It was really poor design to allow the player to get all the way there and do half the temple before finding out something was missing.
Worse still, once getting him I fast traveled to the shrine closest to the temple only for him to then appear, say he'll wait up ahead, and disappear. Turns out he didn't wait ahead but back before that point. I had to do the goddamn Wind Temple climb like three and a half goddamn times.
Pro-tip: don't climb Hebra's sky islands before you've got the little bird.