets don't have any training in how to treat wildlife or birds of prey.
"That's why Lucy is hoping to help us raise some funds to go to more shows and take in more birds of prey, whilst we help her raise funds for the rescue side of what she does as well."
Lucy said: "It was a lightbulb moment for me when I realised there were people around who knew about birds of prey and exotic species.
"People often ring Mark because they have a bird which he can now refer on to me.
"At the moment, I have a little area of land that's being used for pre-release birds, while the other ones are at my parent's home.
"But I'm in the process of trying to secure funds to buy a bigger plot of land for Wild Things Rescue and people have been donating money when they bring their animals to me.
"Mark has been great in teaching me everything I need to know about birds of prey and so I'd like him to be involved in Wild Things Rescue because he's an excellent source of knowledge for me."
To make a donation towards Wild Things Rescue, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/weetabix-wildlife-goes-wild