Feathers fly over firies' costly corella rescue

People watch on as rescuers work to free the trapped Corella.A wounded bird on a wire caused a flap when four fire trucks and 15 firefighters were sent to save it from the fifth floor of the Chadstone Shopping Centre in a daring high-rise rescue.

The injured cockatoo is one of three birds to be rescued by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in the past month, in a twist on the traditional cat-up-a-tree mission.

The corella became stuck on a wire on the outside of the shopping centre and was spotted through the glass facade by local worker Piret Cantwell, who could see it was struggling to fly away.

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A Wildlife Victoria rescuer attended and called in the MFB, which deployed members from the specialised high-angle rescue team and four trucks worth millions of dollars.

MFB spokesman John Rees defended the use of resources to save the corella and said the unusual rescue had provided valuable on-the-job training.

The rescue workers scaled the building and dropped a rope to the distressed bird but before any of the firefighters had to abseil the building, the corella jumped on to the rope and was lowered to the ground.

It was taken to a veterinary hospital and received a pin in its leg.

Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Amy Amato said the bird had since been moved to a shelter where it was still recovering.

She said it was hoped the bird would be released once its leg was fully healed.

Ms Amato said the bird would most likely have starved if the MFB had not become involved and that the firefighters may have been waiting for a call if they had not been helping the bird.

"We are lucky we can all work together to help one little bird out and we are extremely grateful for the assistance that MFB have provided us in the past as well as other emergency service organisations," she said.

Mr Rees said Wildlife Victoria should be the public's first port of call for wounded wildlife after the MFB was sent to pluck a chicken from a tree in Chinatown about a week before saving the corella.

He said the chicken had since been adopted by a triple-O worker and named 'Lucky'.

This week, the MFB saved a seagull entwined in fishing line from a tree in Altona.

Mr Rees said crews would have been redeployed if more pressing jobs had arisen during the bird rescues.

He said it was impossible to say what kind of jobs the MFB might refuse as they were frequently called to "strange and wonderful" incidents.

"We can't say what we will and won't do. The job is to protect life and property ... and every job brings its own challenges," he said.

Anyone who finds wounded wildlife can call Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535.