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We have lift off!

9/9/2021

10 Comments

 
PicturePhoto: Pauline Wilkinson

​By Etsuko Yasunaga
 
IT WAS a warm summer day in January. The doom and gloom of 2020 lockdowns were behind us, and we were somehow optimistic, enjoying the return of the normality of life. A good friend Peter from Melbourne visited and stayed with us for a couple of days for a long-awaited reunion.
 
One morning a lady with a little bundle in her hands greeted us, walking through our carport and the side of the house then on to our back garden. She was a volunteer from the wildlife rescue in Tarwin Lower, and she was carrying a young magpie called Maggie. Apparently Maggie was found injured at the top of our street a few weeks ago. A few of the air sacs in her lung were damaged; hence her respiratory system was badly affected.

After a certain rehabilitation period at the rescue centre, all injured animals have to be returned to where they were found if they are recovered or they have to be euthanised.
 
According to the lady, Maggie was recovering well and could walk, hop and jump up the steps but still couldn’t fly. She had learned to listen to the sound of worms under the ground, and she would be able to feed herself. The lady gave us a tiny container with a small piece of ox heart just in case Maggie couldn’t find food.
 
We don’t have a pet in our household to disturb the bird and our back garden was abundant with plenty of vegetables and plants - an ideal environment for releasing Maggie. I was quite excited about the prospect of feeding her and an opportunity to observe a wild bird very close in our back garden for a few days. Maggie walked with an awkward gait, hopping and jumping from time to time. Finally she jumped up quite high to the top of the bench where she could perch herself. Being an immature juvenile, Maggie had less distinct plumage. Nonetheless she had a certain charm.
 
For the first ten minutes or so, Peter and I watched her from the kitchen table attentively. Maggie didn’t move much other than once dropping white poop over the edge of the bench. We had a giggle. She just perched herself there, looking around knowingly.
 
After a while we paid less attention to the bird since not much was happening. We went back to our leisurely talks and the newspaper puzzles. It was one of those carefree days when the clock ticking lost its significance. What else was there to do on a lazy summer day? Every now and then we noticed Maggie spreading her wings as if she was about to take off. She was almost off air. We got excited. We thought we may witness a significant moment of her flying off soon. Anticipation was high, but nothing happened – false alarm. Another attempt, then nothing. Peter even said, “Not only boring for us but it must be so for Maggie to be sitting there all day, doing nothing.” She was still perched at the top of the bench. I thought “Poor Maggie, she is not ready to fly yet. She hasn’t found the food either. I may need to feed her the ox heart in a day or so.”
 
All of a sudden, Maggie spread her wings once more and flapped them a few times. This time the shakes looked powerful enough. Her tiny feet were no longer clinging to the top of the bench and she was levitating. The next moment, she was off. She flew over the fence in one mighty flight. All that time of sitting, which looked like she was doing nothing, she was possibly waiting for the right moment. She was gathering all her energy. For her to survive, she had to fly. Within an hour of the release, Maggie was gone. At last she was free, and flew away with her own vigour and strength. It was a joyous and triumphant moment to witness and we were utterly relieved and elated.
 
A few days later we detected a foul smell in the laundry. It was a rotten ox heart piece for Maggie that we didn’t need to use and totally forgot to discard. For a few weeks afterwards, every time I saw a young magpie that looked like her during my walks, I used to talk to the bird. “Are you Maggie? Do you remember me? How are you keeping? Hope all is well with you”. Sounds a bit silly but I couldn’t help it.
 
This is her first spring since she was released. Who knows, she might be nursing her chicks for the first time this season. As we continue to be in the confinement of numerous lockdowns, the thought of Maggie flying freely somewhere in the Inverloch sky warms my heart. I wish her well.   
10 Comments
Joy Button
10/9/2021 03:14:28 pm

Thank you, Etsuko, for such a lovely story and a magical happy ending. Made my day ....

Reply
Etsuko Yasunaga
14/9/2021 08:54:20 pm

Thank you Joy. I'm glad Maggie's story made your day. It warms my heart.

Reply
Lois Dwyer
10/9/2021 03:43:23 pm

Beautifully written Etsuko. Thank you for sharing this lovey heartwarming tale

Reply
Etsuko Yasunaga
14/9/2021 08:56:33 pm

Thank you, Lois for your continued support. I'm so happy that this story brightened your day.

Reply
Tess Rossouw
4/10/2021 04:19:28 pm

What a special experience, Etsuko. Thank you for sharing it in your beautifully written story.

Reply
Etsuko Yasunaga
4/10/2021 05:05:16 pm

Thanks for taking time to read Maggie's story. Magpie swooping season is upon us again but only males defend their nest for about six weeks, I'd like to think Maggie laid a few healthy eggs and by now young chicks are fledged.

Reply
Lynne Craven
4/10/2021 06:15:59 pm

What a lovely, heartwarming story Etsuko. We need good news these days. Thank you!

Reply
Etsuko Yasunaga
4/10/2021 08:00:58 pm

I held this story in me for a while. Timing was just right to release it as regional Victoria was lifted and free from the most recent lockdown. I'm happy Maggie warmed your heart, too.

Reply
Verena
7/10/2021 01:16:32 pm

I just read your story of Maggie
How exciting to watch a bird gain its freedom
I love the feelings that are in this story. Verema

Reply
Etsuko Yasunaga
7/10/2021 01:21:51 pm

The feelings - that's exactly what I wanted to share with my readers. Thanks for your continued support and interest in my writing, Verena.

Reply



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