Yesterday afternoon Paul and I were inside trying to figure out what to do with our day when we heard a sound that puts fear in my heart: a bird hitting a window. My immediate thought was "oh, please, let it not be a Blue!" Paul ran to the door and my worst case scenario was confirmed with his "oh, god, it's a fledgling Blue!". The little one was sitting calmly on the deck without visible sign of injury. My panic and nausea was quelled a bit by seeing him(her) knowing that it was very possible that s/he could be alright. The birds who have perished after hitting our windows have looked dead afterward, lying prone on the ground, eyes closed. But the Blue was sitting upright, breathing through its mouth, looking stunned. I was ready to bundle it up in a box and rush it to Wildcare where we would insist on a no-holes-barred treatment (being volunteers there now, we have more pull?) I reached down and stroked its beautiful mottled blue feathers a bit, marveling at the fact that I was actually touching one of our fledglings again. In just a bit, s/he flew off, heading back to the trees where the other fledgling were practicing insect catching.
Later in the day I saw all 4 fledglings sitting on the electric wire with Papa, so I know that s/he survived the collision.
Posted by Elizabeth at June 20, 2004 10:01 AM