RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire is celebrating the successful release of an orphaned heron chick.

The young bird, who was named Hetty by the animal charity’s team, is the smallest heron chick to ever be admitted at the Nantwich centre after she was rescued by volunteers at Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue, who found her alone at the bottom of a tree in West Yorkshire.

Hetty weighed in at just 300g when she arrived at Stapeley Grange in April and her distinctive features made her a favourite of staff as she faced a battle for survival. Heron chicks are extremely vulnerable in their early weeks, but they gain weight quickly and with the correct regime can grow to adult size within two months.

The grey heron chick was soon thriving after Stapeley staff drew up a planned programme of care and nutrition, which included her spending time in one of the wildlife centre’s new quarantine isolation units, which have been built to allow for the safer admission of high-risk birds such as herons during the ongoing Avian Influenza crisis.

Hetty, however, suffered a setback when she developed a growth deformity but she made a good recovery, which was helped by enjoying a tailored diet which included oodles of sprats and shrimps. Soon she was introduced to one of Stapeley’s outdoor pools where she was monitored by the team.

Stapeley Grange Senior Clinician Melanie Chapman 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.

“We worked out a plan for her care and nutrition which required a dedicated team effort as these birds have incredibly specialised needs, not just for their feeding times but also their need for food supplements and the correct lighting, noise levels and human contact as well as enrichment. 

“All the staff were smitten by her and we waited with baited breath as she grew because herons often suffer from a condition affecting their bones and joints. One day we spotted what looked like the beginning of a condition called Angel Wing, but we bandaged her wings up as carefully as we could while she was still growing so it didn’t affect her growth.

“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), important skills that she will need to live a full life.

“Seeing her fly was a daily treat for the team who worked so hard to raise her and she would often be seen up on the ledge watching the pool, or down at the waters edge. It was with heavy hearts that she was boxed up to be released.”

Hetty’s successful rehabilitation was complete when she was released back into the wild last month. Volunteers at the release site are continuing to monitor her progress.

“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,” added Melanie.

Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre Manager Lee Stewart said: “Hetty’s transformation from our smallest heron chick who was clinging to life to a healthy adult bird is a testament to the dedication, planning and expertise of our team.

“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 (see video clip) she was an elegant bird who had acquired the skills she will need to thrive.”

Earlier this month the RSPCA released startling new statistics as part of its Cruelty Hurts Love Rescues fundraising campaign which coincides with the charity’s busiest time as cruelty reports peak over summer.  In June, July and August last year the RSPCA received 6,322* cruelty calls to their emergency line last year which is one call every 10 minutes when the line is open. 

To allow the charity to help more wild birds like Hetty you can help by choosing to donate.