The Fledgeling
Last week, we found a couple of fledgeling birds in the yard, apparently from failed "learning to fly" exercises.
One died kinda quickly (within a day of finding it); possibly because Sandy found it and had apparently picked it up. I understand that a dog's saliva contains a bacteria that kills birds.
The other one lasted until yesterday. The parents were apparently feeding it, but after examining it, it's my opinion that it had either a malformed or broken leg - it certainly acted like it couldn't use one leg.
After extensive reading on the subject, I learned how to give it water (which I did, and it drank) and how to feed it, though it wasn't interested. The parents still visited it on Sunday, but Monday it was dead. Sigh.
The siblings are buried in a quiet corner of the yard, where the dogs can't disturb them, under the trees where many of their fellows live.
Rest in peace, guys.
One died kinda quickly (within a day of finding it); possibly because Sandy found it and had apparently picked it up. I understand that a dog's saliva contains a bacteria that kills birds.
The other one lasted until yesterday. The parents were apparently feeding it, but after examining it, it's my opinion that it had either a malformed or broken leg - it certainly acted like it couldn't use one leg.
After extensive reading on the subject, I learned how to give it water (which I did, and it drank) and how to feed it, though it wasn't interested. The parents still visited it on Sunday, but Monday it was dead. Sigh.
The siblings are buried in a quiet corner of the yard, where the dogs can't disturb them, under the trees where many of their fellows live.
Rest in peace, guys.