When Pam Howlett moved into her home in the late 1960's her passion for birds started. She could see the pied shags from her kitchen window at the Panmure Basin. From here she could keep a close eye on the Tamaki river and estuary bird life. Pam dedicated her life to the care and rehabilitation of all birds. Her wealth of knowledge, care, love and advice was always available to everyone that phoned or called into her home with a bird problem. Day and night she nursed and cared for birds.
Her daily routine of rescuing and reviving sick and injured birds, in particular pied shags became her life. Pam always welcomed visitors to her home, she was a true environmentalist, always talking about the pollution and contamination issues in and around the Tamaki River.
Birds arrived daily, victims hit by cars, snagged by fishing lines and nets, victims of oil damage, or fish hooks or just baby birds falling out of nests, even birds the cat dragged in. Tens of thousands of birds were held lovingly in her hands. Her feathered friends were her family and her life.
Pam passed away on the 16th of July 2010, aged 74. Pam loved the pied shag colony so much, she is scattered here on her property, with her husband Brian, to always watch over them.
Pam, a pioneer of pied shag protection, was instrumental in the survival of the Panmure Basin colony. It is because of her dedication these beautiful birds are still here today. It is now up to us to see that they survive for generations to come.
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/east-and-bays-courier/20110601/281556582426437
We have a Give-a-Little page to help raise funds to support all the birds that come in, as well as towards food for the Pied Shag colony at the Panmure Basin. Donate here https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/pam-howletts-cormorant-sanctuary