Grallina Cyanoleuca

We had a very windy couple of days last week, and this critter appeared on our lawn.

It was a fledgling Peewee which had been blown out of its nest by high winds that had been around for a day or two. As they say in the classics it was one of those winds that would blow a dog off a chain.

Obviously, it had a very bleak future exposed on the ground, and at the mercy of cats, dogs, and crows, but had not yet learned to fly, so was going nowhere.

It was also completely naive, showing no sign of fear when I gently moved it under a shrub, out of sight and out of the sun.

I could find no sign of the nest, so when it was still there late in the day, it became time to attempt to get it to safety.

Some quick googling revealed a phone number for National Parks and Wildlife Queensland, and the helpful person there gave me the number of a rostered vet who was looking after injured or stranded wildlife.

This one wasn't injured, but was definitely stranded, so I put it in a box and drove it to the vet.

She said that this wasn't the only fledgling that had been brought in, as they were just at the stage of development when they were about to come out of their nests, but the unseasonal winds had created a problem for that particular population.

I never did enquire whether it had been successfully relocated - perhaps I should.

I have no idea what the protocol is for critters handed in, but assume there is something in place. Apparently, this is a better option than trying to care for them at home.

It's not a straightforward process, especially in terms of what they should be fed on.  The vet said that most well-intentioned people give them the wrong food which usually causes their fairly swift demise.