Cockatoo tangled in fishing wire - dangling in treetop - rescued by fire brigade!

Darlinghurst, Australia, September 2003

Photo above - Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo 
(not the cockatoo in the following story) 

This is the true story of 'Billy' the cockatoo. A Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.

Billy was spotted at 6am one morning by a local lady, he was hanging upside down from a tree branch, tangled in fishing wire and not moving - presumed dead,

.

Later on in the day he was seen by a local resident to apparently move slightly, so the fire brigade were called.

Billy was so tangled it was impossible to undo the wire, so the whole tree branch was removed along with Billy attached; and he was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital.

His leg was treated for infection and bandaged.

He was then fed and watered and it was noticed at this point, that one of his wings had been clipped.

It was then assumed that Billy was an escaped pet bird.

He was temporarily re-homed with a bird lover until a new home could be found for him.

Luckily for Billy he was spotted before his injuries and the heat killed him, another hour or so without having been spotted may have finished him. But how careless some individuals are. 

It takes little time to take home with you or dispose of safely, any unwanted items. Maybe the fishing wire was left deliberately to cause harm to some thing or some body?

Only the people responsible will know for sure. We all reap what we sow.

No updates as yet on Billy's fate - will keep you informed. 

Well done Australia! - this time.

Photo right with kind permission by Warwick Remington, Ballarat, Australia ©

All b/w photos copyrighted Aust. Sunday Telegraph - reset by CKC Birds ©

With sincere thanks to John Tallon NSW, Australia

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Wing Clipping and Australian Cockatoos

However Conversely!

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service controlled burn - turned into a raging bushfire threatening World Heritage rainforest.

The fire, started by QPWS-staff on September 15 2003 as part of a hazard reduction exercise, had burnt out 2500 hectares and was still burning out of control early October.

QPWS officers were expecting the fire to reach the low country and were confident they could stop it heading east, but were not as confident about blocking it to the south.

Firefighters were putting in a break between two creeks at the bottom of the range and planned to use it as a burn back point.

The weather forecast was a nightmare for those trying to put the fire out. With a high temperature of 36C and humidity down to a low 30%.

QPWS regional manager said if the fire raced away to the south it could follow steep and precipitous country. As well as dry eucalypt forest, this the general Hidden Valley area supports a diversity of vegetative habitats, including World Heritage rainforest and fuel-rich she-oak scrubs.

Up to 16 QPWS staff had been fighting the fire and two bulldozers were being used to cut breaks to protect tinder dry rainforest and grazing land.

More than a small error of judgement - wouldn't you say?

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