Second chance for feathered friends
Injured birds find a safe 'nest' in which to recover.
ANGELS are associated with birds more than with any other type of animal. And although Michelle Pearson (31) from Shelly Beach doesn’t have wings, she is certainly a special ‘bird angel’ with a soft heart.
Michelle has been taking birds under her wing since the age of seven and has a particular soft spot for doves and pigeons. She recalled how, as a young child, she was on her way to school when she found a laughing dove with deformed legs under a tree. This sparked her passion to help rehabilitate birds and she has nursed hundreds back to health.
Injured feathered friends often arrive at Michelle’s doorstep with a broken wing, concussion or having survived a fall from a nest. She cannot ignore a bird in distress and recently bought two tumbler cross racing pigeons from a pet shop as she couldn’t stand the thought of them being trapped in a small cage for more than a month. “I don’t believe in keeping birds in a cage, so as soon as my ‘patients’ can eat and fly, they are free to go,” said Michelle.
Last Thursday, she released a hadeda ibis which she had nursed since it was a baby. “It’s so rewarding when you are able to release the birds,” she said, smiling.
She recalled how she once had to force-feed a concussed weaver bird for more than a month. Her dedication saved the little bird’s life, and it recovered well enough to eventually be released. Michelle works closely with KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife, but doesn’t rehabilitate sea birds or birds of prey.
Michelle’s day starts at the crack of dawn and finishes at 8pm most evenings. “It’s a long day but I don’t mind, I really enjoy what I do,” she added. She says she owes a great debt of gratitude to her husband, Arthur who is extremely helpful and supportive of her project.
She explained how her ‘children’, the birds, all have different and unique personalities. “They are extremely comical and interesting. I have named most of them for their particular personality traits,” she added.
To make her work possible, Michelle is appealing to the public to donate bird cages, in any condition or size, bird seed and AV+ formula. Michelle dreams of erecting aviaries, and needs help with materials for building such cages.
To help raise much-needed funds, comedian Dix Vorster will be performing at Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground on September 28. Only a limited number of tickets are available, and no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are R65 per person and a meal is included. There will also be a raffle, at R5 per ticket. To book call Michelle at 083 246 6765.
You can follow Michelle’s feathered friends’ progress on her facebook page, ‘Second Chance Avian Rescue’.
