Holidays!

I know my blog is meant to be about wildlife rehabilitation mostly, I haven’t really been doing a lot of it lately. We’re nearly into Winter, and things start to slow down in many ways. Spring is a busy time of year for wildlife rescues. I thought I’d share our holiday to Mallacoota, Victoria. A stunning place to visit and I’m positive I’ll be revisiting sometime soon.

When it’s on in our family, it’s on! I feel like a term at school is like a race. I’m running at warp speed initially maintaining good distance and making good headway, surviving the half way point I’m feeling good though a little tired, on the homestretch I’m absolutely exhausted, stumbling to get to the finish line. I’m hanging out for a break.

As I write this I’m presently half way through Term 2. I have a mid-year concert to organise and I find myself questioning our exceedingly busy lifestyle once more. My girlfriend sent me a tweet wanting to know if I was a ‘one off’ blogger! No! No! No! I think writing about a holiday while I’m back at work just makes me want to leave again! Flat out with not much time in-between, here I am writing at 4.30 in the morning.

Living for the holidays is no way to live, but I find myself doing it every school term. The first term for 2011 was no exception. Miserable through term 1, I passed the half way point and was happiest knowing that soon I would get a two week break to be me.

The first half of the holidays involved no ‘set work’, but I still ran around like a blue arsed fly from point to point, and all the while dealing with dreaded paperwork. I knew we’d be heading off on a holiday and it really did keep my spirits high.

We headed off to Mallacoota, located in the very eastern part of coastal Victoria. Three nights at a beach front caravan park and then we’d move on to an unknown campsite in the bush with friends later in the week.

I travelled with my daughter Bec in my car. My husband Greg and our son Robbie, travelled in the ute with the camper van. My car doesn’t tow so we had to take two vehicles. Bec and I talked about what we wanted to get out of our trip away. She wanted to fish, and find shells. Not any normal shell but a shell with a story. I just wanted to go through a day without thinking about work or any other grown up issue. I also wanted to see wildlife and spend quality time with my family, doing fun stuff.
The first day involved 5 hours of travel and quite a few stops for food. I stocked up on my favourite Fry’s Turkish delight and other essentials and we continued to Mallacoota. Upon our arrival we unpacked the car, settled into our camper and got our bearings. We walked along the beach and cooked dinner.

I thought I’d share my favourite holiday happy snaps with you all. This one is certainly top of my list. We spent two days fishing from a jetty at the lake near the caravan park. It was great fun as the fish were biting and it was a constant source of entertainment for us all. Not to mention the time we all spent together talking and laughing. The weather was beautiful, no freezing southerly wind, a calm and quiet few days on the water. We used prawns for bait and those Bream were pro’s at sucking the flesh right out of the shell straight from the hook! We caught loads of undersized Bream and threw them back before Bec caught this beauty 
She was so proud of herself and this little guy was delicious. As I look back while I write this, I wonder why we work ourselves so hard each term before allowing for timeout at the end. We really do have to get out more but our schedules are choc a block with work, school, gymnastics, dancing, taekwondo, sleep and everything in between. Yes I’m seriously a little sad at the moment. Anyhow, next pic.


I couldn't write about our trip away and not include a photo of Robbie.  So I thought I'd share this one.  The photo has to be the same size as Bec's but obviously the fish doesn't. Can you see it?  Hilarious.  Yes we threw it back.

Bec and Burgo decided to try a spot of surf fishing first thing on our second day at the park. They couldn’t wait for Robbie and I to get ready and they didn’t want to eat breakfast so they left early. I stayed back to eat and gradually open my eyes! Rob and I were about 30 minutes behind them. When we finally did get out we headed towards the beach and down a huge flight of wooden steps to the inlet. There was a small body of water that went up to your thighs deep, that you needed to cross to get to the surf. It was early and Bob wanted me to carry him. I said ‘No way!’ He didn’t want to get his pants wet, so I told him to take them off and carry them, there was no one around and he could put them back on at the other side. It was still very early and I hadn’t passed anyone on our way down to the water. Bob was just about to drop his strides when with precision timing a man appeared from around the jagged edges of the cliff face with a ‘Good Morning!’ So close to catching Rob starkers, he asked if we were with the man and his daughter who were out fishing. I replied that we were. He said that he was at the top of the stairs waiting to take photos of the sunrise, when he noticed Greg carrying Bec across the inlet and quickly took this pic. He grabbed our email details and sent this to us the next day. It’s another favourite pic. I love it because it depicts these two beautiful people so perfectly. The water representing emotion and life, Bec’s dad carrying her across it, lit with the colours of a beautiful morning. Thanks Gerry, nice to meet you and thank you for taking such a gorgeous photo.

The next day I was determined to get a photo of the sunrise. Mallacoota is located in a National Park. There is wildlife a plenty and so many species of birds that I really was in heaven! Pelicans were in abundance, rainbow lorikeets, galahs, black swans, kookaburras and so on. Anyhow I got a couple of beautiful shots (well I think so anyway) and I enjoyed my 40 minutes of quiet time watching the day break. These two photo's are so different and yet taken only within a few minutes of each other. 

Pelicans are such a majestic and beautiful bird. Watching them land and take off is a delight, and the way they can soar through the air while they seem so heavy is amazing. They are inquisitive and a real treat to photograph. This guy was very interested in our fish and we did throw him one out of guilt!

The Point Hicks Light House is an hour’s drive from Cann River. Bumpy, windy roads for a good fifty minutes and then you round a bend to see a huge sand hill that seems to come out of nowhere. We continued to the lighthouse car park and walked 2 kilometres to get to the lighthouse. We’re not usually up for doing tours but in this instance we thought we’d give it a go. It ended up being a highlight of our holiday for Greg and I. The kids didn’t want to drive there so we left them with friends and did it on our own. They missed out big time.

Our tour guide was so lovely and personable and happy to tell us about this amazing structure. We heard the ‘usual’ ghost stories and were told of the people who had been there before us. The hierarchy system for the families who called Point Hicks home in the early 1900’s.

We found the building to be in such beautiful condition and it’s position on the coastline was divine. You can holiday in the lighthouse keeper’s quarters. Now that would be cool. Placed on a rocky outcrop, with seals frolicking in the heavy surf below, the lighthouse was a beautiful place to visit. I could have spent all day there. We were even allowed into the huge turning lens, it was an experience I’ve never had before. Wow!

So what did I gain from this holiday, apart from a well deserved break?  Quality family time and moments captured by photographs that will stay close to my heart.

Bec managed to find two beautiful shells with a story of happiness, togetherness and a beautiful trip away. I’m not sure where our next trip will take us but I have a feeling that now we’re just about into Winter, we’ll be heading up north. Just got to get through the next 5 weeks! Wish me luck.

Welcome to my first blog post! Can’t believe I’m finally writing it actually, although I have been told the best thing to do is start. I find it hard to write without feeling embarrassed or unsure, but I have made a solemn vow to myself to be honest. I’ve also decided that anything I don’t want to be honest about (as we all have those) I just won’t discuss!

Honestly I’ve always wanted to be something more than I am. As a teenager I always thought other people’s lives were better than mine, but as I’ve grown I’ve realised life is what you make it. I’m hoping to be a better person, not a different person.

I’ve always thought that nobody would want to read about my life and I don’t like putting myself out there for criticism. I also know that I need to take heed of my own advice to my children, and that is no one does ‘you’ better than ‘you’. So here I am. Take it or leave it but I’ve got to get it out!

Primarily I want to talk about Australian wildlife; rehabilitation, where you can see and interact with creatures and how animals in general enhance our lives. The ‘other random stuff’ could be anything that has happened in my life on the way. Who knows where that will take us?

I’m sure you’d agree, our lives (mine in particular) have become a swirling vortex of rushing from one place to another, watching the clock, working, doing school runs, gymnastic runs, food shopping, eating on the hop and attempting to keep my home in some kind of semi-normal state, oh and having a ‘life’. The definition of which is ever changing. We are all busy. My attempt at trying to keep the status-quo for myself anyway is to stop, re-charge and enjoy the small things.

A problem I’ve had in the past is figuring out how to stop. Hard to do when your brain is moving at a pace I can’t keep up with and I’m not allowing myself the time to just breathe. To be me. We all have our hobbies and interests, a passion for something and at one point, when my kids were very small, I didn’t have a passion for anything other than sleep.

Re-ignited, my passion and most certainly at times my saviour, has been my family and our local fauna, both the feathered and furry kind. Why? My family are the best people on the planet, and fauna? I don’t even know myself. For me it’s all about connecting, being at one with nature and with the unknown. Animals tend to know more about us mere mortals than we could ever believe. So why not believe. I love to make those connections.
We live in West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia and we have an abundance of wildlife around us. We also have pet parrots and two dogs that are a large part of our family. Through my blog I’d like to touch on why it is that animals have such a profound impact on many of us, who we are and how we can help in our own small way.

Wildlife Rehabilitation
Let me start by saying I am no expert. I don’t claim to have all the answers and know all there is about wildlife rehabilitation. I’m forever asking questions and observing and hoping for the best. I do have a wonderful mentor (who you’ll get to know too) and a small amount of experience, well eight years actually. The rest I find out as I go.

Today I’d like to introduce you to our friend, Lofty the Eastern Rosella.

Lofty arrived on my door step via an SES worker who found a 4-5 week old bird thrown from its nest that had dropped out of a fallen tree. His two siblings had perished and this little guy would most certainly have died without a little help.
On a professional level, I was busy organising an event for my business and time certainly wasn’t readily available to me. When is it ever at any rate? Lofty was fragile, tiny, had only a few feathers sprouting and needed feeding 5-7 times per day. My first ever Rosella, and I’ve got to say I wasn’t looking forward to it at all! I found myself saying, ‘Why am I doing this?’
My experience with these birds was minimal. Any rescues I had attended revealed that they are super aggressive, flighty, small and difficult to rehabilitate after injury. I had never found them to be endearing. My preference is for the Cockatoo family as they are a larger more impressive bird, crazy in character, affectionate and I have more of an understanding of them.
So I continued my regime of work, family and bird feeding. On reflection, I needed to stop, but at the time I needed the time! Yes, the circle of never ending work. I was also coming down with some kind of lurgy that seemed to last about 3 weeks. I was tired, sick and at the busiest and most stressful time of my working year.
I kept Lofty in an animal carrier box initially on newspaper and underneath an old towel. I felt sorry for him. He was so tiny and had no other little ones with him to keep him company. Survival was about feeding and warmth of which he was getting in abundance. I’d feed him a mix of Passwell Hand Rearing Food with a syringe. He would be so uncomfortable away from his replica nest at feeding time. I’d feed him in record speed and he’d scurry back under his towel as soon as he could. I got no love and no thanks! I kept thinking once this guy has the opportunity to fly outside, he’ll be out of here.
The weeks rolled on and Lofty’s feathers sprouted one by one. It was like watching a colour wheel evolve. The fusion of so many bright colours was intriguing and as time went by, I certainly enjoyed his company. As he got older, I’d give him Trill small parrot mix, apples and corn. I’d also cut some seeding grass and pop that in too.
On a 6 week summer break from work, I had more time and was feeling much better. Lofty moved on to a budgie cage happily perching and learning to whistle with me. Finally, some interaction!! I felt like he might even like me. I’d put him outside with our pet birds for company and he would happily chat away. Inside the house, he would have time outside his cage learning to fly and be a bird. Catching him again was becoming harder each time and I could tell he would soon be ready for release.
A tell tale sign that a young bird is ready for release, a part from graduating to eating seed and foraging for food, is an increase in their confidence, they become more aggressive and solitary as they get older. Loft was becoming an independent bird with a feisty attitude. He was sleeping on our curtain rod at night time and spending more and more time out of his cage. He was also pushy and not one to conform to our house rules. Release time was nigh.

Our first day out was a beautiful summer day – not too hot, blue skies and no wind. Perfect! I opened the door of his cage and with a little prompting, Lofty hit the air! He perched in our beautiful flowering gum foraging through the leaves and bright orange flowers. I was surprised at how such a vibrantly coloured creature could be so well camouflaged amongst the branches of the tree. This tree would become Lofty’s safe haven for the next month. Here's a pic of Lofty in our apple tree.

After two nights out and constant whistling back and forth Lofty decided he’d prefer to perch on his curtain rod in the evenings. It became the norm that my husband would open the back door around 6.45pm and Lofty would enter the house perching in his spot. All fluffed up on his perch, he’d chat for a while and then settle in for the night. He would whistle me awake in the morning and I’d diligently peel myself out of bed to open the back door and let him out for the day. The perfect relationship!
This continued for a good six weeks. The whole family knew the schedule and were happy to oblige. I was feeding him less and less and not concerned about his well being in the slightest.
As time went by and Lofty became an adult bird, his reliance on us became minimal. One night, he didn’t want to be in-side, he didn’t need his safe zone or our company. He was happy to perch in a tree of his choice and settle. He would spend more and more time further away from our home, visiting only occasionally to check on us, until the visits stopped.
It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve seen him at all. I can only hope that he is ok.

As a wildlife carer you come across more sad cases than good ones. I plan on telling you about both. It makes the good ones so much better than average. Wildlife care has allowed me to make new friends with a common interest and be a better person. Be more. I get so much more out of a good release than I can express. It feels like I’m giving back to our earth in some small way.
I have to be in the moment, I have to stop and I have to relate in order to help these little critters. On my blogging journey I hope to relay that emotion somehow. It just makes you feel good.

Critters of the furry and feathered variety and other random stuff.