Mosman kookaburra saved from certain death after ingesting a mystery clothing item.

By ANNA USHER

Here’s one from our “weird and wonderful” file.

A Mosman kookaburra searching for an easy meal has ended up with a severe case of indigestion, nearly costing him his life.

Residents Deb and Mark Gill discovered the plump bird perched on their back deck and were puzzled by its lack of movement.

“He was staring down at the ground, completely still. I stroked him gently, and he moved. We knew he was alive, but something wasn’t right,” Deb explained.

Enter WIRES, who swiftly responded to a call from the Gills, assuming the bird might have been injured.

“The bird was unable to fly and was completely listless,” said volunteer Peter Tandy. “I was able to pick it up with my hands and initially thought it might have been concussed.”

The kookaburra was taken to Taronga Zoo’s wildlife hospital, where the mystery deepened as an initial assessment left veterinarians puzzled.

When the bird was sedated and X-rayed, medical experts discovered an unexpected household item lodged inside.

“The kookaburra was in good body condition but had laboured breathing and was unusually quiet,” said a Taronga Zoo spokesperson.

“The first assessment couldn’t determine what was wrong, but a foul smell was noticed coming from its mouth.”

Upon further inspection, an everyday clothing item was found in the bird’s oesophagus, leaving the operating staff stunned.

“Our expert veterinary team carefully removed the object with forceps while the bird was still under anaesthetic — it turned out to be an adult ankle sock!,” the spokesperson said.

Deb and Mark report that the kookaburra has now fully recovered and was released into bushland near their home on Tuesday.

Taronga’s wildlife hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo treat around 1,500 animal cases each year. And while ingestions are common, a kookaburra eating a sock is extremely rare.

“This serves as a reminder that we share our space with wildlife, and we can all make better choices to protect species. This includes minimizing waste, being mindful of how we dispose of items, and reducing reliance on single-use products,” added the Taronga Wildlife Hospital spokesperson.

Given the recent higher-than-average rainfall in Mosman, the kookaburra may have mistaken the sock for a wet, slippery meal and quickly gulped it down.