Mobile blogging . . . Trying it out to see what it does.

Well, that's what that was.

My little buddy in the lavender bush died overnight. Poor guy. We tried.

Fledgling or Nestling?

Today Becca informed me that there was a baby bird in the grass in our backyard. It seemed to have fallen from a nest that was very high up, but it didn't appear to be hurt. It was just a little guy with feathers growing in and also some down. As soon as any of us walked near him (or her) it opened it's little beak expectantly for food.

I guess deep down, I do have some maternal instincts, because I did immediately want to help this little speckled thing.

So I did what any person needing knowledge does, I came inside, and I googled.

Turns out you can touch baby birds, and their mother will still associate them. I always thought it was some sort of taboo - but apparently birds don't even have that great of a sense of smell, and wouldn't be able to tell if you touched their kid or not. Interesting.

The other thing I learned was that I should try to get the bird back in the nest. Which was very high up. So that option was shot. Even with the ladder my husband was -ahem- borrowing at the moment for other renovations, it was a no-go.

So we decided to move him. But by that time it was dark. So my husband says 'Hey do you really need me for this?' and I responded 'Yes, I need you for moral support!' (And, to hold the flashlight)

'Operation:move baby robin' was successful as we transplanted him/her/it to a lavender plant that was the closest thing we have to a bush in our yard.

I am pretty concerned that one of the neighborhood cats will get him, but maybe, just maybe, the lavender will hid his smell. (I didn't even think about that until right now, I am a genius!)

We also dug for worms for this him/her/it, because we haven't been able to observe if the mom is still coming down and feeding it. She should be, but who knows. I'm not really sure that robins are that smart. Especially the one that's been following my husband around this week as he has power tools in his hand and is demolishing walls. We fed the bird three littler sized worms, and he gobbled them right up. I have to admit, it was pretty cute.

The worst thing that happened was when we transported the bird, a neighborhood cat came by with something crying/squeaking/squawking in it's mouth. So maybe he'll eat whatever that was (another baby bird? a mouse? baby Sasquatch?) and be too full for other things all night. Bill is a particular vicious outdoors cat, even though he does have an emasculating name like Billy. And a collar with hearts and a bell. But don't let that fool you, he'll gnaw a finger off.

So, all things going well, I'll hear back form the wildlife expert I emailed tomorrow telling me what to do, and when I walk outside tomorrow, the bird will still be under the lavender, all extremities still attached.

And hey, if it's under the lavender all night, it'll be relaxed, right?

Amazing things you see as a Massage Therapist:

1. People with extra toes.
2. People with toes coming out of the top of their foot.
3. Triple nipples.
4. Back-ne.
5. A lot of hair where it shouldn't be.
6. Interesting tatoos that you can't ask about.
7. Big surgery scars.

And that's just some of the interesting things I saw during my clinical rotation, which I finished in May. So now I just have to take Nationals and call it good. And plan some sort of graduation party . . . .