It is some years since my younger daughter's Australian Magpie died. She had found him injured with one wing broken and her immediate thought was to take it to the vet as it had been in a fight with another bird or animal. Clearly it could not fly and the damaged wing was removed and then he was grounded for the rest of its life. He soon settled down happy to be fed and had a large cage where it could roost and be safe from other enquiring birds and predators with all food and cleaning provided for him.
He seemed quite grateful
and was inquisitive enough. Often he would enter my daughter’s house and make
himself at home and be happy enough to sit with me a visitor and tell me what
he had been up to; not that I could understand him. Later I was asked to look
after him when my daughters family went on holiday. He settled in very well. I
let him use his cage on my first floor balcony so he could see other birds in
the area. At night I brought him inside and he watched the TV with me. He
jumped out of his cage and sat with me on the arm of my chair or indeed on my
arm and enjoyed the programs I did.
I must confess I was quite
sad to lose his companionship when my daughter’s family returned home, but he
was always happy to see me when I visited. Other birds in their garden used to
tease him somewhat.
Sadly, he disappeared one
day never to return, probably went for a walk and perhaps did not survive a
confrontation with another creature. However knowing him and his acceptance of
his disability and the humans that cared for him probably provided him with the happiest life few of his kin ever had.
318 word count
