Banded Rail, Morepork, Sparrows and now Welcome Swallows!

The 3 sparrows are now released to my garden and are doing well. Still visiting the aviary where I leave food out for them but they mingling with the wild sparrows which is good. The Welcome Swallows were let go this morning (9/1/10) and two of them seem to doing really well. Was amazing watching them fly off and gain more confidence with flying. One kept divebombing me and I watched them for quite a while. Haven't seen them this afternoon but it is very hot. I will keep looking out for them.

My 3 sparrows are doing very well and are now in a cage, fully feathered and just about ready for release. The Morepork (NZ Native Owl) is at Whangarei Bird Recovery as he needed veterinary care for his bad eye. The Banded Rail is doing well and I now have since yesterday, 4 Welcome Swallow to rear. Apparently, the nest had smashed to the ground and was in pieces and these 4 swallows were huddled nearby with no parent in sight. These 4 will be a big challenge but I have got them eating quite well.

Banded Rail in last night

And now a Morepork in - a juvenile with a damaged eye.

20th December 2009

Was handed these 3 baby sparrows on 20/12/09. All in the one nest that was on the ground with no parents about. Three sparrows but all different ages - very strange! One tiny tiny with no feathers, one slightly larger with a few feathers and the third with feathers and a wee tail. How this came about I have no idea. However, 2 days later and they are doing well - feeding well and poo'ing well.

'Drummer' the tui is also doing well... he must be about 6 weeks old now and is just getting the white feathers under his beak. 'Millie' the little female sparrow is coming along well but doesn't like the other 3 sparrows at all.

I'm badly needing another aviary for all these birds..... all 3 of my present aviaries are now taken up with these various birds.....

Not forgetting Pav.....

Pav was a year old on 5th December! Actually, it feels, sometimes, like he's been around for about 10 years!
This lovely birthday card was sent to him by a friend..... what a bird!

Sparrow chick & Tui fledgling

I also have a Tui fledgling that was brought to me on 21st November as a very young one that had been thrown out of nest. This bird must have been chilled cos it also had that death rattle in its lungs. Gave it antiobiotic twice daily for 3 days and bird is fine. Now in outside aviary during the day, eating well - mashed banana with baby rice farex and apple sauce, a bit of jellimeat, sugar/water and introducing 'Drummer' to nectar plants so that he can learn to feed himself (or herself). A character of a bird indeed.





On Thursday, 3/12/09 I had a call that a sparrow chick had fallen from a nest up high and was down on the ground.
When I went down to see to the bird, it was rather poorly and I couldn't get it back in nest... besides the bird needed attention. Had a sore foot and had cut under its tummy. I imagine this little scrap would be about 2 weeks old but not sure... mostly feathered but with hardly any tail.

I gave sparrow tiny (!) dose of antibiotic, twice daily for 3 days and thank goodness, this got rid of the 'death rattle' in its lungs. It is now Monday 7th and 'Millie' seems fine. Eating well - mixing Vitapet mix with cooked egg yolk and little bird is feeding herself, also loves banana, lettuce and soon should be getting interested in seeds. Not interested in jellimeat at all.