Russell's Rescue

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Russell's Rescue Voluntary family run specialist corvid rescue, rehab and sanctuary. Also offering education and training to other rehabbers/corvid care givers.
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We only take in corvids. Rescue & Rehabilitation
Sanctuary & Family
Education & Training

Pigeons deserve to be loved, respected and live safely without any harm  💖
01/06/2026

Pigeons deserve to be loved, respected and live safely without any harm 💖

I think they should form a band! 🎺😆🎸🎵What would you call them, other than obviously 'The magpies' SonicDr Eggman ShadowO...
01/06/2026

I think they should form a band! 🎺😆🎸🎵

What would you call them, other than obviously 'The magpies'

Sonic
Dr Eggman
Shadow
Oasis (lol)

They each have their own little story! A sonic the hedgehog theme, until a Oasis supporter brought in Oasis 😆 Oasis nearly didn't make it 😥

Sonic: the only one of 4 siblings to make it, only a few days old the finder didn't have a brooder. They rushed to get to us, but the distance was so far. One passed on the way. The other 2 passed the next day. It just shows how delicate these little ones are and how brooders are a lifesaver.

Dr Eggman: the smallest nestling found in Cheltenham, thriving but developing slower than the rest.

Shadow: Dr Eggman's sibling, thriving. Has a distinctive sound.

Oasis: was moved to the brooder as was in a critical way. Only started eating properly when with his band. The finder had an Oasis top on.

🖤🖤🖤

We are currently saving pennies for a new brooder: this will have a nebuliser attached. I can't stress how important this piece of equipment is. But they are hundreds sometimes over a thousand pound. Without this equipment we wouldn't of been able to help these babies and also Domino {we are loaning this one out}.

* Fundraiser and how to support us on pinned post or visit our website at top of page *

Good luck little ones!

Thanks for all of your support!

Helen, Tristan & Russell

Another busy day at Russell's Rescue! Here we are at Site 2: Isla Sorna.Today's antics include digging up some of the pl...
31/05/2026

Another busy day at Russell's Rescue!

Here we are at Site 2: Isla Sorna.

Today's antics include digging up some of the plants 🪴and pecking at the trellaces 😆. We've provided a little more foraging material to keep them busy.

It's good night now and hopefully the weather will stay cooler now 😎

Frank update & current fundraiser Frank update ✅️Frank is eating and perching well. He does struggle a little jumping fr...
31/05/2026

Frank update & current fundraiser

Frank update ✅️

Frank is eating and perching well. He does struggle a little jumping from perch to perch, his foot is still very stiff and he has some old wounds where he had curled his toes.

It's been much cooler today so all birds are much happier!

Fundraiser ✅️

We still have future vets bills, food to feed nearly 50 birds! And are currently saving for a brooder.

A HUGE thank you to all recent donations.

We really appreciate any support 🙏

🐦‍⬛ Funding

PAYPAL (for donations):
https://www.paypal.me/russellsrescue

SUPPORT AND SHOP

https://supportandshop.org/russellsrescue

WEBSITE

www.russellsrescue.com (there is a donation or patron page)

BANK ACCOUNT:

Beneficiary: Tristan & Helen Motteram, Account number: 59030343, sort code: 23-01-20
Revolut Ltd

🖤🖤🖤

The focus has been the birds, so I'll add new people to our private group and newsletter later. Remember we love to give thanks.

Check the comments for link to our private group ⬇️

Thanks as always,
Helen, Tristan & Russell

The sad reality of many town pigeons, stumps for feet & missing toes 💔Here at Russell's Rescue alongside our other proje...
31/05/2026

The sad reality of many town pigeons, stumps for feet & missing toes 💔

Here at Russell's Rescue alongside our other projects including: Flock with Helen - Corvid Specialist and Rehabber Support and The Birdbrain Academy we want to give accessible learning to Members of the public.

This is so they can understand more how to help birds and what to do in situations like this.

It starts with education ✅️

Stringfoot or string feet is something we want to educate about. And there's already some incredible groups out there.

We hope to help at the Birmingham group currently being set up.

Resources soon available ✅️

But for now here's a little information, we will have some resources available on our new website: The Birdbrain Academy, and once we get going hopefully more training so you can help.

More information ✅️

Ever wondered why pigeons are missing a toe?

Operation stringfoot - helping the pigeons in the park.

Pigeon's feet can get tangled in hair and string, which can cause suffering and pain 💔😢

If it gets tighter the circulation can eventually be cut off and the flesh starts to rot away. As it slices through the muscle and bone pigeons will often lose toes or even the whole foot.

We have many happy customers, and always try to carry a small kit around us.

As we've become aware of the importance of this our kit carries:

💖 Disposable gloves (in the photo this an unexpected patient)

💖 A small blanket

💖 A small pair of scissors

💖 Twizzors

💖 Mini disinfectant for hands

💖 Leicillin natural antiseptic

💖 Cotton wool buds

💖 Extra bum bag for seed to lure them in!

💖 A cloth to cover the head to calm them

💖 A small bag to collect the hair/string

If you have any more suggestions please comment below.

Also this can happen to corvids too, it happened to both Glen Junior 🌈 and Frank.

We'll also add some useful groups here:

Happy Feet - Glasgow
Pigeon Rescue and Protection UK
London Pigeon String foot & Rescue

Thanks for reading,
Helen, Tristan & Russell

We hate to have to make this announcement but physically can't take in any more new admissions 💔😔The only exception is i...
31/05/2026

We hate to have to make this announcement but physically can't take in any more new admissions 💔😔

The only exception is if we personally find a bird (we never leave a bird in need) or an emergency stop gap.

By going above our limit we compromise the welfare of our resident flock and releasable flock.

Limited space in our aviaries or overcrowding goes against everything we stand for. Our youngsters are learning to fly and every available space in our quarantine/nursery and hospital units has been filled.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:

✅️ We are still available 8am till 6pm for advice and support via phone/email/messenger

✅️ We are here to support and coach other Rehabbers

✅️ We will still pick up birds we personally find

✅️ We can offer an emergency stop gap

The nearest rescue is Vale Wildlife Hospital and for pigeons Wheeled Winged Wheels.

Most rescues are stretched beyond capacity we ask you not to get angry if we say no, we ask you to be patient when we locate an alternative.

If you are sitting here thinking you'd like to get involved or help in some way we also offer mentoring and coaching 🙏

Thanks for understanding,
Helen, Tristan & Russell

31/05/2026

Dr Eggman & Shadow

2 of our 'brooder babies'. We've had many young magpies in this year and a few critical ones.

We are keeping a close eye on Dr Eggman who came to us incredibly weak and as the smallest they sometimes finds it hard to balance. We create a donut around him to stop splaying of the legs. But with those wiggly bums as you can see we need to keep repositioning them.

Sonic was our youngest one only a few days old. He's now thriving and growing so strong.

This brooder is a life saver, we borrowed it from a friend, however will be looking to buy our own with a nebuliser. They aren't cheap you see, but an incredible investment.

We also supplement their diets with Avipro powder (thanks for the donation) and calcium Zolcal F (also Zolcal D recommended).

Our Rehabber 'tool box' is growing bigger and we also have lots of supplements for our birds (as above).

We are absolutely grateful of donated items including vital pieces of equipment including boots made from a 3D printer and red therapy light to help with physio.

You can check out our Amazon wish list pinned to the top of the page posts.

Helen, Tristan & Helen

They sit there waiting so patiently: get called pests, dirty but they are incredibly intelligent They recognise faces, t...
30/05/2026

They sit there waiting so patiently: get called pests, dirty but they are incredibly intelligent

They recognise faces, they know when you are visiting, they wait for you patiently.

Humans made them 'domesticated' then some decided they were discarded.

Many pass them by. They are desperate. Hungry.

They come to the only place they know, a place that offers hope, food, the familiar humans.

But are often scared away, even worse kicked, hurt, chased 😢

They are incredible, so sentient, so special.

They are our pigeon friends.

Helen, Tristan & Russell

Meet 'Spooky' who was transported by Mike on Thursday from Bath Swan Rescue Mike and the team have been incredibly suppo...
30/05/2026

Meet 'Spooky' who was transported by Mike on Thursday from Bath Swan Rescue

Mike and the team have been incredibly supportive. Mike gives his time freely by volunteering as a driver to help transport birds.

Spooky was popped in the larger crate with Carlos & Mateo but started to struggle as they were slightly older.

So we made the quick action to pop him or her back on their own until a little bigger.

As soon as Spooky returned to the safety of their smaller temporary accommodation he or she started eating again!

This is why it's so important to constantly assess our birds and the suitability of their crates/aviaries and mates.

Good luck Spooky 👻

After struggling to stand and not perching Frank is now perching! 🖤When Frank arrived his toes were curled under, so we ...
30/05/2026

After struggling to stand and not perching Frank is now perching! 🖤

When Frank arrived his toes were curled under, so we gave him some cool boots that were made for us by a 3D printer 👢 he still has sores but they are healing up nicely.

He has muscle damage after dangling from a tree for 2 hours, caught in rubbish left by humans 💔😢 his one leg is very stiff and the foot at first had little movement. He has started to flex and grip more.

He had a little fly earlier, only small steps, but in the grand scheme of things significant improvement.

He's got a long rehabilitation process: so we'll be referring on to a specilialist Raven Rehabber, as we don't have the set up to rehabilitate and release long term.

For now we have started the process offering a stop gap ✅️

The outcome for Frank will hopefully be a successful release. He's young, resilient and quite calm. However he does not enjoy humans coming in and feeding, so we keep as much distance as possible. As we do with all our birds who are set to be released, a hands off approach.

We are so grateful 🙏 of all your support. Vets are not cheap and Frank had to have significant investigation.

Helen, Tristan & Russell

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