Have you ever seen anything like this Currawong?

[bedge]

On Wednesday arvo I went to the local shops, and found this Cararwong getting really picked on by noisy minors. I tried to schooow him off the car park road and move him some where safe but he just looked at me. I went to go to in to the shops and looked back to see a car reversing over him (he just stood there!), but lucky the car just went over the top of him and didn’t squash him. So I loaded him in to my car wrapped in a towel.

I called local wildlife rescue, they were meant to pick him up on Thursday. But I haven’t heard anything. Turns out the poor dude is almost completely blind. He walks around the lounge room bashing in to everything. Although he always finds my dogs water bowl and jumps out to drink out of it. It turns out, when you pick him up, put him on your chest and tickle his neck – he falls asleep. In to a deeeep deeeep sleep. He LOVES it! He makes all these cute little noises as they do when they are juveniles and begging their mothers for food. Its pretty funny. He gets a bit of a shock though when he wakes up though. Which can be fixed with more tickles. He also now hand feeds from me. I touch the food to his beak and he coooo's at me and then eats it.

Anyhoodle, I have never seen a bird fall asleep like this and be SO relaxed. I have a pet Cockatiel (she is about 7 years old) and she wouldn't even dream of letting me pat her for more than a second!

Has anyone seen this type of thing before? I have uploaded some vid to youtube:

In the video, the eye you can see is actually closed. That isn't the missing eye.


P.S. I am new to the forum, as I am interested learning more about him. I have never seen, heard or experienced anything like him (or her!) before.

[Robyn]

Hi And welcome to the forum. I would be extremely concerned for this birds health. It could have a disease or was hit by a car either way it would need Veterinary help. That is certainly not the actions of a healthy carawong.
You mention having a cockatiel always wash your hands after handling the cararwong. Is it eating, if so what.

Robyn.

[bedge]

Hi Robyn,

He is eating very well. He is enjoying apple, carrot, and I have been feeding him very small pieces of fresh meat twice a day. He also drinks lots. He's a tiny bit on the thin side, but all his plumage and body condition look really quite good!

He is quite alert most of the time. its just when I pat him he falls asleep. He is just not scared of me at all. Im wondering if he was hand reared?

Yes - I have been very wary of any diseases, and have been washing my hands. He hasn't met my cockatiel as of yet.

I dont want to take him to the vet at this stage as I am worried they will put him down straight away. I think I would prefer to try someone who could take him in and give him lots of love.

I am X-wires, so have dealt with a lot of wildlife. He isn't typically sick, physically. He is mostly alert, most happy to sit in the sun .. and just falls asleep as soon as I tickle him!

Its the strangest thing!

[bedge]

His poo's have also been a little bit watery, but due to his good diet over the last few days - they are looking good today.

[finchperson]

I'm very worried about this Currawong! He looks extremly sick!

[bedge]

Eh!

Its really hard to explain it, with out actually seeing him. He is alert and happy, eating well, relaxed .. not stressed etc .... but ... he just falls asleep when I pat him! Like in the video! Its like he goes in to a trance ... I have to wake him back up, and then he is back to his normal self .. pottering around!

It is ... so weird!

In the video - he is just fast asleep! lol. Every now and then he will open up his eye, look at me, and then goes back to sleep. lol

He potters around the living room (he bumps in to things, cause he cant see to well), and sits on my foot to hitch a ride.

[Robyn]

Yep it does sound strange. I do know chooks go into a kind of trance when they are picked up. Well i guess if your X-wires you have a good idea what can be wrong with the bird. As far as being blind he may be an old fella & have cataracts. I have a very old Galah that is blind with cataracts.

Also that is probably why he was in a weaken state when you found him not being able to see to find food or water.

Keep in touch with his progress.

Robyn.

[bedge]

Hi!

Yes - its defiantly strange!

As I mentioned before, Im not keen to take him to a vet. As I dont think he is actually sick. He just doesn't really fly I think due to being almost blind.

I was thinking I could take him to the Wild Life Hospital at Taronga Zoo, as then he might get a good chance of a nice quite life.

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to any other places I could take him?

Or would anyone here be prepared to take him? lol

I would just like to give him a good chance at a nice life. He is utterly amazing!!!

Ta!