For the birds

When we woke this morning, I let Jax out and watched as she trotted through the lawn to some shade only to watch her jump ten feet in the air, startled. I thought we had another (yes, we've had quite a few already) snake in the yard so I cautiously walked over to the spot where she was sniffing...only to find a teeny-tiny baby bird laying in the grass.

I've noticed a nest in the tree above throughout the spring and thought the tiny thing must have fallen out. It broke my heart to see it away from it's parents, especially on Mother's Day (silly that I immediately thought that), and I quickly tried to get Jax back inside to leave it alone.

After going back out with the pup a few more times, I noticed some chirping from above and looked to see another even tinier bird dangling from a branch by one leg. I freaked out - I mean FREAKED out! I felt so helpless and Jax was so interested in the one already on the ground that I didn't know what to do.

Ryan had been out and as soon as he walked through the door I started telling him about the second one and burst into tears. I don't know why it hit me so hard, but I couldn't stop sobbing about these poor helpless birds. I mean, really, truly crying. Ridiculous!

After some quick googling, I found the number to Animal Services and put in a call for someone to come help. They called it a "priority" so I was hopeful we would see a rescue soon.

Thankfully, help arrived not too much later and I watched as she knocked the little one off the branch and scoop it into a box. The one already in the grass was much stronger and fiestier and as she went to scoop that one up it hopped away, chirping. Once the chirping started, mama and daddy came flying in and started attacking this poor woman! I ran in to get my camera just as I saw a red cardinal dive bomb her head. Ahh!!

She finally got the second one in the box and assured me they would be taken to Wildlife Refuge to be cared for until they were old enough to fly. I'd like to think she was telling the truth, although there is no telling. Mama and daddy were quite distraught to see their babies taken away, which broke my heart a second time, but she said they'd "get over it" and was on her way.

Jax still searches the yard for these curious little creatures and I keep seeing the parents flit back and forth looking for their babies but all has returned to normal. And while I have a huge fear slight aversion to birds, I have a new found respect for them and how helpless they are when so young.

the nest

poor little (gross) baby
trying to get out of the box