Muzza the galah had the ride of her life. Picture: David Caird Herald Sun MUZZA the galah has had the ride of her life, after she was collected in the grille of a Falcon and driven for two hours at a head-spinning 110km/h.
Businessman Murray Clair hit the bird at Bendigo and, believing she had died instantly, drove on to Melbourne at the top legal speed all the way.
Muzza caught in the grille of the Falcon. Supplied It was only when he got to Melbourne's Hilton South Wharf and turned the ignition off that he heard the shrieking parrot and saw her flapping angrily in the grille of his hire car. He called for help.
Wildlife Victoria rescuer Amy Amato used a branch cutter to free the bird from the car's front end.
Amazingly, X-rays revealed Muzza sported some ruffled feathers but suffered no serious injury and she is recovering at Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
Vet Anya Carlson said the parrot suffered bruising and muscle strain that will heal.
"Astonishingly, we found that she had no broken or dislocated bones and apart from some dirty feathers, appears to have suffered no shock or injury," Dr Carlson said.
Named after her wildlife courier, Muzza will be returned to a Wildlife Victoria shelter at Bendigo and released in the wild.
Ms Amato said it was not uncommon for animals hit by cars to be carried.
"We've recently rescued a possum that went from Glen Iris to Footscray and a magpie that was carried from Kyneton to Moonee Ponds," she said.
"People are reluctant to call when they hit an animal because they are embarrassed or upset but accidents happen."