Nantwich's RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre is celebrating the successful release of a "punky-haired" orphaned heron chick.

The young bird, named Hetty by the animal charity's team, is the smallest heron chick to ever be admitted at the Nantwich centre after she was rescued by volunteers at Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue, who found her alone at the bottom of a tree in West Yorkshire.

Hetty weighed in at just 300g when she arrived at Stapeley Grange in April and her distinctive features made her a favourite of staff as she faced a battle for survival.

Heron chicks are extremely vulnerable in their early weeks, but they gain weight quickly and with the correct regime can grow to adult size within two months.

The grey heron chick was soon thriving after Stapeley staff drew up a planned programme of care and nutrition, including her spending time in one of the wildlife centre's new quarantine isolation units, n built to allow for the safer admission of high-risk birds such as herons during the ongoing Avian Influenza crisis.

Hetty, however, suffered a setback when she developed a growth deformity but she made a good recovery, helped by enjoying a tailored diet including oodles of sprats and shrimps.

Soon she was introduced to one of Stapeley's outdoor pools where she was monitored by the team.

Stapeley Grange Senior Clinician, Melanie Chapman, said: "Hetty was incredibly small when she arrived with us only a few days old, but the punky-haired angry chick won our love and adoration immediately.

"All the staff were smitten by her and we waited with baited breath as she grew because herons often suffer from a condition affecting their bones and joints.

'One day we spotted what looked like the beginning of a condition called Angel Wing, but we bandaged her wings up as carefully as we could while she was still growing so it didn't affect her growth.

"Seeing her fly was a daily treat for the team who worked so hard to raise her and she would often be seen up on the ledge watching the pool, or down at the waters edge. It was with heavy hearts that she was boxed up to be released.

"Raising heron chicks is not for the faint hearted or inexperienced but the team are thrilled to have had the opportunity to give it our all to Hetty, and to see her interacting with wild herons and catching her own fish is remarkable."

Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre Manager, Lee Stewart, said: "Hetty's transformation from our smallest heron chick who was clinging to life to a healthy adult bird is a testament to the dedication, planning and expertise of our team.

To allow the charity to help more wild birds like Hetty you can help by choosing to donate.

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