Tails from TACT

TACT needs your support..

2010-04-08T09:57:00.003+01:00

We have alot of creatures living with us at the moment that need your help by sponsoring them.

Our forum ( http://tactwildlife.proboards.com ) has a section dedicated to the sponsoring creatures. We are in the process of adding as many of the creatures there under their specific groups so please drop by and have a look.

Thanks to one of our volunters, Jenni, for taking on the task of updating the forum...

We have creatures from £5 (for those with alittle pocket money and who would like to help) up to the larger birds and mammals at £40 with a full range of species in between..

Your sponsorship will last for 1 yerar and each sponsor will get a certificate about their particular creature which will have the individuals picture, and a Membership card which allows you to come and visit your creature and also a plaque in the garden showing your sponsorship support.

We must stres that it costs alot more thn the sponsorship fe to take care of each creature for that year so we do try to get multiple sponsors foreach creature if posible. However, as we aim to release as many creatures as possible, your sponsorship fee will also be contributing to this.

If you are sponsoring one of our domestic creatures, unless otherwise stated, we do attempt to rehome as many of these as possible. If your sponsored creature is offered a new caring home we will ofcourse never turn it down. We will transfer your sponsorship onto a different animal after constulting with yourself.

Sponsoring creatures here is a very vital part of raising funds to feed and take care of these creatures each year and without the public support we get in Northern Ireland, we could not continue the work.

Please check out the site today and if there is something you are interested in please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Also bare in mind it is in the process of being updated so if there is something that we have that is not yet posted, please be patient. We will get them up as soon as we can :)

Thankyou..

Sad end for a beautiful swan

2010-04-08T09:49:00.003+01:00

On Sunday we had a swan brought to us by the police, from Antrim.

It appeared to have a badlt broken leg. We do not do any veterinary treatment involving anaesthetics on the first day or 2 after coming in as we have found to our sadness that the stress the bird is already under can cause it to not wake up. So the vet administered the usual pain meds etc and it came back to us for a 2 day rest. ON Wednesday morning it went to the vet to get an xray.

The vets were hopeful that the leg could be splinted or pinned in necessary.

After taking the xray the vets was shocked by the image. His knee was completley dislocated, all the nerves and ligoments in there where torn and irrepairable and it also looks like its been that way for some time. It certainely wasn't a recent injury.

sadly a swan could never survive with only one leg. They are too heavy and the legs are set so far back that their balance would be completley wrecked so we had no choice but to say goodbye to him.

What is really sad is that swans will pair for life and he was an adult male in gorgeous breeding conditons so there probably is a female somewhere in the area that is now alone.

Here is the xray they took. Our vets were very good in letting us have borrow the xray to show what happened. You can clearly see where the two bones are seperated. Very sad outcome but we can't save them all..

Nice news on a cold morning :D

2010-01-08T14:20:00.005Z

Woodcock released this morning. Picked it up lastnight. was found in the middle of a housing estate in Belfast, in a driveway, tired, hungry and cold.. Had a night of rest, lots of food and heat.. was fighting fit this morning so found a nice quiet wood and released him.. Totally gorgeous birds. the plumage is amazing.

The area he was released into is a lovely mixed woodland, plenty of cover and bordered on either side with open countryside so he has the choice of where he wants to go..

The weather is badly effecting everything.. the animals, just like ourselves, are just not used to this degree of coldness. PLEASE do be vigilant and feed the birds in your area.

2009-11-23T23:43:00.001Z

TACT has now got a facebook page.. check it out guys and gals.

I hope to try and keep all these more updated now we have alittle more free time..

just search TACT Wildlife Centre

night night..

latest unusual arrival

2009-11-23T16:30:00.003Z

A gentleman brought in a rather rare and unusual bird to the centre today. It is called a Little Auk and are small black and white sea birds, not very unlike a puffin, alittle smaller but lacking in the huge colourful beak.

He was found on a wet road in belfast so chances are he has simply got lost and disorientated with the stretlights and landed on the road by accident.

He is going this evening to have a BTO identiiable ring put on his leg so if he turns up anywhere else in the world he can be recorded and traced.

Then he will be released back to the sea this evening.

Here are some pictures for you. he is very sweet..

You can see from the pics. their legs are set rather far back on their bodies. they aren't that steady on land and are designed for swimming and diving for fish.. So he likes to lie down alot.. :D

I quite like his little white eyelids..

TACT on CBEEBIES

2009-11-19T12:59:00.002Z

A few months back we had CBeebies Green Balloon Club spend the whole day here filming an episode for their Northern Ireland Series..

We got word today that it will be shown on the 16th December at 3.30pm..

So make a note and tune in :D

Debbie

Construction continues at full speed

2009-11-19T12:41:00.003Z

Well, its been a while and work is flying ahead at the Centre.

The rows of centre pens which are over 30yrs old now and well passed their best are finally nearly down.

We are tearing down one pen and contructing a new one in its place while the next one if being removed.. that way we can get to using them asap.

The Centre row are now completed and looking brilliant. And already occupied with a variety of species including gulls, herons, collared doves and even a sparrowhawk..

The end pen we have not yet got any creatures in but I am sure this will change rapidly judging by the steady influx of creatures needing help.

We are all very pleased with how they are turning out.. Seeing the old pens and knowing how bad it looked was getting everyone down so to see how well it is looking now and hopw close we are getting to completion of this project is lifting everyones spirits.. even in this damp day..

So here are some up to date pictures to show the progress,

Thanks for looking..

Centre row finished and occupied..

Double doors fitted to every enclosure for safety

Can you spot the sparrowhawk watching you!!!

Large end pen awaiting new occupants..

All the pens have a semi covered roof and also are backed with willow screeen to make the animals inside fel safe and calm while they are rehabilatated..

Sparrowhawk recovering from a respitory infection awaiting release.

Building begins on new pens atlast!

2009-09-07T12:09:00.003+01:00

Anyone who has been to TACT in the past will know that several of our pens have remained unused for around the last year. They are over 30 years old and are pretty much condemmed to destruction now..

Well in the last year & half we have ben working hard to get these torn down and new ones rebuilt.

Last Spring we received funding to build some very large pens which were desperetly needed for the likes of the birds of prey and the foxes. These we had to contract out to in order to get them finished intime and the they flew up..

See pic below. Image showing new large pen, new fox enclosure, pond area and new feed sheds and baby station..

Well the latest contstruction work has now begun and finally we are getting rid of all the old pens down the centre of the Walled Garden.

Work has been done already and foundations and the main structure is already up on one and the next is in progress.

We also started work on the new pigeon loft. The frame is now up and roof should be going on next week all being well.

So its full steam ahead..

Not every story has a happy ending!

2009-08-03T16:58:00.002+01:00

A lady rescued a wood pigeon from the road today which had been hit by something pretty large.

There was a serious amount of blood in the box so we didn't even check out the bird but rushed it straight to the vet.

On inspection the birds wing was severelly broken with protruding bones and while being handled it became obvious that it also had suffered damage to its keel and rib cage as there was grinding.

The bird was in so much pain even though it wasn't showing it that the kindest thing we could do for it was to let it die quickly and peacefully at the hands of the vet.

The only peace of mind we have is that the lady took the time to rescue a bird which can on occassions be very 'jumpy' and difficult to get a grip of, and bringing him to us where he died without being hit again by cars or left on the road to be hit again and suffer further.

Our thanks to the lady who rescued it. :)

Starling was a little 'tied up'..

2009-07-31T14:27:00.011+01:00

A member of the public bravely rescued this starling from his telephone wires on Wednesday afternoon. it wasn't plainly obvious as to why he got tangled up untill we had a closer look and realised both his feet were severley tangled up in thin black sewing thread.

Goodness knows how he got tangled in it but his toes were locked together. he must have had a small bit dangling when he landed on the wires and this got blown round and tangled on the wire so as he flew off he ended up hanging upside down. And with the struggling it just made the string tighter.

40 minutes later and we managed to finally get all the string off to find that one of his toes was badly broken. As can be seen on the left foot in the picture above.

After a trip to the vet and some manipulation of the toe he managed to get the bone back into place and the Starling is now sporting the latest in fashion....

A bright blue toe bandage..

Our vets are great at doing 'Dolls-house' scale medical work..

His toe still may die and fall away although birds are great at adapting to losses like that so he can still survive without it. All being well that won't happen.

We have all our fingers and emmm... toes ;) crossed that he heals up.. he is eating well so far

TACT Funday 23rd August. We need your help

2009-07-31T13:54:00.002+01:00

Due to circumstances outside our control, TACT is limited on the days we can be open for visits so we intend to make the most of them.

On the 23rd August we are planning an open day with Fun activities for the kids such as a Treasure Hunt, wildlife related games and a chance to meet some of the creatures at TACT & Even have their picture taken holding some of them (There is a charge for this to help raise funds for the Centre)

Tea’s & Coffees will be available for the adults. We will be making a small charge for these and need some volunteers to help serving and washing the cups etc.
We would love to have home made tray-bakes available also so maybe if you are a keen cook and would like to contribute with some buns/cakes that would be fantastic! Pre-packaged cakes also accepted for sale!

Do you have items lying about the house you no longer use or are getting in the way.. One person’s trash is another’s treasure..

We can sell these at our Bric-a-brac sale in the afternoon.

Items such as toys, books, cloths (Must be washed), ornaments etc are all welcomed..
Items can be brought to the Centre any time between 10-3pm

And lastly, please let your friends and family know about the funday.

The event will be taking place on Sunday the 23rd August from 2.30pm-4.30pm.
The treasure hunt is free for the children taking part. With prizes for the winners. Accompanying adults will be asked for a small donation.

Other activities being planned. We are also planning a ‘Bric-a-brac’ sale and this is where we would like to ask for your help?? Below are some ideas for you to think about and see if you can lend a hand.

Your help in even the smallest way is very important to us and we thank you in advance for your support.

Abandoned Kitten handed in to TACT

2009-07-29T16:21:00.004+01:00

Lastnight (28th july 2009) 2 young boys found an abandoned kitten in Crumlin.
it has got to be a pet as it has a lovely nature and is not at all bothered by people so must be used to being around them.

If you have lost a kitten in the area please contact TACT on 02894422900 and give us a description of your kitten to see if it is the same one.

We have sent it out with a fosterer at present.

Regards

TACT

sunshines (Briefly) at TACT

2009-07-21T12:48:00.001+01:00

The sun shone for a few days which the birds took full advantage off and we couldn't resist a pic of them sunbathing Enjoy :)

In this picture there are Mute swans, greylag geese, gannet and lesser & herring gulls.. All of which free roam the Centre each day

2009-07-21T12:41:00.000+01:00

Recently a lovely willow warbler was brought to us. These birds are very secretive choosing to live in areas of willow, quiet woodlands or near waterways. The arrive from Africa each year (yes that tiny creature flew all that way!!!) set up a territory, mate, rear their young and return to Africa in the late summer/early autumn..

This one was found in a garden so on inspection we have to guess it hit a window as it seemed just stunned. After a rest and some food it was lively enough to go so it was released from the centre into ther surrounding woodland where they are already willow warblers resident.

Hoglets arrive at TACT

2009-07-09T11:33:00.000+01:00

These 7 baby hoglets were brought to us after the mother randomly gave birth in a plastic binbag in a garage. The mother was unwell and weak so all 8 arrived with us. Sadly one of the hoglets very quickly passed away and despite our best efforts of round the clock feeding we were unable to save them. The fact that the mother was unwell (she did survive and has since been released back to the wild) didn't bode well dfor the hoglets in the first place. So a sad ending to this story.