RNLI helps give gull second chance for a second time!
A juvenile gull rescued by Newhaven RNLI has been successfully released back into the wild after an unexpected reunion with East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service.
The young gull was discovered while the crew of Newhaven RNLI were carrying out a training exercise near the western end of Newhaven Breakwater.
Crew members had been practising boat handling and preparing for a mock rescue on the rocky shoreline when one of the team spotted the gull trapped amongst the rocks. Fishing hook and line had become wrapped around the bird, leaving it unable to free itself. Sadly, another young gull nearby had already died.
The RNLI crew quickly stepped in, carefully cutting the surviving bird free before bringing it aboard the lifeboat. Solent Coastguard then contacted East Sussex WRAS, and arrangements were made for the gull to be collected from Newhaven Lifeboat Station.
Once admitted to WRAS, the gull was assessed and treated for the injuries caused by the fishing tackle.
But there was something else that immediately caught the attention of the team — a BTO identification ring on the gull’s leg.
When the ring number was checked, it revealed an unexpected connection.
The juvenile gull had already been cared for by WRAS earlier in the summer.
After being reared at our casualty centre, the youngster had been fitted with a British Trust for Ornithology ring and released at Cooden Beach.
That release had taken place just 20 days before the gull was rescued by the RNLI at Newhaven.
BTO rings carry unique identification numbers, allowing individual birds to be recognised if they are found again. In this case, it meant we were able to trace the gull’s story straight back to its first stay with us.
Thankfully, the youngster had avoided more serious injury.
Following a course of antibiotics, monitoring and some much-needed TLC from the WRAS team, the gull recovered well and was soon ready to return to the wild once again.
Today, WRAS rescuers took the gull back to Newhaven, where they met Nicki Day from the RNLI shop, who was given the honour of carrying out the release.
After leaving the transport carrier, the youngster made its way to the water’s edge before eventually taking flight across Newhaven Harbour.
It was a fitting conclusion to a rescue which had begun with the RNLI — and ended with them helping the gull back on its way again.
Whenever WRAS releases a casualty, we do so knowing that there are no guarantees about what will happen next.
Once back in the wild, animals and birds face natural challenges as well as hazards created by human activity, including roads, litter, netting and discarded fishing tackle.
All we can do is treat, rehabilitate and release them in the best possible condition, giving them every chance to continue their lives in the wild.
For this particular gull, that chance was needed twice.
We are extremely grateful to the crew of Newhaven RNLI for spotting the youngster, taking the time to free it and ensuring help was arranged. We are also delighted that Nicki was able to be part of the final stage of the story by releasing the gull back at Newhaven.
Hopefully, this time, its adventures will be a little less eventful.
Discarded fishing line and hooks can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries to wildlife. Please always take unwanted fishing tackle home and dispose of it safely.
If you find wildlife caught in fishing line, hooks or other entanglement, please seek advice from an experienced wildlife rescue organisation rather than putting yourself or the animal at unnecessary risk.
