20 May Gangsters Lucky Escape
The 2020 bushfires came too early for many bird species that had not yet fledged and left the nest or hollow log. In the hills running alongside the Ovens Valley – Mnt Hotham, Mnt Buffalo…all the way down to Carbor , the fires bubbled along for weeks (or so it seemed) and many trees were burnt or damaged…parent birds gone but live young still in the tree cavity. Most orphans died of starvation, heat stress or were fatally injured when trees were felled during cleanup operations. These young gang gang cockatoos were exceptionally lucky. They survived the felling of their tree in Abbeyard with minor injuries and quickly adapted to hand raising. Once weaned and eating a natural diet of gumnuts, berries and seeds they were able to gain flight practise, build muscle strength and meet the local mobs visiting the wildlife shelter. They were successfully released in early April. Thankyou Wildlife Heroes for supporting wildlife carers and the wildlife they rescue and rehabilitate.
