Report It is generally accepted that rehabilitated Guillemots, which have survived for over a year in the wild, have integrated back into the wild population. Post release information for oiled Guillemots which have been rehabilitated by this Trust show a high percentage alive a year or more after release - evidence of successful rehabilitation and proof that Guillemots which have been properly rehabilitated (restored to their normal state) do survive.

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP DETAILING NOTABLE GUILLEMOT MOVEMENTS

Of the 1,063 rehabilitated Guillemots ringed during the period 1993–2003 (incl.) there has been post release information (PRI) for 34 (3.2%) up-to-date. Three were recovered oiled within two months of release, and returned to the wild after further treatment.

* more post release information will be added to this group in due time.

N.B. 5 of the birds reported up to a month were from just one year – 1996, when the Trust assisted with victims of the Sea Empress disaster in addition to casualties from local incidences.

To-date the median time is 290 days (mean 439 days), and the median distance is 249 km (mean 354).

Only 4 of the Guillemots, for which we have post release information, were released as mature birds. Most Guillemots treated by this Trust are immature and these results show a very favourable comparison with data gathered for immature non-rehabilitated Guillemots of 227 days (BTO) with which our rehabilitated birds should be compared.

This Trust is in no doubt that oiled Guillemots are good subjects for rehabilitation. As to the conservation value of this work - that remains to be seen. It could be that some small colonies have already benefited from our efforts, but very few colonies are monitored so no one is in a position to say. One thing is certain – Guillemots have suffered as a result of several major oiling incidents in the past few years – Erika, Prestige and Tricolour in this area alone. In addition to this some colonies have had very poor breeding seasons. A lack of fish which has hit Guillemots on the west coast of Scotland will also have taken its toll on the birds in this region.

PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE THE SEABIRDS

Rehabilitated Guillemots are often compared with rehabilitated Penguins in S.Africa which is ridiculous since many of the Penguins can be observed on their colonies, whereas information for Guillemots comes mainly from ring recoveries. Most of the Trust’s incoming ringed Guillemots are from the Western Isles of Scotland, and it is reasonable to assume therefore that many of those which are not ringed are also from that region. However, the Trust’s map of Notable Guillemot Movements shows no post release information whatsoever for that area, the reason being that it is sparsely populated, has many islets and inlets, and much of the coast is inaccessible.

There are very few oiled seabird rehabilitation centres in the UK - there is no funding for this work and small centres are run entirely by dedicated volunteers. Would-be rehabilitators are put off by the fact that the work is labour intensive; it is sometimes difficult to procure and store fish of a suitable quality; and it is imperative that birds such as Guillemots are kept in conditions which will prevent damage to delicate legs and feet.

Some people believe that rehabilitation of oiled seabirds is very expensive, and for this reason alone it should not be undertaken. The fact is that it is no more costly than the rehabilitation of any other creatures, and since mankind causes the misery suffered by these birds, mankind should seek to make amends.