By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on August 31, 2017
THE Albany Airport has had another year of surprise visitors, with three chicks found hiding away in a tree by the runway last week.
Born Free Wildlife Carers bird rehabilitator Annette Grant is now the primary carer of the three young banded lapwings, who were removed from the airport runway for their safety.
“It’s considered very dangerous for them at the airport, because the nest was so close to the runway that when they leave the nest, there’s a risk of them being hit by a plane,” Mrs Grant said.
Albany Regional Airport has become a favourite nesting ground for the little creatures.
“The airport staff look out for them every year, as they keep choosing the same spot,” Mrs Grant said.
“About three years ago, five eggs were found in that spot.
“That was a very happy outcome, as they had a very healthy release.”
Mrs Grant began caring for the precocial chicks at the end of their first 24 hours of life, and will be looking after them for at least two months.
“I am feeding them close to every hour at the moment,” she said.
“I weigh them every day and they are putting weight on, which is really very good.”
Mrs Grant has been a bird rehabilitator for seven years and began her love for birds through the Albany Summer School’s bird watching program.
Her knowledge and skills from the program have been of great help to her, as she can identify the different bird species and their natural foods and behaviours.
“They will stay under the heat lamp for a couple of months until hey get their feathers to keep them warm.
“Then they will go up to my aviary for a while and scratch away to their hearts’ delight at all the worms and dirt.”
The three chicks are the first group of baby banded lapwings for the year.
