Rescuing a Noisy Miner chick

The chick was sitting under tall Hoop Pines on Olympic Boulevard; it and its siblings had most likely been blown out of their nest in high wind. Unfortunately, the other chicks had already perished, leaving one last chick on the ground.

As the chick was uninjured, and its parents were staying nearby and occasionally coming down to feed it, the best course of action is for it to remain in the parents’ care. This is the recommended action for uninjured chicks, as well as young birds that leave the nest before they can fly, including Magpies and Tawny Frogmouth.

Using materials at hand, staff made a nest out of a small cardboard box, cable ties, and lined it with some of the thousands of feathers littered on the ground from the Harry Styles concerts.

The feather boas worn by concert goers shed feathers all over the Park. Unfortunately, these feathers clogged up water fountain filters and street sweepers; stained pavements with their dye and washed into waterways and wetlands. 

The chick and its new nest were placed high up in the tree with the help of an excellent contractor, Luke from Pacific Facilities Management Services. We soon observed its parents coming over to feed it. A fabulous outcome for all!