Every day is Beautiful and a Blessing of sorts. Some days are even more Special, like today the 25th of October 2020, also Durga Puja Day.
I had gone to bed very very late at 2.30am and was in deep sleep when Mithu woke me up saying "Wake up there is an emergency" She knows I hate being woken up and given bad news. So she quickly applied a correction and said "It is a Nice Kind of Emergency". Though I did not say it, first thing in the morning, I thought to myself - "Good Kind of Emergency ?? Aaloo
Lured by a Cuppa Tea, I sat up to drink it and realised it was 11.00am not 7.00am as I thought it was.
Mithu tells me "there is a Little Bird in our Garden and it has come over from the neighbours house and Lilo (our Doggy, was snooping around trying to find the bird.) In my mind I pictured an injured Myna or a Wild Pigeon as these frequent the backyard every day.
Birdie Num Num is now in my study inside the laundry basket
Though a wild bird has become very attached to me in a matter of hours. More than anything he trusts me as I gave him pinenuts and blue berry and boiled rice and water. I have now put a stick across the basket and he is perched on it and sleeping peacefully.
We have really bonded. I can pick him up any time have a cuddle and put him back in the laundry basket.
Under protective custody now in my study; yes in the Warden's office to be precise.
Poor Num Num was clutching on to the sides of the basket so I provided a bamboo stick across the basket so he could sit comfortably for the night.
Mithu tells me "there is a Little Bird in our Garden and it has come over from the neighbours house and Lilo (our Doggy, was snooping around trying to find the bird.) In my mind I pictured an injured Myna or a Wild Pigeon as these frequent the backyard every day.
I went into the garden straightaway, and looked high and low but could not find the little birdie so assumed he had taken off. Then to my excitement I found him on a branch of a shrub close to the ground.
I had to keep him safe. That was top priority. So no time for photographs and my phone was not with me either.
I could have put him in a shoe box but he was a big boy and too big for a shoe box not that we have any cardboard boxes at home, as they all go to the recycle bin straight away.
Then I saw the black plastic bin I bought at Bunnings for $ 3. Good for raking leaves in the garden and dumping in to be carried away to the bigger green bin.
I needed to give him something to eat and remember we had pine nuts in a bottle; also needed clean water so I grabbed the first small porcelain container I could. Then of course I needed gloves to prevent him scratching me; no shortage of gardening gloves so I had a choice of a soft flexible one so I could grab him gently
There he is, my Hero inside the Bin
Settled in comfortably
I Placed the bin on the garden Table out of reach for our two Dogs Bailey and Lilo
I stood there and observed him. He made a few feeble attempts to fly out of the bin and failed. So I assumed he was injured and could not take off. I kept whistling at him, the same whistle I use to Call Bailey. Two sharp blasts. Birdie made a lot of fearful cries at first and after a while I realised he started to mimic my tweets feebly.
I now realise how easy it is to train parrots to speak. My first encounter when he was sitting in a low tree branch he made a lot of noises and wanted to attack me with his little beak. I was prepared and had put my garden gloves on. Slowly he lost his fear and let me stroke his neck and his wings. I was in fact checking to see if he was injured. During this time I kept whistling at him the same whistle I use for Bailey. Within an hour believe it or not the birdie abandoned all his aggro noises and started to mimic me with the same two tweets and nearly same frequency. Now I can pick him up any time and cuddle him and even put his face to my cheek. Mithu took these Photos in the kitchen
I had to share this excitement with Babu and Jess and messaged what was going on, on Whatsapp
"He has been cared for by neighbours last Four days but flew into our backyard this morning and mum waking me up to an emergency as she was worried Lilo would get to him first. Birdie was very scared at first, now got used to me and responds to my whistle in same frequency. He is now in a plastic bin on the table where Lilo cannot get him. I have tied the bin to the post as well. Not injured but just too young to fly and is podgy too. Drinking water, eating pinenuts, cooked rice and blue berries. I can pick him up hold him to my chest and stroke him and he is in Seventh Heaven. Will fly away when he learns to fly. Not at all injured I checked him out thoroughly 👍👍👍😊😊😊✌️✌️
Around 4.00pm, neighbour from Eve Street "Uncle Ben" rang the door bell. Both dogs rushed to see who it was. As I opened the door Ben say's I believe you are now looking after Lawry. An ardent Cricket fan and nature lover ben had named the bird Lawry after "Bill Lawry" as well as "Rainbow Lorikeet" this species of bird is called.
A Rainbow Lorikeet
Birdie Num num has a Black beak wonder if it turns red when he grows up and his eyes are black too
I was very Wrong. Mr Birdie saw me gone for a jiffy and made it to the top of the bin. Both dogs were locked inside the house luckily there were no magpies or hawks around to swoop down on him
It was time for a selfie with Mr Bird.
I have had Rosellas coming for seeds and sitting on my hand at Jenolan Caves. I have a pic of a Rosella sitting on my niece Boby's hand. Will include pic when I find it.
Isn't he magnificent ?
I am going to call him "Birdie Num Num" as I am reminded of Petersellers in the Movie "Party"
Back in the Black Bin Planning another escape
and managed to get out too; so Dad had to barricade him whilst he was looking for a better and more secure option.
By the time Dad returned "Num Num" was gone. Dad, looked at every tree branch in the garden and could not spot Num Num.
As a last ditch effort I whistled to him and just as I was about to turn away I heard a feeble Tweet. I was not wearing hearing aids but my ears picked up the signal.Thank God. It came not from above but below at ground level.
There he was, hiding at the foot of a little tree in the garden. What a relief; by then I was blaming myself for being negligent
Then there was the drizzle and this meant I had to take him inside.
Jess wrote "Mum said these birds especially love fruit and you can pop him in the laundry with the light off and he’ll feel safe enough to rest until he feels up to flying. Such a sweet boy 😍
Sounded like a good idea but then he could flutter around the laundry and hurt himself. He was only a Baby Boy. What if some one forgot and opened the laundry door when I was asleep. No Too risky, I thought.
Needed a safer option and I was thinking of Bellsy's Cage (Cat cage). No luck as it had been discarded, plus too small for a bird.
I had to think on my feet. Needed to be bigger than a shoe box, or a cat cage but much smaller that a laundry room plus needed plenty of ventilation and found the perfect answer.
"My Laundry Basket"
With all this excitement it was my turn to cook dinner and I made Ginger Prawns, Beans with shredded coconut and Pappadams.
By the time we finished dinner it was time for boys to watch Footy Finals on the Big Screen.
I am now busy blogging this story after another cuddle and birdie Num Num is fast asleep in my study right behind me.
No singing to night as he might learn to sing on Smule with me :-)
26th October 2020 - 8.00am
He was not looking good today. Sitting on the base but his nose was touching the base too. Pray he survives.
I called Wild Life. Org and have been instructed to take Birdie Num Num to a vet clinic asap. So have to part company with NumNum plus I have two dogs at home and the little one is very curious about the bird in the laundry basket, not safe at all.
Wild life people told me he might have what is called a feather disease (does not affect humans) and the tail does not develop so he cannot fly. I dropped him off at Coronation Parade Vets just after my physiotherapy.
Birdie Num Num gone. Feeling sad yet happy that vets will take good care of him. Gave him one last cuddle and wished him Luck.
Amrita says:
[12:05, 10/26/2020] 🤬❤❤ Amrita Rawal: Birdie Num Num will always remember you as a kind hearted person that saved it’s life
Thanks Amrita. Some Consolation to raise my dampened spirits.🙏🙏🙏🙏 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
12th Feb 2021
I just cannot forget my two days and one night with Birdie Num Num. I am often wonder where he is today and hoping he is well and accepted by his bird kind.
I watched spell bound, a video sent by my good friend, which is almost like a prelude to the birdie num num episode of mine
If you have scrolled down this far I am sure you will love the video that follows too and cherish this sweet memory for ever
https://ramkrishnaswamy.blogspot.com/search/label/133%20-%20Birdie%20Num%20Num%20-%20My%20GodSend
