Duck with Angel Wing

Last month a member of the public reported a duckling in the pool area of a resort in Batehaven with “damaged wings”. Its wings were “permanently splayed out”.

This condition is known as angel wing and it is thought to be the result of poor diet in water fowl birds including ducks, geese and swans. Young birds that are fed an unnaturally rich diet, high in protein or carbohydrate can get it. For example ducklings fed large quantities of bread even for a short period of time, are susceptible.

The ducklings grow faster than their wing bones, and the weight of their "growing flight feathers stress the developing muscles that move the wing bone causing twisting and slipping”. As a result they develop a deformity in the last joint of one or both wings that can lead to them being unable to fly as adults.

If the bird is young enough, its wings can be bound and supported while it is fed a proper diet as its wings become stronger. Recovery can occur in only a few days. Older birds can live with the condition as long as they are protected from predators.

Unfortunately, it was too late to correct the angel wing in this duckling and it had to be euthanised.

Ref: Angel Wing in Birds, Wag!, accessed 12 January 2022.

Decline of the Regent Honeyeater

The beautiful regent honey eater is heading for extinction despite once being seen in “immense flocks" on Australia’s east coast. There are now fewer than 300 left.

Their territory is the flowering gum forests but the best of these have been turned into farmland. The remaining large tracts of forest are on poor soil and the trees there do not produce the rich nectar the regent honeyeaters need for breeding. There are few large tracts of gum forests left and the honeyeaters are no longer able to form the large flocks they need for protection from aggressive birds such as noisy miners.

"Unfortunately, we continue to destroy essential regent honeyeater habitat in some areas even as we attempt to restore lost habitat elsewhere. For example, if the Warragamba Dam in the Blue Mountains is raised it will flood essential habitat and make it even harder to bring back our iconic honeyeater."

Ref: Rob Heinsohn et al, Regent honeyeaters were once kings of flowering gums, The Conversation, 13 January 2022.

Superb Fairy-Wren Societies

Superb fairy-wrens were named bird of the year in a poll held by the Guardian newspaper and Birdlife Australia.

Researchers at Monash University have found that superb fairy-wrens organise themselves into complex multilevel societies, like those of large-brained mammals.

Like other Australian birds, superb fairy-wrens breed in small family groups where non-breeding adults and earlier offspring help the dominant breeding pair. However the researchers found that breeding groups of fairy wrens "associated with other breeding groups to form supergroups. And this was usually done with individuals they were genetically related with.

"In turn, these supergroups associated with other supergroups and breeding groups on a daily basis, forming large communities. In the following spring, these communities split back into the original breeding groups inhabiting well-defined territories – only to join again next winter."

Ref: Ettore Camerlenghi and Anne Peters, (The most social) bird of the year: why superb fairy-wren societies may be as complex as our own, The Conversation, 10 January 2022.

Baby Devil Joey in the Mail

When Mesha Black was delivering mail to a letterbox in southern Tasmania she got a bit of a fright when a baby Tasmanian devil hissed and snapped at her from inside the letter box that she had just reached into.

Mesha telephoned Bonorong Wildlife Rescue and they advised her how to get the joey out of the letterbox for transport to a carer. “I managed to get her out and wrapped up in my jumper and got a fair few squeals and screeches”.

The carer, Sandra, found the joey to be dehydrated and underweight and thinks its mother was probably killed by a car and it was unable to look after itself. The joey has been treated for pneumonia and is now gaining weight.

Ref: Lucie Cutting, Postie finds injured Tasmanian devil joey in Australia Post letterbox, ABC News, 23 December 2021.

Nice Way to Start the Day

by Kylie Lopes

A happy ending for a 3kg eastern grey joey separated from its mother in South Durras. The reason the mother took off is unknown, but it is suspected that it was spooked by some kids at the campsites.

After a warm, snug sleepover, bub was returned to where mum last had her and a very concerned mumma was right there waiting. Thanks to a member of the public for providing great info.

Little Forest Bat

by Janet Jones

Kay Mallitt rescued this Little Forest Bat, named ‘Kell'. It was hanging onto an external wall in North Batemans Bay. He weighs 3.5g, a juvenile, needing three supplementary feeds a day.

Any microbat not tucked away safely in its roost is compromised in some way and needs to be brought in for assessment and appropriate care. Microbats are territorial. At this time of year, if it is healthy, an appropriate weight, and fully rehydrated, after 3 days it will be released back at the place it came from when weather conditions are suitable.

Like all Little Forest Bats, Kell is quite vocal when being collected for feeding!