Wild bird welfare society dissolved

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 9

Wild bird welfare society dissolved

The society which has run the Avian Welfare Project, the Christchurch clinic for sick and injured wild birds, was dissolved at a special meeting last evening. However, the man who has been the key figure in the project, Mr Jim Baggstrom, plans to carry on the work of caring for the birds on his own. The Avian Welfare Project society was dissolved because Mr Baggstrom resigned from the organisation earlier this year, said the chairman of the project, Mr John Cuddon, last evening.

He said the decision to wind up the project’s activities was inevitable because the society could not continue its work without Mr Baggstrom’s expertise and understanding in the care and treatment of sick birds. Although the society could call on its many volunteers, none were able to devote the time which Mr Baggstrom had given. No other member of the society had his experience of dealing with sick and injured birds.

Mr Cuddon paid tribute to the work and sacrifices made by Mr Baggstrom and his family and by the society’s supporters. He said the society was formed in 1981 to help Mr Baggstrom. in the work he was doing with wild birds. The project raised more than $5OOO to set up a clinic behind Mr Baggstrom’s Avonhead home. It also

raised money for food and equipment. The project had helped about 900 birds each year since it was set up. The decision to dissolve the society was made with deep regret, Mr Cuddon said. Mr Baggstrom had bought the clinic and most of the equipment from the society and planned to continue his work without the society’s support. Mr Cuddon said the society had not been told specifically why Mr Baggstrom decided to resign. Mr Baggstrom said last evening that he had “no axe to grind” with the society. He had decided to resign because it was a “one-man-band” and he could not carry on with the pressures.

of keeping records, attending committee meetings, and looking after the birds. He said he felt the society had no future because there was only a handful of people trying to create something. He had hoped that younger people would take part and learn how to handle the birds, but that had not happened because it took too much dedication. He would still care for as many sick and injured birds as before, but would now have to meet the $lO,OOO a year costs himself.

“This is what I have done in the past and what I will do in the future. I have appreciated the support I have had from everybody concerned. I guess I am a loner and that is the way I have got to be,” he said.