Mai

Hi!

My name is Mai, and I have been a rehabilitation volunteer for FugleAdvokatene since July 2021.

I have always loved animals. Growing up, I had cats, dogs, rabbits, ducks and a horse. My interest in urban birds began during the pandemic, when I took lots of walks around my neighbourhood because the gyms were closed. I got to know the birds in the nearby parks, and they brought me a lot of joy.

One day, I saw a pigeon with thread wrapped around its foot. It was limping because the thread was tightening and causing pain. I searched Google for help and found FugleAdvokatene. A few days later, someone came to help, but of course the pigeon was nowhere to be seen. They showed me how they would go about helping it. The next day it returned and, believe it or not, I managed to catch it and cut off the thread! What a wonderful feeling! In less than five minutes, I had made a huge difference to that pigeon. 😍 That was all it took to get me hooked.

In 2023, I helped more than 100 birds. It is safe to say the learning curve has been steep. This work brings both joy and sadness. I get very upset when a patient dies or has to be put to sleep because its injuries are too severe. Fortunately, more than 80% recover and get another chance at life.

I am so grateful for the skilled veterinarians we work with. I have learned so much from them and really value our collaboration. One of them also inspired me to buy a microscope and start examining samples at home. Several of us at FugleAdvokatene now do this, helping birds in rehabilitation receive the right care sooner.

The community within the organisation is another reason I have grown to love this work. We help one another, celebrate when things go well and offer comfort when they do not. Volunteering with FugleAdvokatene has become an important part of my life, and I cannot imagine ever stopping helping birds. Visit pigeonrescue_oslo on Instagram for a glimpse of my everyday life! ❤️

To find out more about becoming a rehabilitation volunteer, email kontakt@fugleadvokatene.no. 😊

Based on a volunteer introduction published on 6 May 2024. Original post