The Northland Bird Nurse

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I don't answer calls without a text message first, via SMS only not FB messages please
Im Lily, the green haired bird nurse.
•Nurse consults for pet birds,
•ECC for wild birds
•I do pet sitting/ pet minding
•Qualified RVN
•CONTACT ME VIA +64223734100

Lil juvi gull not feeling too well after the storms. He's very very weak but once we get him warmed up, hydrated and fed...
19/04/2026

Lil juvi gull not feeling too well after the storms. He's very very weak but once we get him warmed up, hydrated and fed he should be okay!
With starved creatures we have to feed slowly to avoid refeeding syndrome. So he's got some good stuff in his subcut fluids to help raise his blood sugar and give his cells some energy.

He's already looking better than he was in this photo

Bird keepers of kerikeri!!This is a weird request but.... Does anyone have pet/tame barbary/mourning/ringneck doves?I ha...
29/03/2026

Bird keepers of kerikeri!!

This is a weird request but.... Does anyone have pet/tame barbary/mourning/ringneck doves?

I have a fledgling fella who is desperate for some peers to hang with and learn how to dove from.

I also have this teensy baby that will need some birdy education when he grows up.

Or if you have an aviary of doves and can fit 1 more let me know? 😬😬

23/03/2026

Hi all, just a quick PSA

I love to foster and assist with rehoming birds and ensuring they go to the best home, however I cannot do so properly with information about the bird or if I don't actually get a reply.

My goal here is to find or provide well vetted homes for birds so they don't get passed around, have inadequate play or flight space, diet and home life for that species needs.

If you message to ask for help then never reply back I cannot help you. If you have messaged then found somewhere please let me know so that I don't stress it's going somewhere like to a bird flipper or something.

Thanks.

It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to euthanize Reiko.Last weekend he was doing really good but over the last ...
21/03/2026

It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to euthanize Reiko.

Last weekend he was doing really good but over the last few days he's become super unhappy and distressed. It wasnt fair. Treatment was working finally however he himself really did not want to endure more nor would he cope

I have only had him for 4 months out of his 20ish years but we have been on hikes, to the shops, road trips, big flies and many many adventures together.

He did well, now we are sending deep tissue samples away to still try to figure out what he was dealing with so that in future if I find another bird with the condition I can hopefully treat it.

Here are some photos from our big cuddles last night, he was on gabapentin which helped calm him and take away discomfort.

Bit of an update on Reiko.I placed an oesophageal feeding tube after hours, under general anesthesia with the help of Pa...
08/03/2026

Bit of an update on Reiko.

I placed an oesophageal feeding tube after hours, under general anesthesia with the help of Paul, our newest veterinarian at Phoenix.

At home I'm still a nurse, every time Reiko moves, eats, drinks and takes medication I make an observation and write them down as if I am caring for animals at work. I make a nursing diagnosis and update his nursing plan when needed.

I know he has trouble swallowing, so I try to medicate safely but Thursday night he almost aspirated on his medication and excess saliva. To save him I physically sucked the excess stuff from his upper respiratory system. With my mouth. Gross.
Friday I was meant to place the tube but the clinic had a couple emergencies so I didn't get a chance until yesterday.

The tube is certainly a learning curve in terms of vet nursing skills because we rarely place them. I think I used a size too small because it gets blocked with the sediment of medication that forms when I grind and mix it. But! It's slowly getting easier and less stressful for the both of us

I don't have much hope he will actually recover from this infection/hyperkeratosis issue, his quality of life is pretty s**t but he seems brighter since properly getting meds in. So I have a little hope.

He has a check with his bird Dr in a weeks time (ish). Hoping for improvement 🤞🤞

08/03/2026

Bit of a fun story for my followers

About 2 or 3 weeks ago (estimating time is NOT my specialty) I admitted a ducky with multiple fractures in the leg, it was so so so swollen and bordering intra-articular infection. So for 2 weeks I kept her well medicated on antibiotics and pain relief then popped her out in the enclosure when her fracture started to heal (still with splint) for a week.
Well unfortunately a tree fell on my enclosure a couple days ago and she escaped (not with splint)
Yesterday I was sent a photo by the lady that brought her to me. Miss ducky somehow found her way home with a slightly funky leg and covering a decent distance!! How crazy!!

Stilton the Pied Stilt was admitted today. About a 2/5 on the bird BCS, very weak and dehydrated. He's on the IV pump no...
06/03/2026

Stilton the Pied Stilt was admitted today. About a 2/5 on the bird BCS, very weak and dehydrated. He's on the IV pump now with some nutrients added.

There's a Stizzle McTizzle causing a fizzle in this bitchizzle. Stizzlebutt Starling disappeared for like 8 days because...
05/03/2026

There's a Stizzle McTizzle causing a fizzle in this bitchizzle.

Stizzlebutt Starling disappeared for like 8 days because Reiko stayed the night at Mill Road Vet Hospital, and just didn't come back. Now he is back! With new words! Today I heard him say "you good?" Just like Jammie does🤷🏻‍♀️

Reiko and jammer went to the vets this arvo, jammie is in good health apart from some plucking which I suspect I have al...
25/02/2026

Reiko and jammer went to the vets this arvo, jammie is in good health apart from some plucking which I suspect I have already dealt with. Reiko on the other hand gets to stay the night, he's getting his proper tongue flesh biopsied by Dr Kevin at Mill Road Vet Hospital tomorrow

Then afterwards we are spending the weekend with Old Mill Stables for some girlie and birdie time!

Oh and Stizzle spent 3 days and nights outside and poor guy is exhausted, hungry and thirsty so he gets some very tasty warm food and water

23/02/2026

I'm sure it's been noticed, but lately I haven't been taking many non critically injured/unwell birds or babies.
This is because I am trying to move onto pet birds, and emergency and critical care cases.
Funny enough I never actually intended to work with wild birds and have of course fallen in love with them.
I love critical care cases that really challenge my brain and require problem solving during care and treatment.

But the amount of death is tiring. I'm glad to be able to assist with humane euthanasia, which in most cases is a necessity, but it's not my favorite part.

I want to work with parrots most. I love parrot behavior and psychology, nutrition, handling illnesses and injuries, routine procedures etc etc etc. I love parrot medicine.

So from now on I'm deciding I will only provide absolutely critical care for wild birds in their first few days but I won't be fully rehabbing. It's not where my passion is and I feel I can better serve birds that are in critical condition. As much as I love raising babies I likely won't take on many more except pukekos and a few select others.

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Kerikeri

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+64223734100

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