In the last six months I have rescued two babies, the first is a galah we named Shithead for obvious reasons if you have ever looked after a baby galah, and the second is a rainbow lorikeet called Stumpy.
Shithead was returned to his parents after being treated by a vet for a chest infection and cared for for a few weeks. Mum & Dad came to feed him daily until he was released into their care when he could fly.
Stumpy is still in our care having just reached fledgliing stage he has been with us for over 8 weeks so that means he was only about two weeks old when I found him in the yard.
Love the little galah. We get lots of babies here and they make the most dreadful sound when feeding from their parents, but they are so playful and cute.
If Stumpy doesn't grow his flight feathers, he is a runner, and won't survive in the wild. He looks old enough to have definitely started growing them by now. If you want to return him to the wild, you could look for a wildlife carer who has other lorikeets getting ready to be released. This way they go together, in a small flock, as often singles are not accepted into a wild flock, especially if they are male. But only if he has his flight feathers.
I had one lorikeet whose parents came in daily while he mended, but though he had the black beak still, he definitely had all his feathers. I only released him because I knew his parents and a sibling were waiting for him, and that one ended well.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Stumpy is getting his feathers in but yeah it does seem he should have them all now... he is only flying downwards, from his perch to the floor and try as he might he cant seem to get lift-off....
Happy Birding!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138588528@N02/
Keep us updated on Stumpy's progress. It took a long time for Mizzy to learn how to fly well. But she did, and is quite adept at turning U-turns in mid air, flying through narrow gaps, and controlling her speed (these birds tend to go like bullets, hence so many accidents when young). I've put more in the other forum about rescued birds so I hope something helps. There are stages of slow or no development, and only time will tell if Stumpy can fly free.
Karen
Brisbane southside.