POOR LITTLE PARROT!

Max the parrot’s life could have ended before it really got going. We drove into our Blue Mountains property a couple of weeks ago and almost skittled him. He was nibbling on an acorn, completely oblivious to any danger. I had to hop out and shoo him off the driveway. There was no way he was letting go of the nut though.

He flew up to a maple tree to finish it off. We knew he was still very young, all rather scruffy and just a tiny bit of crimson plumage appearing on his head. How odd that he was all alone. At one point he took up a position in a tree fern overlooking the laneway. Was he hoping his mum or dad might appear?

Sadly, they didn’t, and after an hour or so he gave up. Mind you, he seemed chirpy enough.

Over the next couple of weeks he remained by himself, feeding among the fallen acorns in the mornings then sitting in the maple for the rest of the day. Such a lonely life for a juvenile parrot.

His adult plumage was now well on the way…..but where were his parents, or any king parrot friends?

The weather took a turn for the worse, and we had a fall of snow.

Much to our relief Max re-appeared, but he did look lost and forlorn. He was still foraging for his breakfast, but then he would sit for hours, hardly moving.

HOPE…..

A few days ago a small flock of adult king parrots arrived to feed on maple seeds. They were making a lot of noise and concentrating on lunch, but we couldn’t help hoping they might notice our little lost soul.

Sure enough, Mother Nature took the situation in hand. Max was spotted and a wise old bird said; ‘Listen mate…you can’t go on living by yourself like this, it’s just not healthy. Come with us!’ And do you know what? He did. We miss him, but we wish him well. Yes, birds of a feather really should flock together.