A tiny heron chick found abandoned at the bottom of a tree in West Yorkshire has been released into the wild after two months of rehabilitation, the RSPCA has announced.
Smallest heron chick ever admitted
Hetty, who weighed just 300g when she arrived at the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, was the smallest heron chick ever admitted there. She was rescued by volunteers at Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue in April.
Melanie Chapman, Stapeley Grange senior clinician, said: “Hetty was incredibly small when she arrived with us, only a few days old, but the punky-haired angry chick won our love and adoration immediately.”
Intensive care and recovery
The team developed a care and nutrition plan for Hetty, who required specialised feeding, supplements, correct lighting, noise levels, and enrichment. Staff monitored her closely for bone and joint conditions common in herons. When a condition called Angel Wing appeared to be developing, they bandaged her wings carefully to prevent growth issues.
“Fortunately, her wings healed back to normal and her feathers were waterproofed, so we were able to introduce Hetty to one of our pools where she had space to stretch her wings and fish for food (not live),” Chapman said.
Release into the wild
Hetty was released back into the wild last month. Volunteers at the release site continue to monitor her progress. Chapman added: “Raising heron chicks is not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced, but the team are thrilled to have had the opportunity to give it our all to Hetty, and to see her interacting with wild herons and catching her own fish is remarkable.”
“When she arrived, Hetty looked like an animal that had stepped straight out of the Jurassic period. But the highly intensive care she received from our staff meant that when she left us to return to the wild, she was an elegant bird who had acquired the skills she will need to thrive.”
