Wrong bird, right ending: Charlie’s back—and he brought a friend

Wildlife News with Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc 5441 6200  www.wilvos.org.au 

One of our carers was recently given a corella with the unenviable job of preparing him for the wild.  It is not easy to raise a parrot without it being ‘humanised’.  

On release at the property Charlie preferred humans to the corellas in nearby trees.  He flew around calling out, stalking Jennifer while husband Dennis found this very amusing.

Some weeks later, Jennifer drove off to visit neighbours.  On arrival home there was no Charlie.  The immediate thought was of local Goshawks and Wedge-tailed Eagles.

Next day a message was received about a sick corella on the ground. In the wet weather parrots are often sick from eating grain that becomes wet and toxic.  Jennifer dashes over. The corella had moved up a tree with an injured wing.  After much coaxing, the bird fell/flew down. He was not impressed as Jennifer put a towel over him.

Taken home for further inspection, he bit Jennifer, stamping his feet and complaining in a different ‘voice’.  This wasn’t Charlie! This was a bigger bird. Back in the carrier, wing supported, for a trip to the Eumundi Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where they work miracles with injured wildlife. As Jennifer was leaving home, there was a familiar call and Charlie flew onto the verandah.  What a relief!  Charlie home after his adventures,  and another corella saved from suffering in the wild

Photo: Charlie the Little Corella from Jennifer Berry