Bird Rescue!

Wednesday, 13 September 2017

Today I took Jett to school then went for a run in Peter Murrell Reserve.  

About 3 minutes into the run I came across an unhappy looking large pink bird called a Galah standing in the middle of the track. He/she was trying to get away from me but every time it tried to fly it just did a small circle and landed again - one of its wings was clearly injured and there was blood all over its body. Poor bird. This is what Galahs look like when they aren't injured and angry..

I wasn't quite sure what to do but I didn't have a very long run planned, so I carefully edged my way past as the bird jumped up and down angrily and squarked at me.  I continued on my run, both planning the steps I'd take if the bird was still there when I got back, while also hoping the bird would have miraculously healed itself and flown away.  As I ran I couldn't resist a few photos as although it was an overcast day  - the views of Sleeping Beauty and Mt Wellington were lovely.

It was no surprise to see the bird in pretty much the same spot when I got back, although it had managed to get up onto a nice perch.  Having had a good half an hour to think about what to do, and resigning myself to the fact that I was going to have to take off my shirt in order to catch it,  I enacted my plan and started with step 1 - ring the Bonorong Wildlife Rescue hotline.  The guy there gave me some tips for catching the bird then he rang ahead to a nearby vet that I could drop the bird off at.    After I got off the phone I took this video:

 


So I scrambled across the creek to find the man who I had seen get out of a police car and go into the industrial block about 100 metres away.  Unfortunately it took me a while to find him - I had to visit a kitchen centre, a gym (the guy there thought I was his new customer arriving for his PT session - luckily we straightened that out quickly!), and a mechanics place.   It was a bit weird for everyone having a sweaty person come in and ask if a policeman was there.  After I explained my story to the gym guy, he gave me an old t-shirt to wrap the bird in, which was really nice of him and a relief for me!  I eventually found the police guy in the mechanics place - he was getting his own car serviced so he was out of uniform, but he was appropriately attired in a westpac rescue hoody.  He was off-duty but was willing to help me catch the bird, so armed with a pair of thick gloves (from the mechanic), and the t-shirt from the gym, we went back over the creek and managed to catch the bird quickly - it couldn't fly but it could certainly complain very loudly!  

The policeman (Josh), then handed me the bird and went back to his business, so I wasn't able to take any more photos or video from that point as I needed both hands to keep the bird contained.  I still had to walk about 400 metres back to the car with the bird screaming blue murder from its swaddled position in the t-shirt. It was bearable for the first 200 metres but then the bird realised that it could nip my fingers, so the 2nd 200 metres was even less pleasant than the first. Once I got to the car I realised that I couldn't get the keys out of my pocket without losing the bird so I had to walk on to another different mechanics place to beg for a box. Once again they were happy to oblige, especially as it meant the sweaty person carrying a blood soaked squarking t-shirt would leave their place of business.  

With the bird safely placed in an old wine box, I got us into the car and drove the few minutes down the road to the vet where upon all 3 large dogs in the waiting room were shocked into silence from the massive amount of decibels the bird was able to emit as I carried it up to the front desk.  Not surprisingly check-in was quick and the bird was taken away for assessment and I was able to leave.

I hope it's ok  - it definitely had a broken wing and it had lost a lot of blood.  If it doesn't survive, at least it won't have had to suffer for days while it starved to death or got mauled by another creature.  And I'm really glad that the Bonorong hotline was there.   As it happens my brother has donated his football tipping winnings to that organisation recently so I can reassure him that it has gone to a very good cause. I remember trying to rescue a kookaburra in Lane Cove once, and being so relieved that  I could call the local Wildlife Rescue organisation WIRES to find out what to do. After that experience I became a financial member of them for a few years.  They are all good people doing good things.

 My only other significant wildlife rescue was the time that we rescued a koala from a mine shaft somewhere near Ballarat many years ago.  It was such a funny experience that I remember almost every moment of it quite clearly including the part when the rescued koala promptly climbed a nearby tree and threw sticks and growled at us brave and courageous rescuers (really!).  Like the Galah, it wasn't very grateful.

2016summary
Kangaroo Island - Day 4 Friday, 29 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 3 Friday, 29 December 2017
Intermission Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 1 Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 2 Wednesday, 27 December 2017
School Lunches Friday, 22 December 2017
Lovely Jett Friday, 22 December 2017
Meanwhile.. Sunday, 10 December 2017
The best laid plans.. Sunday, 10 December 2017
Show Photos Saturday, 18 November 2017
Zali & Jett's cake Saturday, 18 November 2017
Show Cakes Friday, 17 November 2017
Gingerbread Men Thursday, 16 November 2017
Gingerbread Brewery Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Spring Flowers Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Derby River Derby Monday, 30 October 2017
Search Party Sunday, 22 October 2017
Fortescue Loop Take 3 Friday, 20 October 2017
Lime Bay Friday, 20 October 2017
Ikea makes everything better Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Back in Sydney.. Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Australian Champs - Day ? + 2 Saturday, 30 September 2017
Rest Day Schmest Day Friday, 29 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day ? Friday, 29 September 2017
Supertourists Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Way out west.. Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Long Nights Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 4 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 3 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 2 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 1 Monday, 25 September 2017
Class Play Friday, 15 September 2017
Queens Domain Friday, 15 September 2017
The Great Koala Rescue of '93 Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Bird Rescue! Wednesday, 13 September 2017
It's getting better Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Before and After #43 - Kitchen Update Saturday, 2 September 2017
East Cloudy Head Thursday, 31 August 2017
It's hard to relocate when.. Monday, 14 August 2017
Bonus Weeks Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Small Adventures Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Thursday Bowling Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Before and After #42 - Tool Storage Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Goodbye tas-oak veneer kitchen Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 3 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 2 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 1 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
More Kingborourgh Trails Friday, 21 July 2017
Seagulls and Clifftops Monday, 10 July 2017
Vanilla Slice & Vanilla Slush Sunday, 9 July 2017
Garden Projects - Part 2 Saturday, 8 July 2017
Garden Projects - Part 1 Saturday, 8 July 2017
Motivation Saturday, 8 July 2017
Worst. Night. Ever. Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Arm End Reserve Monday, 26 June 2017
If it has to be fruit cake... Sunday, 25 June 2017
Nice Places Thursday, 22 June 2017
Other Milestones Thursday, 22 June 2017
Milestones Thursday, 22 June 2017
Launceston Sprint Orienteering Weekend Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Before and After #41 - Offcut Pathway Thursday, 8 June 2017
Cathedral Rock & Montague Thumbs Loop Thursday, 8 June 2017
Mount Fortescue Loop Saturday, 3 June 2017
Bruny Island Day Out Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Sewing Projects Friday, 19 May 2017
Melbourne Weekend Thursday, 18 May 2017
Before and After #40 - Be afraid.. Be very afraid.. Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Flags Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Cool things Wednesday, 3 May 2017
NZ Day 30 - Long Distance Final Sunday, 30 April 2017
NZ Day 28 - Rest Day 3 (HA!) Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 27 - Long Qualifying 2 Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 26 - Long Qualifying 1 Wednesday, 26 April 2017
NZ Day 25 - Rangitoto Island Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 24 - Unexpected Outcomes Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 23 - Sprint Qualifying Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 22 - Goodbye Rotorua, Hello Auckland Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 21 - Rest Day 2 (HA!) Saturday, 22 April 2017
NZ Day 20 - Rotorua Orienteering & Adrenaline Forest Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 19 - Rotorua Orienteering Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 18 - Rest Day (HA!) Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 17 - Oceania Middle & Rotorua Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 16 - Goodbye South Island Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 15 - Milford Sound Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 4 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 3 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 2 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 1 Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 9 - Pastries and Packing Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 8 - Pools and Puzzles Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 7 - More Glaciers & Amazing Views Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 6 - Gorges and Glaciers Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 5 - Seals & Rocks Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 4 - Old Ghost Road Wednesday, 5 April 2017
NZ Day 3 - Abel Tasman National Park Tuesday, 4 April 2017
NZ Day 2 - Hot Springs and Long Drives Monday, 3 April 2017
NZ Day 0 & NZ Day 1 Sunday, 2 April 2017
NZ (Planned) Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Pinto Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Before and After #39 - Ikea Stools Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Small Cakes Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Finally. Thursday, 23 March 2017
Shooting Up Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Mt Wellington Hike Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Mt Fortescue and Cape Pillar Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Crescent Bay and Mt Brown Friday, 17 March 2017
Southport Lagoon Thursday, 16 March 2017
Before and After #37 - Sliding Wardrobe Sunday, 5 March 2017
Maria Island Mini Trip Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Phone found! Race Photos! Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Done! Saturday, 4 February 2017
Waiting.. Waiting.. Saturday, 4 February 2017
Back into the wilderness Saturday, 4 February 2017
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #36 Saturday, 4 February 2017
More Frenchman's Photos Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Frenchmans Cap - Days 3 & 4 Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Day 2 Monday, 30 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Day 1 Monday, 30 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Prologue Sunday, 29 January 2017
Collins Bonnet Take 2 Saturday, 21 January 2017
Hartz Moutains again! Thursday, 19 January 2017
Bouddi Coastal Walk Sunday, 15 January 2017
Last Day! Sunday, 15 January 2017
Hot Hot Hot.. Saturday, 14 January 2017
More Summer Fun Thursday, 12 January 2017
Quiet Morning Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Sydney Day 9,10,, - Changing Gears Monday, 9 January 2017
Sydney Day 3 - Zali's Birthday Sunday, 8 January 2017
Sydney Day 9 - Spit Bridge to Manly Sunday, 8 January 2017
Sydney Day 8 - Why Sydney Aquarium Sucks Saturday, 7 January 2017
Sydney Day 1 - Bondi and Uber! Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Sydney Day 4 - Canyoning! Tuesday, 3 January 2017