G'Day

[Schelle]

Hi all,

my name is Schelle, another Aussie :)

That is my long-billed Eastern Corella, Mitch, in the little avatar photo.

I am kind of a bird-owner by default, and learning as I go.

My husband and I have rehabilitated and released injured birds before (a Kookaburra and a Tawny Frogmouth) and both now live on our property with their new families.

In November 2002, my husband saw Mitch get hit by a car and rescued him from the gutter. His parents were watching closely, and we think it may have been his first flight. The vet wanted to put him down, because his wing was badly injured and he would never be able to fly. My husband refused, and brought him home to me - an instant baby :confused:

It was quite obvious he wasn't used to feeding himself yet, and we weren't sure he would survive... now, after two and half years of tender loving care, he's an indispensible part of our family. He even talks :D

That's all I've got time for tonight, but I shall be back to browse your forums and learn as much as I can. It is lovely to finally find such a welcoming resource!

[vmtwriter]

Welcome to the bird forum, Schelle. :wavey: We're glad to have you here. What a heart warming story you have about your bird. I'm glad he found you to rescue him. :agree:

[amazing greys]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/superbirdie/Welcome_flip.gif to BoF!!

That is a wonderful story and a happy ending for Mitch!!

Everyone here is very helpful and friendly, so feel free to join in.

Did I mention we looooove pics?? hehehe :dance:

[Majj]

Hi !!:wavey: and WELCOME to the group, what a wonderful story and your Mitch is one lucky fid you saved him...

Its almost 1am and I am off to bed , its cold here ..(NSW) what state are you in ??Another Aussie :woot: :woot: , I have two little boys Sunny a sun conure and Buddy a Quaker Parrot, along with 2 fur babies Zeus the Samoyed and frosty the cat we live with hubby Joe , our human kids are all grown up ..
Nice to meet you once again..WELCOME...:highfive: and Goodnight..

[Jean]

Hi Schelle, I am glad you found us. I look forward to getting to know you and hear more about your birds. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/jeanaskins/welcome%20-%20friendship/welcome-to-the-group.gifThank you, for sharing your heart warming bird experiences with us. Your little Mitch is a very lucky little guy to be found by your hubby. :wub: To have birds you raised live on your property with their family's is an amazing and touching story of it's own . :wub:

[harleybaby]

Hi Chelle :wavey: WELCOME!!!!!! It's so nice to have you here and I look forward to hearing all about Mitch and of course pictures! I think Corellas are beautiful.:heart:

[morgavin]

I'm touched by your story...:tighthug: and welcome Shelle Looking forward to hearing more from you. Pics are well recieved here and looking for them in the near future.

[Shirley]

Welcome Schelle!

What a wonderful thing you did!


Shelby is our Bare-eyed cockatoo - 4 yrs old!

Along with several others in the flock!

We are so pleased to have you join us!

Can't wait to see pics of your beautiful Mitch! The avatar is precious!!

[birdnerd]

Awww... You're such a sweetie to take in a wounded baby.

Silly question time: Are Corella's kin of Cockatoos? Your little critter has a very 'too expression.

Welcome to the funny farm!

[Schelle]

http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/em/thanx.gif Hi everyone,

thank you all for the lovely welcomes...

last question first... Birdnerd, I do believe Corellas are relatives of the Cockatoos... they are very much flock birds, and you often see huge clouds when hundreds congregate together... they are certainly as NOISY as cockies http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

That long beak is used for digging, and they spend a lot of time stalking across lawns digging for roots and bulbs (or in Mitch's case, trying to prise the keys from my keyboard as I type :P) It is a bit of a problem for us, as he doesn't spend enough time wearing it down, and it gets too long... then because he has only one working wing, when he gets startled or 'jumps' from my shoulder height, he lands very badly, often snapping the tip off his beak... I'm getting better at catching him, and he's getting better at not jumping http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif if he's lucky, the tip will just bend, and break off a few hours later when it has healed... otherwise it bleeds and he really looks like he's been in the wars... we put the broken beak tip in his hammock, and the beak fairy swaps it for a peanut http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/em/laugh.gif

Shirley, is 'bare-eyed cockatoo' an american name for a corella? I have seen that reference before and wondered...

Morgavin, Harleybaby & AmazingGreys, I have attached my favourite picture of Mitch helping me weed the garden, taken just after Christmas this year... I'm sure there will be more photos in future... the little terrorist is always doing something amusing...

Majj, I am also in NSW - in the bush south west of Sydney - and yes, it is TERRIBLY cold this year!

Hi Jean, I'm very glad to be here... I am hoping to learn all sorts of new distractions and teaching techniques, not to mention treats and toys to make http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

We are very proud of our native birds, and plant lots of food trees for them... it is so wonderful when a bird that you have nursed back to health comes back to show you the mate they have found, and later bring their babies to visit... I imagine them saying "see that human? If you're ever in trouble, that's the human that will help you" http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

and last but not least, VmtWriter... I'm very glad that he decided to survive and stay with us http://thebirdforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif he's a wonderful little friend, and I want to make sure he has the best life possible...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/myth_schelle/mitch_garden.jpg

The droopy wing facing towards you is the bad one... it still hasn't healed properly after all this time, but that's mainly because he's a bit rough & gets impatient with it, or twists it accidentally... it is getting stronger though... I hold out my arms and say "two wings... You've got two wings... You're supposed to flap them both..." and I flap my arms... he spreads both wings out then, sometimes using his head to support the bad one... it doesn't seem to give him any pain... He will flap like mad, but only when clinging to my shoulder and screaming in my ear at the same time - kind of a workout for his lungs!

I am particularly interested in learning about proper foot care - he has a sore foot at the moment... I can't find anything wrong and he doesn't mind me touching it... I'm suspecting a sprained ankle... or maybe the beginning of 'bumble foot'? I've heard of that and it worries me...

[Jean]

Thank you for the adorable pic of Mitch. :heart: :wub: :heart:

Little "cacuta" < AKA > "Bare eyed cockatoos"< AKA >little "corella"

You are to be blessed for all you have done for helpless little birds. Thank you so much, for sharing your experiences. :goodjob:

We share so much good inforation here. No matter how much we know :shrug2: we can always find something new to learn from each other. We have some wonderful members that are very devoted and educated to the betterment of birds.

[Sue]

Hi Schelle WELCOME, i'm in the UK so you're probably going to bed when I get up:rofl:
Thanks for sharing Mitch's story, he is absolutely adorable:wub: He is lucky you cared for him.

I love the bit about the "beak fairy":heart: and the peanut.:roflmao2: :roflmao2:

[Jean]

:thanx: Sue, for remembering the beak ferry. I love it too!!!:heart: :heart: :heart:

It is 2:AM here and I'm getting tired and better get to bed.

Good Night All

[Schelle]

Sleep well :)

lol... everyone loves the beak fairy :) except Mitch... he's only interested in the peanut!!!

[Sue]

Sleep well :)

lol... everyone loves the beak fairy :) except Mitch... he's only interested in the peanut!!!

:roflmao2: :roflmao2: :roflmao2:

[birdnerd]

Hi Schelle,

Oh yeah! In that larger picture, he definitely looks 'too-ish. I didn't know thay had so much red/pink in the face and shoulders.

I'm sorry to hear his foot is ailing him. Did this start after he smacked the ground or has it been developing? Possibly related to the birdstrike with the car? I've been in a wreck, and you end up hurting where you didn't know you had places to hurt.

Poor guy.

One of my tiels has a wing that doesn't serve him well. My ex hurled Freebie at the wall to make him stop making so much noise. :O

[Schelle]

OUCH! gee, birdnerd... poor Freebie!
Mitch sure knows how to be noisy... and I must admit I have threatened him with an 'instant return to the wild'... but he's just too cute and I could never hurt him :)

The foot seems to be getting better... must have just twisted it in all the 'hanging around' he does... it can't be from the car accident - that was more than 2 years ago now :P

Well, I guess that's my lot for the introduction... I shall have to start exploring the rest of the forum :)

I should say, I am a law student, so much as I would like to spend lots of time here, I almost always have something else I should be working on :)

[birdnerd]

I'm glad your little goonie is starting to feel better.

All work and no play is no fun, but all play and no work gets the boss mad. ;)

[Sue]

Hi Schelle,



One of my tiels has a wing that doesn't serve him well. My ex hurled Freebie at the wall to make him stop making so much noise. :O

OMG BN , I didn't know this, thankfully you said EX:wub:

[Junkzoo]

Welcome Schelle , to BoF! Hope you enjoy your time here!
Thanks for the pics, and the wonderful story,,always good to hear of someone that cares so much to help God's creatures when they need it,,,:thumbup:

[gary&chloe]

I too am interested in the different colors pattern in Mitch. I have never seen such a cool coloration in a Bare Eye, Corella.