WATCH: 'Greedy' guillemot released after islanders help fund recovery

Tuesday 17 March 2020

A poorly seabird, who got caught in an oil spill, has been released back to his natural home after islanders banded together to ensure he had enough to eat.

The "exhausted and underweight" bird was rescued from St. Ouen's Bay on 21 February.

Following this, the Animals' Shelter issued an urgent appeal asking islanders for donations of either sand eels or money to help fill the hungry bird's plate.

The appeal was a success, as the guillemot was videoed today being released back into the sea, having needed around 2,000 sand eels to eat during his time at the JSPCA.

Video: Oily no more! The JSPCA release the guillemot after he was nursed back to health.

The bird originally required treatment after bad weather in February meant that oil was churned up in the sea, causing more birds than usual to require treatment.

Explaining why the oil affects birds like guillemots so much, the JSPCA said: “When seabirds have oil on their feathers it affects their ability to dive for food and as they preen themselves to remove the oil it results in them ingesting it and becoming ill.”

The birds then require a special protocol to wash off the oil and have to remain in care until their feathers become waterproof again.

The guillemot has now reached this stage and the JSPCA issued a "very big thanks to everyone who helped get this guillemot back to good health", as he is safely returned to the waves.