A young Green Wood Hoopoe has been the recipient of a donation that will allow rescuers to save many more birds this breeding season.
Johannesburg, South Africa (31 October 2022) – A juvenile Green Wood Hoopoe was found in a bit of a pickle by wildlife enthusiast Rory. He called the South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (SAWRC) for assistance and Shawn Hefer quickly set off to rescue the bird.
The Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus), is a beautifully distinctive bird with glossy green and purple feathers and a striking tail made up of thick white stripes. The species lives on insects, preferring ground insects such as termites.
The species lives in groups made up of large numbers, around a dozen birds will make up a group but there will be only one mating pair. Once the female has laid her eggs, the group will take charge of caring for her and feeding the chicks when they hatch. It is a bird species reliant on community.
Due to this special community-driven nature, it is essential the rescued bird finds a flock as soon as possible. Thankfully, there have been several Green Wood Hoopoe rescues in the last weeks and so Shawn and the SAWRC team have a growing flock that will only get stronger!
“We seem to be collecting these little Green Wood Hoopoes at the moment, and this baby has plenty of company! These birds are gregarious, so each will benefit from the steadily growing group, and they will all be released as soon as possible!
This will be done in a safe area, and the newly formed flock will have the benefit of support food offered for as long as they return to supplement their diet.
This “soft release” or “supported release” method affords them the opportunity to further learn about life, and how / where to forage by themselves, without their weight being compromised. This system works with great success for all our reared wildlife cases and we are confident this Green Wood Hoopoe flock will be no different!”
Many of these wildlife rescue organisations rely on donors to keep the doors open. Rory had asked Shawn for the organisation’s banking details so he could ensure the bird could be fully covered. Shawn shared that his heart nearly stopped when he got the payment notification. Shawn and the SAWRC team were deeply moved by the donation. They took to Facebook to personally thank Rory for the donation.
“It is very seldom folks carry through on their promise to do a donation once we have collected, and this caliber of donation is a first for us!
It has come at a time when our expenses are highest with breeding season in full swing, and has given us huge breathing space to replenish foods & stock for our wildlife!
May your generosity find its way back to you, amplified by 1000 in whichever way you need it most! Thank you so very much for the help!”
The South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre takes care of indigenous animals that need a bit of recovery time before being released into the wild. It is located in Springs, Gauteng and has a dedicated team that goes above and beyond to support wildlife.
You can find out more about the work being done and follow all the rescue stories via Facebook here.
Below is an example of a juvenile Green Wood Hoopoe in its best condition.
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