On the Wing of a Bird
You might say that today’s to-do list flew away on the wing of a bird. A broken wing at that.
Returning home from early errands, we spotted a small bird near our front-yard feeders that appeared injured. It would hop, but not fly. And while it would hop outside the gate between the slats, it would soon return, as if it knew things were safer inside the gate than out.
Smart bird. Our woodland neighborhood is filled with predators who would make a quick meal of a small, injured creature.
After watching the little bird for a short time to make sure it wasn’t just stunned, Susan gently picked it up and placed it in a cage lined with a blanket.
I then called Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and they put me in touch with Fox Valley Wildlife Center. We made an appointment to transport our bird into the Center staff’s safe hands. Our little patient will be assessed, treated, and hopefully rehabbed so it will fly another day.
What three things did I learn from today’s adventure?
Our patient was a Pine Siskin, a tiny songbird from the finch family.
Many smart and helpful volunteers like those at Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Fox Valley Wildlife Center are working to help rescue and rehab animals seven days a week.
Often the best, most fulfilling parts of my day never make it on a list.
Our rescued Pine Siskin. Wired Lotus (aka Susan Barzacchini) photo.
You can donate to support the work of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and the Fox Valley Wildlife Center.
