For the first time, this year now seems longer than that a blink of an eye, as now thirty-one years have gone by since the Sanctuary's founder Mrs Eileen Watkinson MBE passed away on this day in 1995. She was a remarkable lady, with infinite patience for those with a genuine interest, and she deserves great credit for preparing me to carry on her great work to this day and looking forward well into the future.

Having worked on a one-to-one basis with her since 1978, I have been privileged to glean much of my wild bird knowledge from her; which I use each and every day even now to help save and enhance the lives of those birds living around us. My evenings and weekends are often taken up discussing different scenarios and treatments with both other sanctuaries and vets, as well as taking calls, messages and emails from the general public. Only this week I have been giving guidance regarding pigeons, geese, black-headed and herring gulls, a heron and even a cormorant - and who knows what the next enquiry will bring.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the expansion of Three Owls; from the single site we operated from in Rochdale to now operating over eight sites in the north-west of England. Most weekends see me assisting at Meltham Wildlife Rescue in West Yorkshire with both training and treatments, then regular transportation of birds up to Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue for ongoing care and rehabilitation prior to release on our two reserves at Wigton. I also transport both donated items for sale in the charity shops to further support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, and also on occasion am able to transport donated bird foodstuffs to a number of wildlife rescues so that vital expenditure can be repurposed elsewhere to keep each rescue hospital running as efficiently as possible. 

 So, a small toast to Mrs Watkinson for all her hard work and devotion; for founding the Three Owls and getting it all off the ground back in 1962, and for laying such strong foundations. Quite rightly she was awarded the MBE in 1992 for this achievement in her work with the birds; an honour which she openly shared with all the workers at the Sanctuary. Her forward-thinking ensured that come what may, Three Owls has been able to continue to help and support those wild birds in distress who need our help, and we are now further able to give onward assistance in providing secure reserve facilities for those birds who need an assisted release when returned to the wild.

Nigel