A Troubled Start for an Avocet Chick
An Avocet family, nesting on a local beach, found themselves under distress due to repeated
disturbances from individuals exercising dogs off-lead.
The stress of the constant intrusion ultimately led to one of the avocet nestlings, being swept
into the incoming tide, a dire situation that could have easily resulted in tragedy.

A Swift and Compassionate Rescue
Fortunately, a member of the public witnessed the distressing scene and, without hesitation,
intervened. The brave individual successfully rescued the waterlogged and distressed chick.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the nestling was transported to us here at East
Winch Wildlife Centre.

Rehabilitation and Hope
For 23 days, the dedicated team at East Winch provided meticulous care to the young
avocet. Under the staff’s watchful eyes, the chick regained its strength, received essential
nourishment and increased its weight from 21g to 170g.. The goal was always to return the
avocet to the wild, and thanks to the staff's tireless efforts, that goal became a reality.

A New Beginning at a Local Nature Reserve
Upon full recovery, the avocet was deemed ready for the next phase of its journey: a soft
release. This crucial step involved transferring the bird to a local nature reserve, providing a
safe and controlled environment for it to gradually re-acclimatize to the wild before full
independence. The reserve's sheltered habitat and abundant food sources offer the ideal
conditions for the avocet to thrive and, hopefully, contribute to the local avocet population in
the future.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of responsible pet ownership
and respecting designated wildlife areas to protect vulnerable species during their critical
breeding seasons.