Sunday, September 16, 2012

Helping is for the birds, so to speak...


I was doing my walking today, and I saw a dove in the ditch. This is quite common this time of year, as the oats and other grasses and grains are dropping seed. Normally, I walk by, and WHOOSH, any birds nearby fly up and away.

This one didn't.

It limped, fluttered, and limped some more. I slowed, and watched... The bird was most definitely not flying.

Uh, oh.

I walked on, and checked when I came back. Yep, still there. Not good. I ruminated on it for a bit, and when I came home, told Husband. He knows I have a HUMONGOUS soft spot for animals, and it would drive me bonkers if I didn't do something. So, we hatched a plan, so to speak. I took the (CLEAN!!!) cat carrier, and drove out to where I'd seen it last. I found it, and managed to get down into the ditch.

It fluttered, but still just limped away from me. I was able to shoo it into the carrier, and then take it back to the house. Giving it a quick once over, I told husband all I could figure out is that it must have a broken wing, it didn't look injured, and it was trying to fly, just not getting airborne. He agreed, and made up a little water pan for it. I washed my hands, and headed into town for the weekly shopping 'stuff', which now included some bird feed, as the smallest food I had was for large chickens, and was not suitable for little ground feeders...

After some time in town, and getting my keys locked in the truck...  Husband and I went for a quick lunch, as it was getting well past time, and went home. I had the feed, and Husband went out to put some in for the dove. I heard a commotion, and Husband came in looking highly annoyed. "So much for that", he snorted.

Oh, no... "What happened?"

"Your silly bird jumped on my hand, and flew off!" I laughed, and clapped my hands...

"Honey, that's the whole point of the deal, he's okay!"

So, now I have a bird out there, probably telling his bird buddies about the crazy chick locking him in a cat carrier, and the guy that let him out. (We suspect that it might have hit a car windshield and been stunned...) 

And, I have some bird feed for the locals. Maybe he'll come by and have a nosh...

(For anyone that is a member of SparkPeople, this is a blog I wrote for them, as well...  I will try and get some pics of faire, soon, I still haven't put them on my computer!)

12 comments:

Carolyn said...

What a happy ending. Glad you were able to help the little guy. :)

stephen Hayes said...

You still earned some positive karma for your good deed.

Sally said...

Fantastic that the dove recovered - if you hadn't taken it into safety it might have been vulnerable to attacks from predators.

messymimi said...

Bless you for helping! Sweetie's workplace sometimes has birds fly into their picture windows, and the people there pick them up and set them in the shade out of reach of stray cats until they recover.

Glad this one is okay.

Cat said...

So am I, and Husband's expression was priceless when the bird flew off... ;)

Cat

Cat said...

Works for me!!!

Cat

Cat said...

That was my biggest worry, there are cats a-mundo around there, and it was a little light grey bird surrounded by nearly bleached yellow grasses. It didn't blink off and on, but it came close...

Cat

Cat said...

Yes, birds and windows seem to not get along so well... I think that was probably what the little bird needed was just some critter free recovery time...

Cat

Unknown said...

That's nice of you to help. It will be a good karma for you. Just you wait something good will happen to you.
locked out

Cat said...

In the immortal words of whatever immortal said it, "couldn't hoit!"

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh you rescued it and that is what counts:) B

bon bon said...

good for you for trying! even if s/he didn't appreciate your efforts.