Post by andrewmercer on Jan 16, 2014 19:17:31 GMT 10
Hi
There is a young galah in a park near my work here in Brisbane, which I noticed at lunchtime. It seems to have a very healthy appetite as it was stripping all the grass seeds, but unusually for a wild galah it was by itself and made no effort to move away from me (I only noticed it 'cos I was looking up at trees and almost stood on it).
What gave it away as potentially sick was that it was hobbling as if crippled, and seemed to need to pull itself around the long grass with its beak. Other than this it seems fairly happy and in no obvious discomfort. There did seem to be some parasites but maybe that's normal. After about 10 minutes when I got too close, it managed to fly (albeit clumsily) to perch on the low branches of a nearby tree. I figured if it could fly, and had the energy to move away from a potential predator then maybe it was okay and it was best just to leave alone (which I did). It was still hobbling around, alone, eating grass in another location after work - and still dragging itself around by it beak ... But still seemingly content.
I'll keep an eye out for it tomorrow. Hopefully it okay and doesn't actually need any help. But I've heard that birds get shunned from the flock when they're sick, and there's the possibility of it getting dehydrated in warm weather.
Is there anything in particular I should be watching out for? I'm happy to catch the bird to take it to a vet, or just call wildlife rescue, if it really does need help. But I'd only do this if it seems it genuinely needs it. If its just slightly crippled but otherwise able to function then I don't want to put it through any unnecessary trauma.
Cheers
Andrew
There is a young galah in a park near my work here in Brisbane, which I noticed at lunchtime. It seems to have a very healthy appetite as it was stripping all the grass seeds, but unusually for a wild galah it was by itself and made no effort to move away from me (I only noticed it 'cos I was looking up at trees and almost stood on it).
What gave it away as potentially sick was that it was hobbling as if crippled, and seemed to need to pull itself around the long grass with its beak. Other than this it seems fairly happy and in no obvious discomfort. There did seem to be some parasites but maybe that's normal. After about 10 minutes when I got too close, it managed to fly (albeit clumsily) to perch on the low branches of a nearby tree. I figured if it could fly, and had the energy to move away from a potential predator then maybe it was okay and it was best just to leave alone (which I did). It was still hobbling around, alone, eating grass in another location after work - and still dragging itself around by it beak ... But still seemingly content.
I'll keep an eye out for it tomorrow. Hopefully it okay and doesn't actually need any help. But I've heard that birds get shunned from the flock when they're sick, and there's the possibility of it getting dehydrated in warm weather.
Is there anything in particular I should be watching out for? I'm happy to catch the bird to take it to a vet, or just call wildlife rescue, if it really does need help. But I'd only do this if it seems it genuinely needs it. If its just slightly crippled but otherwise able to function then I don't want to put it through any unnecessary trauma.
Cheers
Andrew
