Guildford-based animal welfare group Parrot Conservation Australia is appealing for community help following a costly surgery to save one of their beloved sulphur-crested cockatoos.
The local grassroots organisation rehabilitates surrendered and injured birds and has been battling to stay afloat for the past two years due to the impacts of COVID.
However, founders Roger Sellwood and Lynn Hughes said when six-year-old Gertie took ill there was no question they would do everything they could to save her.
“Gertie was surrendered to us five years ago. She is a wonderful, loving and gentle bird, such a darling to handle. We couldn’t stand to lose her,” Roger said.
“In late January 2022 we noticed a lump in her abdomen, thinking she was egg bound we took her to a local avian vet. “The vet squeezed out some hard lumps from her cloaca (bowel) and immediately sent us to an avian specialist Matt Gossell at the Melbourne Bird Clinic Scorseby for expert advice,” he said.
Matt performed a series of tests and concluded that two hernias were pressing on Gertie’s cloaca blocking the urates (solid waste) from leaving her body.
Surgery was performed on the hernias and she spent more then a week in recovery in Melbourne.
“We brought her home and two weeks later returned her for a check up, he was happy and told us to keep an eye on her,” Roger said.
“However, eight weeks later we noticed she was prolapsing from straining and had more lumps inside her, resulting in another emergency trip to Melbourne and another surgery to fix the prolapse.
“We will return at the end of May when he will flush out her cloaca to see if the lumps are reforming, if they are it could mean another surgery to nip and tuck the cloaca. We are most concerned,” he said.
So far the bills have come to $3500, which is money the organisation just doesn’t have.
The not-for-profit is appealing for donations from the community to help them meet the costs and continue to provide the best care for their other birds.
“We have managed to battle through despite seed and fresh fruit and vegetable costs skyrocketing through COVID and our wonderful volunteers being forced to stay away during the lockdowns,” Roger said.
“It’s been really difficult with a lack of support and resources but we are hopeful things will turn around for us now. We’d love to welcome some more volunteers on board, particularly enthusiast young people.
“Our volunteers can build a real rapport with the birds if they are willing to put in the time. It’s so rewarding.”
The organisation also strives to educate the community about native birds and save our unique parrots from extinction.
If you’d like to make a donation to support Gertie and the work of Parrot Conservation Australia you can do so using PayPal via the website at www.parrotconservation.org.au or by direct deposit via Bendigo Bank BSB 633 000 Acc no 150767309. All donations are fully tax deductible.
