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Mystery chicks
Trucks, men, chain saw, tree felled.
But the tree had residents. At least two feathered families,
now by the saw homeless and separated. The men had
compassion and rang Wires.
I was called to the scene. There was a young Galah. He has
his own story, yet to be concluded. Then there were 3
chicks. New species in my experience. One was dead by the
time I reached home. I started work on the other two.
Eyes not yet open, feathers just prickles all over a dark
skinned tubby bodies, large, I mean large gape, fringed
yellow, not unlike the shape of a Tawny Frogmouth’s beak.
What did I
have? – not crows, perhaps raptors? I had seen kites in the
area. Investigations proved negative to that. I just kept
feeding, feeding, feeding. They could not be satiated. They
stacked on weight. The feathers along the back started to
unfurl – just dark, perhaps black.
The mystery chicks
remained a mystery. Photos were emailed around the experts.
No definite ID was forthcoming. I even had one Wires
co-ordinator listen to them over the phone!
Then came the day I noticed the first chest feathers were
unfurling, showing a beautiful pearly aqua blue colour.
Dollar birds (Eurystomus orientalis)! Insatiable eaters, noise machines. They did
well. They did not move – just perched and ate and then
asked for more.
Four weeks passed. They looked like adults, plump and
plumed. The mother of pearly spot underwing flashed when
they stretched their wings. Their voices broke and they were
adults.
A change. They lost interest in eating, a sign they were
preparing for flight by adjusting their weight. It was time
to move on. To the flight aviary at Byrne’s they went. It
took only four or five more days and the door was able to be
opened and they found their way skyward.
Two dollars! Well worth it! |
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 My first oiled bird
- November 2007
I attended a workshop late last year which focused on how to
handle and care for oiled birds. Knowledge gained, no
experience!
‘Have you got all your gear assembled?’ enquired Dick
Richards. As
Phoney he had arranged for an oiled magpie to be sent to me
via the Iluka/Yamba ferry. I met the ferry as arranged,
collected the box and went home, ready to practise my new
shaky knowledge on the poor victim.
I opened the well sealed box tentatively to find a ‘mummy’!
The young magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) had been totally wound up in a white
flannelette cloth secured with bright blue electrical tape
winding all the way up the body. Only the head was visible.
If the magpie had not still been alive it would have fitted
beautifully into an Egyptian tomb. It was really a very
secure way to transport a bird in this condition, to prevent
it from preening and ingesting any more of the gooey mess.
Well done, rescuer, whoever you were!
Unravelled from his bondage, magpie endured 2 washes and a
night in towels in my water heater storage cupboard. (Only
warm place I have). Next morning he was up on his feet and
hungry.
I kept him for the prescribed 5 days to note for signs of
poisoning. Then I opened the door to the cage and wished him
good flying.
Outcome?
I will never know. But his human
interveners did their best. He probably will not seek out
human company again! |
