Sir, Once again it is the time of year when young Manx Shearwaters are leaving Skomer Island to fly to the warmer waters off Southern Portugal. This migration takes place from late August to early October. Already the Oiled Bird Rescue Centre at West Williamston has received the first few birds that have become grounded and picked up by people who have contacted the Centre or delivered them there. To date, all have been successfully released. The Oiled Bird Rescue Centre (tel: 01646 651236) is run by Jean Hains with her voluntary helpers. To help any of these young stranded birds, please contact the Centre. Most people now know that Manx Shearwaters are nocturnal birds and once grounded cannot 'take off' from land as most birds do. It is advisable that all birds are checked carefully in case of any damage and rested before release - at dusk, from a headland where there are no lights, as the birds are attracted back to lights and will again become grounded! Please, never put them back on the sea in daylight because the gulls will attack them! Over the many years that the Oiled Bird Rescue Centre has been running (it was officially opened in 1980) they have made many friends who have helped rescue birds and have come with them to the Centre. The Centre looks forward to meeting more people this year. We hope that once again we can count on local people and holidaymakers to keep their eyes open for these young black and white birds and to 'phone the Centre, or when possible please deliver them, and thus ensure that 2004 goes on record as a successful year for Manx Shearwaters.
Jean Hains, The Oiled Bird Rescue Centre,
Lower House Farm, West Williamston, Nr. Carew.