Kookaburra

[den]

The concussed kookaburra was bouncing off the cage walls this morning, so I locked us in my room and let him go. He took off immediately, bouncing off walls and wardrobes while I tried to catch him. 15 minutes later I shoved him in the cage, and both of us lay on the floor, panting. 30 minutes ago I took him back to the panelbeaters where he'd been found, and was surprised to see the panel beater still working. He was really happy to see the kookaburra again. When he caught the bird it was dozey and quiet. Now, it bit and snapped at fingers.

I opened my hands. The bird sat there for a moment, then flew straight up to the gumtree in the yard. He looked down at us. "That bird's got a grudge," said the panel beater.

I told him I expected that, and described what I had to go through to force-feed the bird. Kookaburras never eat from a dish.

At that moment a willie-wagtail arrived to chitter madly and expand his eyebrows at the kookaburra, which stopped him glaring at us. Kookaburras may be kingfishers, but for small birds they're as big a predator as crows and butcher birds.

So there you go. Another success, but I think I lost favour points with the Peewees.

Comments

[kreggan.livejournal.com]

They might not eat from a dish, but they're more than happy to steal food left on a picnic table....

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

The must have to eat under their own terms, and forcing it down their throat isn't in those terms.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Well what can you expect when a rival gang leader shows up?:)
Hopefully Don Kookaburra won't be wearing cement sneakers any time soon...........

[ursulav.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, you can't live your whole life in fear of the peewees. Even if the kookaburra's not grateful, that's great!

[talvinamarich.livejournal.com]

Den, you should consider doing a book about your experiences with animal rescue--and bring in some of the other people who do the same thing.

All over the world, people like you do this invaluable work for conservation and environment...and most people don't notice. I found your LJ because of "Bugs"...and now, while I still am a faithful follower of the comic, I think of you less as "one of the Webcomic artists I friended on LJ" and more as "An Animal Rescue guy Down Under--who also does a WebComic."

Thank you for sharing these stories with us. If nothing else, you have made one person think about something he normally lets pass him by.

--Talvin

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I think of myself as "also does a web comic" too. 8)

[beki.livejournal.com]

The peewees are just ticked off at you for aiding and abetting the enemy. They will get over it as you know you will have more peewees camping out at Chez Den.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

But they will be spies! Conniving little spies!!

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

They all are!

The peewee mafia owe me bigtime for what I've done, and one day I'll call on them to de me a big favour. But now that I've helped their enemy the favour will be a little less than it would have been.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

My mum politely inquires "Just what *is* a panel beater?". :)

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Smash Repairs. The guys who make bent cars like new again.

[(Anonymous)]

Its a cruel and heartless profession beating defenceless panels

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

You must show them their place!

[gatorofages.livejournal.com]

Great to hear he is back out there :-)