Lost Cockatiel Found At Corte Madera In Pool

By Lisa Hauck-Loy

Today, while swimming on my side in the beautiful serene pool at the Corte Madera Inn, I noticed an unusual whitish bird calling while flying around the tall trees surrounding the Inn.

I watched, curiously, as it didn't look like the birds I usually see there. I quickly discovered the reason for his cries. Two much larger crows were aggressively chasing him. He was swooping and dodging with great skill, doing his best to keep them at bay. There was a scuffle in the air and they all disappeared behind a tree, and I was afraid he was a goner. But to my relief and astonishment he reappeared, alone, and dropped straight down from the sky, through the slats of the arbor surrounding the pool, and into the cover of the bushes next to the fence. Smart bird! It was likely the only place the crows he wouldn't be found!

I jumped out of the pool and ran to the fence to look for him. I ran for my towel and out the gate to the other side of the fence to see if he was injured. There he was, a beautiful little cockatiel, hiding in the leaves, breathing hard and staring up at me! I sat down on the ground next to the fence and spoke softly to him as he stared at me. I was under time constraints, but I knew I couldn't leave him there to be attacked again, so I very slowly moved my hand towards him, talking to him all the while. With my hand wrapped in my towel, I reached out a finger to stroke his back. He let me! Encouraged, I reached my bare hand towards him and stroked his back again, and then made my move. I got ahold of him, and quickly wrapped him in the towel.

He seemed healthy and was willing to be taken without a fight. I figured he knew I wasn't the enemy by then. I drove him to Wildcare in San Rafael, hoping they could take care of him. They examined him and assured me he was uninjured, but told me they can't keep domesticated animals there, so he would be taken to the Humane Society. And there he can be found, awaiting his next adventure. 

Know anyone who is missing a lovely cockatiel?