This, these birds, this is what my day was all about yesterday. It wasn’t about the demolition. It was all about the babies.
I made phone calls – lots of phone calls, first. I called two places who said they remove and rescue birds. They offered no help and little advice. “Move them to a tree, hope for the best.” No referring phone numbers – except to the DNR, and that guy said “sorry, I deal with fish, try the DoC.” The lady at the DoC about hung up on me, she couldn’t have cared less. No referrals to anyone else who might take them, incubate them, raise & release. Nothing.
So, when I took two nests down from under the carport, I had my fingers crossed for eggs. Brand new eggs, even. I would have carried less guilt that way if the parents never went back to their nests.
The first nest was well built, so when I took it down I started peeking around for eggs. It was built with a false bottom – I swear – eggs started falling out and splattering all over the ground. It broke my heart to throw such a well built nest into the dumpster.
Poor Lisa, she did her best to console me. I was such a mess – especially after I took the second nest down. Babies. Brand new babies. Oh no.
I moved them to a tree our sprarrows frequent. High up into the side of the tree. No luck. Mom & dad just sat there, fretting about where their nest once was.
I made a makeshift ledge out of a wire shelf and put it on the fenceline where they are always perched. They noticed it was there, but apparently didn’t recognize their babies chirping inside.
We waited, and we watched. Both mom & dad kept going to the spot their nest used to be. Mom went down directly below it a couple of times, looking around on the ground – so I put the nest down there. Again, she stood right next to it, but didn’t go in.
I put the nest back on the shelf and left them alone for a few hours. When we returned from dinner, it was getting dark – and no sign of mom & dad. My daughter and I were really upset over the impending death of these babies, so I started googling local wildlife rehabilitators. I found a name – called the gal, and she couldn’t take them. She gave me the number of another woman who handles birds and I called her. I was so relieved when she said “bring ’em over!” – I grabbed the nest, put them in a box, and my daughter and I headed over to her house.
I touched one of the babies on the way over – and he was cold. They weren’t moving, either. I asked my daughter to breathe onto them and it didn’t take long before they warmed up and started peeping. We giggled and listened to them peep and watched them open their beaks wide for food. I could tell this was going to be Cait’s thing – she took to them and wanted to care for them, and on the way home she said she wanted to do that all the time. (She’ll probably soon realize that it’s not all fun and peeping, there’s a lot of death involved, and she’ll change her mind like I did.)
The gal that is caring for them is really sweet, and she was so excited to see them all active. She had a heating pad ready and told us we were welcome to call in a few days to see how they’re doing. She seemed confident that they’d be just fine.
Phew. I didn’t realize the level of guilt I felt all day until I got back into the car and breathed a big sigh of relief. They’re going to be fine. We saved the babies!!
(Good job, my little Rescue Catybug!)
{18 Comments}
I’m so happy you were able to help them! We’re like that, too. I’m the one who would have the heating pad ready, stay up all night and day “feeding” them and giving them fluids by the dropperful. My hubby is the guy who would stop his car during baby turtle season in SC and clear the road of baby turtles before driving through.
That’s AMAZING that you were able to save these guys!
BTW–Who was the lucky person for whom you painted the line of patriotic animals? GORGEOUS!
I saved some baby birds this week too! Must be that time of year. 🙂
Aww…you are my kind of people! So glad you were able to save them! Keep us updated!!
Guess what I found in my yard yesterday…..four baby bunnies with their momma…I have pictures, I’ll post this week! So cute!! :lovestruck:
What a day for you! Demolition brings on its own form of pressure. Add baby birds to that and it must have been a lot.
Oh my, they were sooo young! Hope they’re able to hang on and pull through. 😉
So glad you were able to find somene to take care of the baby birds…sounds like they are in great hands with that lady. 🙂
what a day!
take care
ivoryfrog x
Hi there, I was just wondering where you got your templates at? I would love to know, I have a free one, but I need it to be more fun. Thanks. :camouflage:
How precious! I hope they will be alright. It is so sad that the mommie and daddy birds didn’t understand what was happening. It’s a good thing you and your daughter were there to help them. :yes:
i hope they make it. i know they don’t all make it, but gee, i hope they make it.
Awww bless your heart hon (((((Leanne)))))) I was in tears, thinking about it (I’m a softy). I hope they will be ok too–you’re a great person to care so much!!!
I’m so glad you were able to find someone to take care of them, its really nice to hear that people still do care about tiny little animals – unfortunately so many in this world don’t! So :thanku: from me and from the little birds parents as well!
Michelle
I hope they make it – they look so helpless. Good thing there are good people out there!! :good:
You’re just like me – sensitive heart with a special spot for animals. I would’ve done the exact same thing. I hit a squirrel the other week with my car and cried for a week over the babies that were probably left behind. :sorry: I almost stopped my car to get out and take the squirrel to a vet, but I knew I hit it too hard.
Hey, I’m trying something new over at the blog. If you get a chance, stop by and play. 🙂
I am really looking forward to our move! I can’t wait to do this because the next renovations or carry away we get will be because WE OWN OUR OWN HOME!!!!!
Congratulations on your new chapter. I love the smell of joint compound in the morning. ahhhhh.
I wrote a post on pointalism today. You might enjoy the read.
That is SO sweet! I’ve seen that before where a nest fell on the ground, I put it back in the tree and the parents were freaked out for a few hours, but finally went back. I wondered if the could smell that humans had touched it or what?
I am glad that you were able to save them. Your photos touched my heart. I hope they are doing well in their new “nest”
Goodness. I’m glad this story had a happy ending; I was getting worried there for a minute. It’s nice that you were so concerned for them – otherwise, they’d be gonners.
[…] have tenants! Chirp chirp! I’m excited, especially since I had a sad experience with some baby sparrows a couple of years back when we demolished our carport. (We found a nice lady who rescues wildlife […]
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