April 1st, 2025Hepburn Wildlife News
with Marita McGuirk
Early on a cool morning in November, I was driving along King Street, Daylesford, when I saw what appeared to be a small bird, lying on the road. As I drove by a slight movement from the bird caught my eye.
It could have been caused by wind, but I pulled my car over to check, just in case it was still alive.
It was a New Holland honeyeater, and it was alive, but hurt in some way. I knew it needed expert care, so I took it to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.
The bird was assessed and diagnosed as having a broken leg, as well as concussion and possible bruising to the lungs. It was placed in the incubator, where its environment could be regulated.
Luckily for this bird, Gayle and Jon have many years of experience caring for injured wildlife, with a speciality in injured birds.
The little honeyeater stayed at the shelter for several months, so that the broken bone could repair. The bird then had to undergo rehabilitation and regain flight fitness.
I received the call that the bird was ready to be released back into the wild.
Honeyeaters are nectar feeders and they don’t have a specific home range but follow flowering events.
Jon suggested that I find a location close to where I had found the bird, where there were some plants flowering, so that there would be an available food source.
So I went for a walk at Wombat Flat. Soon I came across a large banksia spinulosa in flower near Lake Daylesford. While I was looking at the flowering banksia a New Holland honeyeater flew into the large shrub. I thought this was a good sign.
Back at the shelter, Jon placed the lucky little honeyeater into a transport cage, and I carried it to my car and drove to Wombat Flat.
Once I was back under the banksia, I opened the transport cage door and stepped back. The little bird flew straight up into the banksia. It was only in the branches for half a minute when another New Holland honeyeater joined it.
Then to my amazement this bird started hopping around the released bird, chirping and putting its beak onto the bird’s head. This went on for a short time and it looked like a happy reunion. To my delight both birds flew off together.
Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita will write monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org
