Captain and Lolly: Love Lifts Them to New Heights
Domestic birds arrive at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre throughout the year, each one given a full health check before settling in with our animal care team. Some come to us injured, some lost, and some simply in need of a safe place to recover.
Captain, a cockatiel found in a garden in September, arrived unable to fly. Despite being able to flap strongly, he couldn’t gain proper height, and a vet check revealed missing feathers and signs of an old chest injury. With a carefully adapted cage, climbing toys, and steady physiotherapy-style enrichment, Captain slowly rebuilt his strength.
A month later Lolly, another cockatiel, came to us after what was likely a bird or cat attack. She had multiple injuries but recovered well with treatment. Like Captain, she initially couldn’t fly, and like Captain, she had a particular love of mirrors and cockatiel videos.
Because of their similar needs and temperaments, we introduced them gradually. They took to each other calmly and quickly, spending their days perched side by side, exploring their environment, and providing quiet companionship.
As the weeks passed, both birds continued to heal. What began as short wing stretches became controlled flutters, then confident lifts, and eventually full, sustained flight. Today, Captain and Lolly are both flying comfortably again! An outcome that once felt uncertain for each of them.
They now share their space as fully mobile, active birds, flying between perches, engaging with new enrichment, and showing just how far steady care and time can take a recovery.
Their story is a reminder that rehabilitation doesn’t always follow a straight line, but with patience and the right support, even grounded birds can take back to the air.
