This magpie arrived yesterday evening with a whopping 25 ticks on his neck and head.
He was unable to use his legs which we see a lot in birds that are afflicted with ticks. He also has a heavy worm burden and is skin and bone. His keel bone, which is an extension of the sternum and is located in the breast area on birds, is so exposed that it could cut cheese.
After all the ticks were removed, he was given fluids. This morning he was tube-fed some carnivore formula and is now back on his feet, able to perch and even to fly. Hopefully it will now be a fairly straightforward road to recovery. He has been named Ricky, because he was so ticky!
