Hello all! I haven't really been around much because I've been so busy working, but I just thought this crowd would appreciate this story. Before I start, I will quickly say that Beck is doing quite well, although living a slower life nowadays. He seems quite comfy and happy though.
So. My story starts with the overriding moral of the story: for the love of all that is good and holy, DON'T. TAKE. A BIRD. IN YOU CAR. Without a proper carrier. In particular a wild bird. I have learned my lesson. Never again shall I help an endangered baby bird. Well, maybe...
I was at the barn early yesterday morning and was cleaning out the indoor riding arena. There are a ton of nests in the rafters and baby birds on the ground that have fallen or are fledging are very common. Probably 90% get eated by the cats or dogs or crushed by horses-- not a good spot for a baby bird. So I saw a little sparrow hopping around, fully feathered and ready to fledge, but just not quite off the ground yet. I took pity on him, scooped him up, found a coffee cup in the garbage and plopped him in it, planning to drive him home and put him in my garden where there are no major predators around. I guess I really should ahve looked around more for more birds after I saw the first, because the dogs and cats grabbed and killed 3 more in front of me while I was on my horse out there. I felt pretty bad about that
But it's nature I guess.
So I went to take my one surviving little guy home. I thought he was definitely not flying yet, so I wasn't worried about the coffee cup not having a lid. AS SOON as I opened my car door and stepped in, SURPRISE! Just kidding! I can fly! Fluttered out and landed on the floor in front of the driver's seat. I went to grab him and he jumped up towards the pedals, and before I could grab him, scrambled up into the little hole above the pedals. Gone. Me on the ground, arm up to my elbow reaching into the undercarriage beneath the wheel, searching blindly for baby bird. GONE.
I had to leave so I could get home for work. So I drove home with a bird somewhere way up in the workings of my car under the hood. For all I knew, some moving piece in the car would kill or electricute it as soon as I started the car. I kep checking at intervals all day to see if it had fluttered out. Nope.
FINALLY, 24 hours later, I went out this morning to check. I heard chirping as soon as I went into the garge, and I held my breath. Opened the car door and it got louder, and there he was on the passenger seat floor. When I went to grab him he started scuttling towards the same hole and I was like NO. WAY. Snatched him and released him in the garden, and he's now flapping anf grub hunting to his heart's content.
Almost died. Not even my car, it's my Mom's. I was like, "what if itt dies in there? It will start to rot. The car will have to be dismatled..."
Sooo. No matter how much you want to help a wild bird. Just... don't put it in your car.
LMAO
So. My story starts with the overriding moral of the story: for the love of all that is good and holy, DON'T. TAKE. A BIRD. IN YOU CAR. Without a proper carrier. In particular a wild bird. I have learned my lesson. Never again shall I help an endangered baby bird. Well, maybe...
I was at the barn early yesterday morning and was cleaning out the indoor riding arena. There are a ton of nests in the rafters and baby birds on the ground that have fallen or are fledging are very common. Probably 90% get eated by the cats or dogs or crushed by horses-- not a good spot for a baby bird. So I saw a little sparrow hopping around, fully feathered and ready to fledge, but just not quite off the ground yet. I took pity on him, scooped him up, found a coffee cup in the garbage and plopped him in it, planning to drive him home and put him in my garden where there are no major predators around. I guess I really should ahve looked around more for more birds after I saw the first, because the dogs and cats grabbed and killed 3 more in front of me while I was on my horse out there. I felt pretty bad about that
So I went to take my one surviving little guy home. I thought he was definitely not flying yet, so I wasn't worried about the coffee cup not having a lid. AS SOON as I opened my car door and stepped in, SURPRISE! Just kidding! I can fly! Fluttered out and landed on the floor in front of the driver's seat. I went to grab him and he jumped up towards the pedals, and before I could grab him, scrambled up into the little hole above the pedals. Gone. Me on the ground, arm up to my elbow reaching into the undercarriage beneath the wheel, searching blindly for baby bird. GONE.
I had to leave so I could get home for work. So I drove home with a bird somewhere way up in the workings of my car under the hood. For all I knew, some moving piece in the car would kill or electricute it as soon as I started the car. I kep checking at intervals all day to see if it had fluttered out. Nope.
FINALLY, 24 hours later, I went out this morning to check. I heard chirping as soon as I went into the garge, and I held my breath. Opened the car door and it got louder, and there he was on the passenger seat floor. When I went to grab him he started scuttling towards the same hole and I was like NO. WAY. Snatched him and released him in the garden, and he's now flapping anf grub hunting to his heart's content.
Almost died. Not even my car, it's my Mom's. I was like, "what if itt dies in there? It will start to rot. The car will have to be dismatled..."
Sooo. No matter how much you want to help a wild bird. Just... don't put it in your car.
LMAO