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There has been an influx of Fuscous Honeyeaters into the Brisbane Ranges this winter. They have previously been rarely recorded this far south, preferring the Box-Ironbark forests of Central Victoria, but the drought seems to have brought them down with a number being sited throughout the Brisbane Ranges. This Fuscous Honeyeater pictured was 'sleeping' in the middle of the road out at Anakie Victoria.
It was tucked up with its head under its wings trying to keep warm when I saw it driving past. It allowed me to pick it up with little fuss, and once perched on my arm, continued sleeping.
I'm not a big fan of displacing birds, and consider their chances of survival better being left in the environment they were found. This may be misguided, but other birds i've taken to wildlife carers, have ended up dying due to the shock of displacement, so i decided to see how this bird would fair after a bit of rest. I stayed with it for about 30 minutes, keeping it warm and out of the rain. When the rain stopped, I took it out to the bush and it flew strongly to a low branch and continued to sleep. I knew its location, so decided to continue with photography and come back and check on it later.
I came back about 10 minutes later when it started to rain again, and again kept it sheltered in my car while the rain passed. When I took it out the second time, it flew strongly again to a branch and as I approached, it took off up to a nearby tree with other honeyeaters and started feeding normally. I have no idea why this bird was sleeping in the middle of the road. It didn't have any signs of injury, and almost seemed drugged. Perhaps it had just flown in from a long migration and decided a nice open exposed road was a safe place to sleep??? Anyway, i was happy that it recovered normally and i didn't have to leave it exposed to predetors and the elements.
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