This amusing story has been sent to us.
''I have a story about an African Pygmy
Kingfisher....
I walk every morning and on Thursday
my 2 walking partners and I came across what I thought was a baby Malachite in
the middle of the road looking quite distressed. It was quite chilly as the sun hadn’t yet
risen past tree level.
I immediately picked it up and then
the debate started as to what we should do. The little thing had, by this time,
closed its eyes and looked as if it was going to sleep. I had heard somewhere that you never remove a
chick from the immediate vicinity as the parents would continue to feed it, but
that it should be moved to a place of safety- what to do?!
I suggested to my partners that they
continue and I would find a safe place and stand guard! They were more than happy to oblige.
Now my thought processes kicked into
overdrive. I needed somewhere warm, safe
and comfortable that would also allow the parents to feed it or for it to fly
off. My logic told me that the little
thing must be able to fly otherwise how would it have found itself in the
middle of the road a good distance from the closest tree or bush.
My bra – of course! I had a quick look around, no-one in
sight. So, off it came.
I took off for the nearest tree, found
a lovely fork in the branches protected and hidden by leaves, placed the bra
and gently laid the little bird in the cup.
He lay on his side with his eyes closed and my thought was that he would
at least die in relative comfort!
We returned about 45 minutes later to
find the bird standing up, eyes wide and bright and feathers all fluffed up –
he looked quite chirpy. I decided to
leave my bra and the little bird behind – a small price to pay!
When I got home I looked him up in my
Roberts Guide to confirm and realised I had rescued an adult African Pygmy
Kingfisher and not a baby Malachite – the violet cheek patches being
unmistakable
I returned a few hours later to find
my bra in place with a little ‘poep’ (presumably of thanks!) and no
bird.........''
by Mary Mckenzie
