New Biosecurity Protocols at Flock Birdcare Wellington

Kia ora everyone. With avian influenza putting real pressure on wildlife rehabilitation across the region, our team has been hard at work setting up and implementing new biosecurity protocols at Flock Birdcare Wellington. These changes keep our current patients safe and allow us to stay open when the region can least afford to lose rehabilitation capacity.

Why biosecurity matters right now

Avian influenza spreads easily between birds, and a wildlife hospital is exactly the kind of place where one infected bird could put every patient at risk. Our protocols are designed to stop disease at the boundary of the property, before it can ever reach the birds in our care.

What we have put in place

• Intake assessments now happen outside the facility, at the entrance to the property

• Staff wear appropriate PPE for every intake and every interaction with new arrivals

• New admissions are triaged into hospital, quarantine, or humane euthanasia based on risk

• Strict hygiene and disinfection routines throughout the facility

• Paused admissions for higher risk groups, including clutches of mallard ducklings and seabirds with non traumatic injuries

These measures do add time and cost to everything we do, including ongoing PPE expenses, but they are the reason we can keep our doors open safely.

How you can help

If you find a bird in need, please use the doorbell at the entrance of our property rather than coming up to the hospital. One of our team will come down to you in the appropriate PPE and assess the bird there. It is a small change that makes a huge difference to keeping the whole property biosecure.

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Every donation helps us keep caring for Wellington's native birds through this challenging time. You can support our work at flockwellington.com/donate.