I heard a strange noise outside the front door the other day and opened it to find a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo perched on a corner post looking a bit sad. I’m afraid I tried to shoo him away, because cockies are known for chewing on wooden railings. However, this fellow was very reluctant to leave.
When he did react to my inhospitable shouts I noticed there was something wrong with one of his wings. He must have walked up the steps, because he certainly couldn’t fly.
Oh dear, what to do? The only option was to take him to the village vet, if we could catch him.
Living in the Blue Mountains we often have to rescue birds that have had misadventures, but they are usually much smaller.
I had just thrown out a beloved quilt that was on my husband’s bed in his teenage years (1960s) before we met in the 70s. 💔 It had been the perfect comforter for both me and my associate Editor Des for many, many years, but the stuffing had started to fall out (a bit like me).
It went into the garage, ready for the next throw out.
Now the quilt had just enough weight to capture a cockatoo safely, so I retrieved it…. could there be a heroic end for a piece of family history?
Unfortunately, by this time Cocky had trotted around to the back of the house and hauled himself up a sapling using his feet and beak.
I stood on a pile of sandstone blocks, and appealed to him to come down. No go. He refused to budge. 😨 Never mind, I’m a patient person.
A CONTRARY COCKATOO!
Wouldn’t you know it….while we were having lunch the little wretch clambered down, made his way through the garden then climbed high into a gum tree. He found a quiet spot in the winter sunshine and went to sleep.
Next morning he had vanished. Hopefully he recovered, or someone else found him and was better at cockatoo catching than me.
I noticed afterwards that there was a pointed message by the front door. I think it said; ‘I came to you for help and you let me down.‘ Well fair go mate, I did my best! 😎
FOR MORE ON THE SULPHUR CRESTED COCKATOO, CLICK HERE.
