Sunny update! More photo spam!

Hello everyone! I haven’t been on the forum much lately as I was very stressed and upset about what’s best for Sunny, I was struggling emotionally with it all
Of course I am still stressed about him, but I am also feeling much happier as I know he is happy, happy making his own decisions about whether to be wild or not.
The past few days I’ve had Sunny out his aviary in the open as much as possible. He’s flying so well now, gliding high and navigating trees. he loves digging up grass and plant roots, as well as picking bark off trees, fresh branches and fruits and pine cones. He stays near me, I can relax and read a book while he grazes. When flying he doesn’t venture too far, but far enough to be out my view for a few seconds, he’s getting braver each day checking out the property and surroundings. A few times he’s flown off with a a couple of cockatoos/Corellas but comes back after a couple of minutes. Today however a huge flock flew past and he took of with them. I didn’t panic at all and let him figure things out himself. I could see him up higher than he’s ever been before . Confident that I knew he had landed with most of them in a tree across the road I let him be for 10 mins or so. When I went to call for him I found a sick corella in a paddock for a split second I of course panicked it was Sunny! But very quickly could see it wasn’t. The poor thing is very poorly, diarrhoea, messy beak, sad eyes and tired. We’ve taken him in of course, given him some antibiotics and we see how he goes. He’s not in my care as I don’t want to pass anything to Sunny Incase it’s a disease, so he’s in the other house on the property.
After finding the sick bird I called out for Sunny and low and behold I heard him call back to me, seconds later he flew down from the big tree and came back to me. Not quite ready yet says Sunny
He waddles his little self back into his Aviary when he wants some easy food which is good to know that even when/if he does leave he can always know where to get food.
I’m going to take him down to the Dam that all the Corellas drink from soon so he knows where to get water.

Sunny is the best little creature I’ve ever had the pleasure of caring for, he is so affectionate, funny, cute and cheeky. I’m going to be lost when he decides to leave but I really do think it’s the right thing for him. I will worry everyday but I’m giving him the best chance I can give him. He isn’t happy in the Aviary for long anymore which is helping my decision. If he decides never to leave that’s fine too! I LOVE his company, he’ll always be welcome to stay.
If you could see the massive 500 flock of Corellas plus hundreds of sulphur cresteds flying over his aviary everyday all day you’d understand why it hurts my heart and soul so much to even think of keeping him a pet. He was born in the wild, it’s not fair for me to lock him up. It’s for him to decide
Photos to follow, just uploading! Here is the link to Sunny's beginning, well worth reading the two pages for background! http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...alia-sunny-my-rescue-long-billed-corella.html

Oh my goodness, what an absolute character he is!! It sounds like he's taking good steps in growing to be independent - a bittersweet feeling for you. Whatever Sunny decides, I'm sure he'll do fine and be happy.

Beautiful pictures!

Sunny looks better and better every time you post pictures of him, Hannah! You're doing a marvellous job with him! DO keep the sick corella away from him (as you've been doing). It might have PBFD, which is scarily common in the wild flocks (at least, it is in NSW). Let us know how the poor thing gets on, won't you?

Rosetta (who has been *very* naughty lately) sends happy screeches to her friend, Sunny.

Thank you for the pictures, that is one gorgeous photogenic bird.


Is he going to be an ambulance-bird when he grows up?
Bringing you the ones that need help or bringing you to the ones that can no longer reach out?

Awww Hannah, Sunny looks amazing and so happy. I have a ton of respect for you for letting Sunny decide in spite of the personal emotional struggle. Your photos are fabulous.

I love the photo of Sunny looking down at you from the roof He DOES look so happy! If he decides he wants to be free,I hope at least he stops by to visit. Such a handsome 'too!


Jim

Love the pictures and so glad he is getting lots of time to spend with the wild flocks. With the ability to fly with the free flocks but also have a comfortable roof to sleep under it will help him tremendously in adjusting back to the wild. Now he gets the best of both worlds, to fly freely with his own kind and also have a full belly every day while staying with you. In time he will likely spend more and more time with the wild flocks and they will teach him where to eat and how to survive. But even then he may still fly back to your property to get fed.

You are doing a great job and doing the right thing in letting him choose! Keep us updated with him!

HannahandSunny said:

If you could see the massive 500 flock of Corellas plus hundreds of sulphur cresteds flying over his aviary everyday all day you’d understand why it hurts my heart and soul so much to even think of keeping him a pet. He was born in the wild, it’s not fair for me to lock him up. It’s for him to decide

Click to expand...

Oh wow, Hannah! I am mesmerized by Sunny's natural beauty and personality. Those images are absolutely amazing! Quote above captures the essence of a dilemma, and I am reminded, despite my emotions, perspective is everything.

These are very striking pictures!! He is so cute and funny and I love that you guys are happy!

Thank you so so much everyone for the support and kind words it really means a lot. Sunny really is a photogenic little thing, he pulls the cutest of faces the photo of him looking down from the fence with the blue sky behind him just melts my heart!
Sunny had his first experience of proper wind today! He wasn’t fantastic at it but coped well, so was a great test for him. I also took him further down a paddock that he’s been before, while I fed my horses. He was worried and reluctant at first but once he realised there were little flowers to dig up he was stoked! ..plus I told him it’s where all the cool Corellas hang out in the evening..

Betrisher said:

Sunny looks better and better every time you post pictures of him, Hannah! You're doing a marvellous job with him! DO keep the sick corella away from him (as you've been doing). It might have PBFD, which is scarily common in the wild flocks (at least, it is in NSW). Let us know how the poor thing gets on, won't you?

Rosetta (who has been *very* naughty lately) sends happy screeches to her friend, Sunny.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I’m so pleased with his progress. It’s amazing to think about 4 weeks ago he was on the brink of death, now he is strong, healthy and flying like a pro!!

Sad to say the sick Corella we found yesterday didn’t make it through the night . At least he passed in a cool, comfortable environment with some pain relief

Sunny said hi to Rosetta and says the he also is rather naughty lately.. killing our new favourite house plant :16:

I’ve been looking for a Sunny update! Gosh I’m madly in love with him, and I have so much respect for your decision to let Sunny make his own choices. Seems like really the only ethical thing to do under the circumstances, although my heart, that doesn’t care about ethics, wants you to wrap him up and take him inside and love him forever.

You are an amazing human.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh Hannah,

What an amazing story with wonderful images to really get the full scope of the situation. I'm w/ Jim, love the last photo.
You are awesome and I will be following you both!!

Best of luck. :heart:

Thank you
Sunny had a big social fly today! He took off with a large flock of Corellas I lost sight of him over some trees so couldn’t see where he went. I saw most of them land in a giant pine tree next to the Dam so gathered he was in the somewhere, I slowly made my way down there, calling out to him. He wasn’t replying, but I stayed calm. It’s what he needs to be doing. I stayed down there for a few minutes holding back my tears . Then suddenly 2 Corellas flew off from the tree and I could see and hear it was Sunny he swooped down to me all excited and happy with himself. We sat on the grass for a while so he could eat some roots, he seemed rather chirpy and content, he was waddling fast everywhere he went which was rather cute and kept coming up to me for a stroke and kiss.
He actually went off again when they all left the tree but he returned to me straight away.
He also spent a long time out this evening chilling with me and the horses.
He’s had a lovely day

Oh wow, those images! And this is reading like a suspense novel. There's got to be a happy ending for both!!

Sunny has been out almost all day so far with the wild bunch! He popped by for a play and stroke for a little while until the flock flew overhead again, off he went with the huge flock of about 800 I’d say! They were grazing on the hill and roosting in the pine trees.
So just as I was writing this sitting indoors, I suddenly heard footsteps on the cottage roof and heard Sunnys little voice calling out to me!! I am now sitting on the deck with him it brings tears to my eyes when he returns to see me. I love that he knows he can come back until he is ready to stay with his new friends forever. I’d love to be able to see how he interacts with them, he’s coming home in one piece so they mustn’t be being to hard on him Gosh I love this Bird.

This is him yesterday.. he has to be involved with everything he says!
And then he proceeded to poop on my book