Today: Bird alert.
[tweetmeme source=”elizabethev” only_single=false]As Clark and I finished up our evening walk earlier this week, I felt the leash tug a bit as I went one way and the Frenchie went the other. He was transfixed by something teeny, tiny and fluffy at the edge of the sidewalk. “Oh, my goodness!” I yelped aloud. “It’s a little bird!” Clark doesn’t speak English, so he ignored and me and continued to try and sneak a closer peek of the fluff ball before him. Just a week or so ago, in the very same place, Clark found two, um, dead birds. They were really little and didn’t even have feathers. It was morbidly depressing. I probably (read: definitely) cried. You can imagine my delight to find that one of the the nestlings survived.
I thought it was weird, though, that it didn’t fly away when approached by a furry, 30 pound bowling ball with vampire bat teeth. Clearly– and I’m not scientist person– something was not right. Not sure what to do, I turned on the internet. Thank goodness for flow charts.
[Source]
I got out my highlighter and answered some questions. Apparently Clark’s discovery is a fledgling. Since the Frenchie could have easily swallowed the bird whole, I guessed no, he is not safe from cats, dogs and people. Next step? Put him in a tree. Really?! I can barely reach the pans we keep in the cabinet over the stove. After Googling “how do I put a bird in a tree,” I grabbed a pair of Nick’s socks (my makeshift version of “soft, clean gloves”)… and Nick… and headed out the door.
Initially the little bird was no where to be seen. My sixth sense–the same one that I am convinced will one day help me solve crimes paranormally so I can have a television show– told me that he was still out (of the nest) and about. And sure enough, he (let’s be serious, it could be a she) was on the other side of the sidewalk, just waiting to be put in a tree by a crazed woman wearing her fiance’s socks on her hands. (OMG! FIANCE! GAAAAH!)
The first time I tried to pick up the bird, the elastic in Nick’s running socks (for added arch support) sort of bound my fingers in such a way that I sort of paddled it, instead of forming a cup (as the internet instructed). It half-flew, half-hopped out of my reach, but not before almost pecking me in the eyelid.
I was 90% freaked out at this point and considered running back into the condo, hand socks and all (the bird pooped mid-flight, so I figured it had eaten… and when I originally answered the yes or no questions above, I thought it couldn’t fly. Maybe it didn’t need help after all?). But Nick encouraged me to finish what I had started, and stick to the plan flowchart. After a few more tries, I gently placed the little bird in the tree from which I guessed it fell.
It immediately flew away. This is what happens when you make plans.
Also On Tap for Today:
- New soccer season starts (No whammies! No concussions!)
- Rooting for #85
- What to do if you find a baby (non-human) mammal or bird
Comments (8)
P
September 13, 2011 at 10:03 am
I am very proud!
Jeff Patterson
September 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Oh Elizabeth,
I love that you share your capers!
You make my days happier.
XOXO – J
Michelle
September 13, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I laughed out loud reading this! I get so upset about baby birds, I staged a protest and revolt against my boss when he moved a nest this spring. I still have a job and the parents came back to the nest, so everybody won.
kitchenmisfit
September 14, 2011 at 8:32 am
This is hilarious and adorable all at the same time!
Kendall @On An Inhale
September 14, 2011 at 11:44 am
I’d do the same thing!!I’ve tried saving a bunny before (i dont think it worked) and a brand new baby squirrel. I think the squirrel lived. my boyfriend was crushing acorns and feeding him the meat because he was too small to do it himself. I’m glad i’m not the only girl in Boston trying to save the animals 🙂
Halley (Blunder Construction)
September 15, 2011 at 8:11 pm
I don’t know what’s more impressive, the flowchart you found or your boldness to safe wildlife. I hope the little thing survives and never poops on your head. Talk about good karma!
Bridget
September 16, 2011 at 8:53 am
Ahhh I had a baby bird incident earlier this summer! (mine is sad though) We had a nest in a bush in our yard, we saw them in there, saw the babies after they hatched…it was cute. But what the stupid birds didnt realize was that this bush was really dense and kind of prickery. One day when I now know, the fledgings are supposed to jump out of the nest and be on the ground a couple days before they can fly off…well one jumed and his/her wing got caught in a branch!! It was SO sad…it was just hanging there by its wing and sounded like it was crying 🙁 Brian got the gloves on, we tried to get its wing free and put it back in the nest but the next day it was dead. I litterally broke down in tears that day randomlly in the car by myself for that poor bird.
ANYWAYS sorry to be such a debbie downer!! But I’m glad your cute little bird was ok 🙂
Terry Elisabeth @ Québécoise et bilingue
September 19, 2011 at 7:09 am
Wow ! Good job !
I had a bird in my house a few weeks back. My cat either brought it in or pushed him inside through a hole in the screen. I had to put it outside wearing dishwashing gloves. It kept flying and banging things then it stuck itself on window sill. I thought I would have a heart attack.