My little chickadee

Today's project has nothing to do with Christmas. It's about helping out a little buddy.

This black-capped chickadee bumped into the deck door this afternoon. It's a windy day, and I suspect he might have misjudged a turn. At any rate, there was a familiar thunk! and a barking dog and a very interested cat. (who was, lucky for our little bird friend, inside looking out with the dog.) The chickadee was lying on the deck with his wing at an odd angle. This is how he looked after I scooped him up - kind of stiff, with a peeved expression.

I'm not a wildlife rehabilitator by any means, but we've had enough bird incidents over the years to seek out some information from a local nature center about what to do. I keep a box in the basement with a couple of towels in it. When a bird hits the window, I take the box outside, take out a towel, and gently drape the towel over the bird. The darkness calms it down a little. Then I scoop it up and put it in the box. (Although the nature center said nothing about this, I feel that it's important to use baby talk and say something like "You poor sweet thing, did you bump your little head?")

The box comes inside, and the bird takes a little rest in the dark, closed box until he feels better. After a few minutes, I heard this guy up hopping around inside the box. It might just be my limited experience, but this whole bird rescue thing seems kind of all-or-nothing. Either it's pretty obvious right from the start that there's nothing to be done for the bird, or he spends some time in rehab, and he's all better.

 

I took him out to a bush where the other chickadees hang out, near the birdfeeder, and opened up the box.

And then he flew away. I'm kind of missing him already.

Comments

[Wendy]

Aww, what a little cutie. I'm glad he is okay!

[kim]

What a sweet story. I have rescued a few birds who flew into windows too. It is such a good feeling when they make it. Last week I noticed a bird hanging from one of my feeders (the type with the cage around it to keep squirrels away). It wasn't until I was outside later and saw it was still there and flapping about that I noticed it's little foot was all bloody and it was stuck in the cage. I couldn't think how to help it without amputating it's foot in the process. Finally I got a stick and gently pushed at it's foot a few times. Luckily it flew away. Such a relief.

[Lavender Dreamer]

How sweet! We have that happen on our front window..mostly with goldfinches. It's always a happy time when they catch their breath and take flight!

[Lady of the Mote]

awe poor thing,glad you help him out

[LiLi M.]

You won my medal today!

[Holly]

Hey, baby talk is a must!

:>

[Sarah]

LOL The baby talk makes me laugh. The whole thing sounds much calmer than when we get a bird in the house via the chimney. There is always much screaming and flapping about on everyone's part.

[Alli]

Aw, I'm so glad he recovered!

[Lavender Dreamer]

I love your blog! And here's mine! Come for a visit!

http://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/

[susan]

sweet little tale
i am glad it had a happy ending :o)
you make me giggle

[Tina in Duluth]

I love chickadees - so cute and so wintery! You make a great birdy RN.

[Dawn]

What a sweet post! Thanks for sharing.

[Acorn]

sweet sweet sweet!

[Susan at Black eyed susans kitchen]

Sweet, sweet, sweet...or is that tweet, tweet, tweet..sorry, I couldn't help myself.
♥, Susan

[Judy]

I'm so glad he's all right.

[Michele]

What a cutie...I'm so glad you were there to take him in. Glad he's with his friends again!

Hugz,
Michele

[Gail]

What a sweet thing you did for that adorable little creature!

[Vintage Whimsy]

Aww what a cute little birdie! I would totally baby-talk to the bird too! I mean I already do it to the dogs so why not do it to a bird?! Glad the birdie got well & flew away!

[Jenny]

The baby talk is just manditory!! hehehe!

[susan]

how sweet!