AstralTraveller
07-06-2018, 09:04 PM
True .... and completely by accident. This is one of those 'photos or it didn't happen claims' but my reflex isn't to reach for the phone.
My wife put some washing out to dry this morning and went out at about 1pm. I got back from work about 5 and went to bring in the washing. As I walked up the yard I noticed some movement under the upturned plastic washing basket. When I got close enough, in the fading light, I could see it was a bird flapping trying to escape the cage. I bent down and saw a distressed kooka so I lifted the basket and it flew off, letting out a few calls.
The mystery is how it got there, especially as the basket was 2-3m from the trolley. It hasn't been windy today. My wife can't remember exactly what she did but my guess is that she didn't use the trolley. We don't bring it down to the house but just carry the basket to the line and use the trolley as a stand. I have seen her put the basket on the ground before and this load was just a few large towels. So my guess is that the basket was sitting on the ground upright and the kooka decided to perch on the edge. It's weight was enough to overbalance the basket and flip it over. The kooka dropped to the ground and didn't get airborne in time to avoid trapping itself - they aren't the quickest bird at getting off the ground. Evolution hasn't taught kookas to get their beak under the edge of washing baskets so there it sat until I rescued it - without a word of thanks.
That's my theory, though there might be other explanations. If I'm right I bet that kooka felt like a goose.
My wife put some washing out to dry this morning and went out at about 1pm. I got back from work about 5 and went to bring in the washing. As I walked up the yard I noticed some movement under the upturned plastic washing basket. When I got close enough, in the fading light, I could see it was a bird flapping trying to escape the cage. I bent down and saw a distressed kooka so I lifted the basket and it flew off, letting out a few calls.
The mystery is how it got there, especially as the basket was 2-3m from the trolley. It hasn't been windy today. My wife can't remember exactly what she did but my guess is that she didn't use the trolley. We don't bring it down to the house but just carry the basket to the line and use the trolley as a stand. I have seen her put the basket on the ground before and this load was just a few large towels. So my guess is that the basket was sitting on the ground upright and the kooka decided to perch on the edge. It's weight was enough to overbalance the basket and flip it over. The kooka dropped to the ground and didn't get airborne in time to avoid trapping itself - they aren't the quickest bird at getting off the ground. Evolution hasn't taught kookas to get their beak under the edge of washing baskets so there it sat until I rescued it - without a word of thanks.
That's my theory, though there might be other explanations. If I'm right I bet that kooka felt like a goose.