Pride of Australia: Bird rescuer Josh Cook helping injured birds ‘fly back to where they belong’

YOU’VE probably seen his brightly-coloured macaws flying around the local park or beach, but when he’s not showing off his exotic avians, Josh Cook is out rescuing birds.

Josh Cook hand raised these Macaw birds from birth at his home in Bronte. Mango and Crush fly down to Bronte beach and have photos with people on the beach before flying back home. Picture: Toby Zerna

• Kookaburra chicks finally take flight
• Kookaburra chicks thrive after rescue

JOSH Cook has spent most of his life caring for sick and injured birds, but it’s a job he will never get tired of.

The Bronte resident, 39, has been nominated for a Pride of Australia award for his commitment to animal welfare.

His work came to widespread attention in February when he rescued three baby kookaburras from a tree cut down on the edge of Centennial Park for the light rail construction.

Bird trainer and rescuer Josh Cook with his macaws Mango and Crush.

Mr Cook said his interest in birds started as a young boy watching his father train homing pigeons.

“He was a jockey and he would bring home injured doves and sparrows he found near the stables,” Mr Cook said.

“He would hand-rear them and I was intrigued by what he was doing. I looked up to my dad and it all went from there.”

Photographer Dylan Robinson snapped Jordan Hartley on Bronte Beach with Mango.

At his busiest, Mr Cook said he could have up to 60 birds in the house.

“When they’re newborn I bring them into my bedroom so I can constantly feed them,” he said.

“I watch them go from having no feathers to learning how to fly and returning less and less until they eventually don’t come back.

“The entire process is rewarding because you know you’ve played a crucial role in helping that bird get back to its natural habitat.”

The baby kookaburras hatching after rescue.

Mr Cook hand raised the kookaburras.

Josh Cook with the baby Kookaburras he cared for earlier this year. Picture: John Appleyard

The self-taught bird handler has worked with Sydney Wildlife Service since 1998.

He said inner-city bird habitats such as the trees felled for the light rail needed saving.

“We’ve got to hold on to what we still have. These environments are being slowly encroached upon and we’re pushing the birds out.

“Sadly once they’re gone, that’s it and they won’t be coming back.”

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