13. POOL DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
© PÄIVI SEPPÄNEN
© VANESSA RYAN
Pools will be housed both indoors and outdoors according to available facilities, weather conditions and specific needs. All pools need to be carefully covered with netting in order to prevent birds from escaping and predators from entering. Pool design may vary according to the species of birds they house. They can be square or round, with a surface area of up to 20 m2. Divers need a water depth of at least 1 metre, so the sides of the pools need to be more than 1.5 m high. Dabbling ducks such as mallards need a water depth of approximately 0.5 metres. Birds staying in the pools overnight are given platforms made out of plastic netting so that they can get out of the water, preen and eat. Every pool needs to have its own platform, and general rules are: • platforms have to be put at the right height, i.e. just above the water surface, so that the birds can keep dry • platforms are usually put in during lunch breaks and in the evenings • platforms have to be cleaned daily
Platforms are installed into pools for feeding and overnight.
Keeping the pools clean is essential in order for the birds to stay waterproof. The pools need to be connected to a filtering system which allows the water to be filtered several times a day. In addition to this, the pools need regular manual cleaning. They should be cleaned at least once a day by netting out large debris and siphoning out small debris. Pools are emptied, wiped and filled with fresh water approximately twice a week. Only water may be used for pool cleaning, since soaps or detergents harm the birds feathers.
13.1. CARING FOR BIRDS IN POOLS
© TEEMU NIINIMÄKI
In extreme weather pools may need to be sheltered.
Pools need to be covered so the birds can’t escape
Birds that are completely dry stay in the water overnight. It is, however, important that the birds are taken out of the water during the first days to check if invisible areas, such as the area around the cloaca, are still dry. Fish-eating birds permanently housed in pools should be fed only rinsed fish without water in the bowls. In a filtered pool, fish can be put in a strainer next to the filtering system so that excess oil is immediately filtered out. Fish can also be provided on the platform or thrown in the water to check the bird’s diving abilities. Itraconazole is no longer given from the moment a bird stays in an outdoor pool. Once permanently housed outdoors, physical handling of the animals is reduced to a minimum. As well as getting their drinking water from the pool, the animals can feed on fish tossed into the pools. Long-handled nets and clean towels are used for catching the birds from pools. The net is put in the water and lifted up when the bird swims above it. The bird is then taken out of the net using a clean towel.
OILED WILDLIFE RESPONSE PROTOCOLS IN THE CENTRAL BALTIC SEA
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