We have been having issues with the Helpline over the past week with calls cutting out or not getting through at all while based around the Home Reserve area at Rochdale.

I have contacted our network provider about this, and they inform me that there is maintenance work going on locally, which is impacting our signal. They do hope to have the issue resolved by the end of next week (Friday 16 August), so please do bear with us during this difficult period, and do make full use of our website and all the information it contains.

If you have found an injured/orphaned bird; use the link at the top of the page to locate your nearest wildlife rescue centre to take it to. If your local ones are all full, then your nearest vets is the next best option to prevent the casualty suffering.

Lots of calls just now from people saying they have found a baby seagull; check it has webbed feet first, as lots of well-meaning rescuers mix-up baby wood pigeons with baby gulls, as both have seemingly long beaks and grey plumage when young.

The late good weather has produced a 3rd brood of chicks; please remember that many british birds are flightless for the first 5-8 days from leaving the nest, so do check first that it is truly abandoned, and that the parents are not popping by to feed their chick every 2-3 hours (they will only spend a few seconds with it each feed-time, so as not to attract attention to it while in the flightless stage.

Finally, if needing to keep the garden cat-free to protect flightless birds, then do use the Citrus Fruit Method as detailed towards the bottom of the main page in the ADVICE section.

I will update this report, once we are fully back up and running with the Helpline.

Nigel

** Update; not good news ... the transmitter will not now be repaired until the evening of Monday 19 August at present. We can but hope that is the final delay. Thanks to everyone for bearing with us **

** Update 2; disappointingly we have been informed today that disruption to the mobile phone signal will continue until at least the evening of 29 August. We will continue to persevere and thank you all for your patience. Texts will be sent to mobile callers by return if we are unable to take a voice call. This contains information to assist you in regard to any wildlife casualty you may have found. **