25/06/2026
A Busy Week for Our Feathered Friends in St Ives!🐦
We’ve had a busy few days here at the St Ives practice! We’ve seen five gull chicks brought into our care recently. We are pleased to share that thanks to the help of one of our wonderful clients, four of these chicks were safely transported to the amazing team at Mousehole Bird Hospital for specialised care, while the fifth chick received pain relief and rest with us before being successfully re-released!
In our first photo, our Branch Partner and Vet, Abi, is pictured examining one of our gull patients. The second photo shows three of the chicks safely nestled together before their journey to Mousehole Bird Hospital.
It’s always a privilege to help our local wildlife, but we want to share a gentle reminder with our community. While we are always happy to examine and treat injured birds, many chicks brought in are actually just "fledglings" who have left the nest on purpose.
Found a baby bird? Read this before you pick it up!
To help you know when to step in, our exotics nurse, Sarah, has put together these top tips:
*Is it a Fledgling or a Nestling?*
• Fledgling (Leave it nearby): It is fully feathered with a short tail, can hop or flap, and parents are watching from roofs or trees.
• Nestling (Needs help): It has bare skin or fluff and cannot stand or perch.
If it’s uninjured but in danger:
You can move it a few metres to safety where the parents will still find it. Good options include:
• A raised shoebox “nest” pegged to a washing line, fence, or tree.
• Into a nearby bush or shrub.
• A hanging plant pot nest.
**Seagull Fledglings**
Gull babies cannot fly for days after leaving the nest and often walk around screaming—this is normal!
• Do NOT take them home or put them back on roofs.
• Only move them if they are in danger (such as near cats or busy roads), using the methods above.
*When should you get help?*
Please contact us or a local wildlife rescue if:
• The bird is injured, bleeding, or has a wing hanging down.
• It was caught by a cat, is cold/unresponsive, or is covered in ants or flies.
• It is a nestling on the ground or a baby pigeon (squab) out of the nest.
We’re here if you need us, but remember—often, the best thing we can do is give these little ones space to grow!
