When you catch up with friends and everyone is talking at once......
(Milton, Baby and Tom with me being their 'tree')
This majestic, gentle ibis, minding its own business as it forages in a local lake for food, had an arrow through its body this time last week.
Miraculously there was no major damage with the arrow missing organs, muscles and bone, so the ibis is able to move and even fly without any issues. Now arrow free (though if you watch this footage you can clearly see where it entered and exited its body) although appearing unscathed, I am visiting it where it lives with its flock every day or two to ensure it continues to recover well.
In the back or probably actually the front of my mind is the concern that whoever decided to shoot the arrow at the bird to begin with, may try again.
The truly worrying thing is that the ibis lives in a very family oriented park in Ringwood North. There is a large playground, BBQ area, with lots of children running around enjoying the beautiful park each time I have been there. Yesterday there were several families picnicking there, it always seems quite busy. The wildlife there (ducks, ibis and various other species of bird) all live in harmony and seem used to the children running around and not bothered by them.
Someone may have seen something or if anyone sees someone in the future causing harm to the wildlife, please contact either police or Wildlife Victoria immediately to report it. It is a criminal offence to maim or kill wildlife not to mention dangerous to the people in the vicinity of where arrows are being fired….
We had the privilege this afternoon of being able to release the little corella that we had cut free from being entangled in the basketball net recently. She had recovered well and now it was time to return her to her home and flock. She was so ready!
Edward test tasting tonight’s ‘chop’……
To help keep our 'toddler' macaw Mango occupied whilst in his outside aviary during the day we tried stringing up some lengths of chunky rope. Initially wary of it, curiosity very soon got the better of him, and now it's his favourite thing! (Not a bad work out for him either!)
We got some new toys for our birds yesterday to add mental enrichment to their enclosures. They will likely be completely destroyed within a day or two, but they will have fun doing it, and that's all that counts ###x
Best part of what we do. Releasing a bird that has been in care and now fully recovered, back to where it was found.
Some of our pigeons in care loving the crisp cold lettuce leaves on this hot day.
Don't forget on these hot days to leave a bowl of water out for wildlife, birds and insects, as they will be wanting a drink too. Please ensure water is in a shaded area so it doesn't get too warm, and place a stick or rocks in the bowl so bees don't drown in case they fall in whilst trying to drink.
Remember 'Baby' ring neck who came into care last year badly burnt? We assumed he had fallen into a pot/cup of hot water or soup or coffee or similar? Well not only is he fully recovered he is now quite the chatterbox!
'Hello Baby, whatcha doing?' 'Hi'. Are just some of the things he has learnt to say during his recovery here.
Julius enjoying some leafy greens in our orphaned pigeon nursery.
Ever considered fostering a pigeon or 4? Looking for caring foster families for some of our pigeons, located in Melbourne. Contact us if you think you have what it takes!
It's forecast to be 31 degrees today. Our native birds are kept in our huge outdoor room which is equipped with mist spraying sprinklers along the middle of the ceiling. They love it when we put them on to cool the area.
Happy goose preening near our back a step after a swim in one of the ponds.
No longer entangled and reunited with his family ###
Frankie loving the rainy weather yesterday, and being free to just be a goose ###