A Dorset woman is to receive a special award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) at the House of Lords, recognising many years of dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating injured or abandoned birds.
She is creating a special ‘reproofing’ pool in her garden to ensure that birds affected by oil spills, or which have been traumatised, have regular access to water and do not lose the waterproofing on their feathers, which can occur when a bird is stressed.
Lynne shares her home with up to 200 birds at any one time, and currently cares for finches, budgies, guillemots, starlings, blackbirds, pigeons, quails and a Canada goose. Occasionally she also provides refuge to other wildlife, such as hedgehogs and squirrels, and has a number of rescued dogs.
She rescues around 4,000 birds a year, the vast majority of which are returned to the wild.
Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “Lynne’s dedication has seen her rescue tens of thousands of birds and other wildlife over the years and she is a great example of animal welfare in action. She is a very deserving winner of IFAW’s Avian Rescue Award.”
Lynne said: “I love wildlife and started off rescuing all kinds of animals as well as birds, but soon started to realise that there were more rescuers of mammals and less provision for birds so decided to focus primarily on this. It’s very rewarding work, I do it for the birds and never expected my work to be recognised, I was totally shocked to find I was to receive an IFAW award!”
Lynne will receive her award at IFAW’s prestigious Animal Action Awards event, hosted by Baroness Gale and presented by TV wildlife presenter Bill Oddie at the House of Lords on October 22.
