South Coast & East Sussex 'Gullraiser' pt 2

PUTTING GULLS FIRST.

Working to ensure the safety and protection of gulls (and other birds) in East Sussex and the surrounding areas.

Est. 2019, this facebook group is where our work originates. But 2024 will see any rescues conducted only through the below group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/385523575455222/?ref=share_group_link

Instagram/You Tube: sussex_gull_volunteer_network

SUMMARY

THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who have entrusted casualties to us over the years and supported the voluntary work that has been all-consuming during 2023, and also in 2022. Most have remained with us from the beginning, and those who remain truly have the interests of gulls and other wild birds at heart.  

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.

(Feel free to have a sit down between paragraphs!!! )

Thankfully, we are not a registered/CIC charity, (we have no interest in having to deal with government bodies who have done nothing to help during the avian flu crisis) As unpaid members of the public, we have done the work ourselves and with the energy crisis hitting the UK more than ever, it is making any phased return back to proper work even more impossible. This is now a way of life for a couple of us which has become very personal to those who now dedicated their lives to assist this much maligned species. 

We are a small and private non-profit volunteer group where in the warmer months, work where we can to assist the public with rescues. We do not classify ourselves as a 'rescue' group as this adds pressures at times where the voluntary sector across the UK is struggling with the current cost of living crisis. 2023 clearly saw others unable to cope in the summer. There are now nowhere near enough volunteers to cope with the summer rescues and it is foolhardy to think otherwise. 

Where we can, we also help pigeons (able or disabled) which includes finding the best homes for them. Either within or outside Sussex.

We have also been assessing the viability of Avian flu tests (still ongoing) treating and healing lesser symptoms of AF/bacterial Infections with more than moderate successes.  No one in Sussex has acknowledged avian flu tests, but what we do know now is that some symptoms of avian flu can be treated. No one will dare admit this, instead choosing a blanket euthanasia policy without getting to the root cause of AF. We do. Research into a particular herb has been tested and logged by a Swan rehab Centre and findings have been logged with DEFRA . It is too soon to declare anything yet as tests are ongoing. 

Due to limited staff, We now only cover some areas of East Sussex. Our priority and chief aims are focused mainly upon pigeons and gulls (but are always able to help or refer with other casualties albeit remotely) These birds continue to be further under represented with no sign of this changing. However, too many casualties and way too much care needed is affecting every day life. Particularly as winter of 2024 has seen no let up. Very big issues lie ahead.

Others across the UK are facing some really tough challenges this summer following the passing of two devoted gull lovers, plus the shutdown of a site in Liverpool... that led to various gull interns found in poor conditions but thankfully moved to other sanctuaries. The above leaves a gaping hole for people asking for help with so many sites and vets saying no to gulls. Other volunteers across the UK have been forced to go it alone so we (and others) have also been advising people online what to do when they have found a casualty. Our associations and private contacts extend way beyond Sussex and some gulls have been lucky enough to make it to Sussex.

Last year saw a MASSIVE reduction in nests following countless deaths from avian flu in 2022. Believe it or not, 2023 was in fact, a great deal quieter... but you wouldn't have thought so!!! It's now gone beyond a full time preoccupation  This coming summer will be impossible... unless more volunteers are able to help, many won't get help.

Below is a full list of what the previous funds are raised for. We are only raising and supporting those who care for gulls, the chicks and pigeons.

Bird Aid, Skippers Sanctuary, Foundation For Feathered Friends, Seagull Healer (Malaga), Shimmer of Hope (Exeter), Mousehole (cornwall), Bardsea Bird Sanctuary (cumbria)  . The list is growing every month.

Other different causes such cat and dog charities have been helped, plus helping other individuals during an escalating cost of living crisis. Supporting lone rehabbers helping gulls and pigeons plus our fosterers. In the recent past, our fundraisers have supported not just our team, but my own costs from housing birds at home through to petrol from driving to different locations, but to various sites across the UK who, as already mentioned have it far worse than we do. 

Taking in gulls now comes hand in hand with bio security measures and quarantining BEFORE any can go into a sanctuary. Essentially we act as a bridge between finders and vets to explore other options and to stop any other harm coming to birds who, disabled or otherwise, ensuring they get to the best places. Several broken winged birds have recovered and left for new lives either in the skies, or to retreats. Some results achieved have proved astounding in the last year . 

Last year, some amazing heroes did join us and have helped in ways I couldn't have imagined.  Other support has been behind the reasons why we have kept going. We are blessed with a few hidden, but high profile supporters.

What has not been a help is the incessant amount of Interfearance in our work and it has become way too public and highly embarrassing. Anything ranging from our harassment of our contacts through e mails, cyberbullying, fake profiles invented to spy on our work, endless public spats, the blocking of people from groups (many had casualties needing help last year and didnt get it).  These trends took form early on and while not started by me, as the saying goes... if you can't beat them, join them. All of which has made for a toxic environment where a thug element is revered and now the very casualties we are trying to help in the summer are suffering. Since the theft of the west sussex division of our group last year, all the work put in to help the worthing area become established has been wiped out. In addition, countless birds (gull chicks) have waited up to a week to be caught and helped, and we've seen misdiagnosed cases, unhelpful advice, misappropriated rescues and phone lines unanswered all across Sussex. Until background checks are implemented, I cannot bear be a part of anything that takes away from the core message this group continues to project.  Our contacts have now been duly Informed, so let's hope we are left alone this year. I suspect that won't happen and fully anticipate this going on and going further public.

Without mentioning another wildlife site in East Sussex, a hate group levelled at them has also surfaced. Interestingly, many who have caused issues with us are also members of this group so it's a culture that is forever breeding and that really says it all. There is no regard for people's mental health in this field and the only consequence is that more and more birds will be left to suffer.

On the subject of backgrounds, it did occur that not much is known about myself as I've never spoken of it. 

Coming from a moderately known background in freelance writing in the media in London, I moved to Brighton in 1998. Here I undertook a position as a studio manager at the talking Newspaper Association for the Blind in Heathfield (now closed after a merge with the RNIB). The position involved reading and translating the written word from newspapers and magazines onto audio tape and cds. The recordings were incredibly successful and in 2002 our recording team were awarded a BBC Community Champions award. At that time, the charity did not seem to be well known within the national newspapers in Fleet Street or Canary Wharf, so I undertook to form a Public Relations department within the charity. Through aggressive campaigning this took me on visits to the newspapers, where i arranged free advertising in their editions on behalf of the charity. This incorporated fundraising and marketing, so am fully experienced in doing whatever it takes to fund those who are often (and still) discriminated against. Fast forward through a short career as a dj, further freelance writing, not long afterwards i became a homeowner where I became interested in local bird life. Then i met a local gull, plus partner. Followed by bird rescues. For six years i formed an effective Neighbourhood Watch group but gave it away to focus upon doing my own thing within the bird rescue field. Unimpressed by the pettiness within wildlife rescue, i went it alone, forming and joined a volunteer group, raising whatever was needed to help those local but also within the UK where help is alarmingly scarce. Fundraising for these underappreciated charities and groups is something I am experienced at. Now we have a lot of (offline) support and backing and have championed various campaigns which have benefitted a lot of people along the way. This included the campaign to save Bird Aid in Hailsham in 2021. A campaign that went viral and our team helped to bring on board the Brighton and Hove albion, Fat Boy slim, Zoe ball, Holly Willoughby, Russell Brand, Chris Packham to name a few. The local media also played a big part. Other campaigns have included helping other esteemed charities raise funds, plus Kitty in the City, along with ordinary people struggling to keep going and to keep their pets through just giving or gofundme pages.

This work as a volunteer is a constant battle but is now a full time pre occupation.

.. where do we fail at is a desperate shortage of volunteers. I hope i am wrong but it is sadly anticipated many birds (gull chicks of course) from June won't get help from this coming summer. The cost of living crisis does not provide any of us with too many people to help. It makes for an extremely stressful year as the requests for help are constant. Rescues this year will be from our group only. No assistance can be offered to other groups this year. 

Thank you SO MUCH to our supporters over the last 5-6 years, online, across the UK, beyond and in person. The work goes on, in spite of what we have to put up with. Where possible, our birds will continue to thrive and what is raised will go to those who have not failed these birds. Much more work will be going on behind the scenes, even though its winter and meant to be quiet. 

Morale within our close knit group is as its always been ☺  So If you are in Sussex and wish to help, please ask as drivers and rescuers are desperately needed. If all you can do us pick up a casualty and get it home and safe, that really helps any volunteer a great deal .

On a final note, all the views above are expressed by myself and are not represented or shared by other team members.

J. king

♥