No Easter eggs for couple of broody birds
EASTER might be just around the corner but staff at a Plymouth animal sanctuary are hoping there won’t be any eggs for resident birds Linda and Paul McTurkey this year.
The lovebirds live on-site at Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary near Plympton, where their broody behaviour is causing havoc.
Each spring, Linda typically lays around a dozen eggs. These eggs are taken away by staff to prevent them hatching and the number of birds multiplying to unmanageable levels.
But, despite the staff’s best efforts, Linda continues to sit on an empty nest for months and, during this time, refuses to go out into the fields or even eat and drink.
This behaviour is mimicked by her partner Paul who, whenever he gets the chance, also squeezes onto the empty nest and refuses to budge.
Concerned staff have tried replacing the real eggs with false ones and putting eggshells in the nest, but nothing has worked. So, for the first time, Linda’s carers have turned to hormone treatment. Before any eggs could be laid, Linda was given a hormone implant which staff hope will prevent her broody behaviour and keep her calmer and happier.
Assistant supervisor Claire Newcombe said: “We worry about her all the time because she stops eating.
“She won’t eat and drink unless you physically pick her up and put her next to her food, and Paul copies her behaviour. Last year, after a month, we took away the eggs and put in eggshell and she went and sat on the eggshell!”
With Paul weighing in at around 12kg and Linda at around half this weight, having to carry the couple to their food each day was proving too much for their carers.
Staff were also growing increasing concerned about the limited time Linda and Paul were spending outdoors at the Elfordleigh sanctuary.
If the implant works, Claire said Linda would have another next year.
“We hope it will stop her broody behaviour, she gets crazy!
“Since she’s had the implant she’s wanting to come out so, so far, so good. The early signs are positive.”