“I panicked a little …”
Shannon Mortlock was heading home from work recently when she saw something strange in the road. As an animal advocate and the founder of Whisker Woods Sanctuary, Mortlock knew to look closer — and it’s a miracle that she did.
“[A]t first, I thought it was rubbish,” Mortlock said. “[B]ut the closer I got, I realized it was one injured bird and its mate standing next to it looking confused at the whole situation.”
Mortlock’s heart began racing. She jumped out of her car, eager to help.
“I panicked a little because there [were] so many trucks and cars on the highway,” Mortlock said. “I was hoping I could get to them in time.”
The birds were crimson rosellas, bright red parrots who live in Australia and New Zealand. One of the rosellas flew away when Mortlock approached. But the other bird, who’d been injured, remained on the pavement. Mortlock gently scooped the little bird up off the road and brought her to a safe place for further care.
Mortlock determined the injured bird had a concussion. She kept her in care overnight while she recovered. The next day, Mortlock was pleased to find the bird had improved. After conducting a flight test to ensure she was capable, Mortlock brought the rosella back to the wild, where she could reunite with her mate.