Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The littlest Lowrenzo

 I dreaded getting out of bed this morning and coming down to find a tiny dead bird. Gerry was already up when I came downstairs. I asked him if the tiny bird was dead and he said no! Littlest lowrenzo made it through the night, wow! I found a great website yesterday that had really good info on when and how to care for tiny birds that fall out of nests. I have been soaking dry dog food in warm water, squeezing it out and feeding it to the little bird every half hour. I stopped feeding at sunset. She( I just feel like she is a little girl) is eating and I watched her poop this morning, that should be a good sign, I hope. She is a fighter and she was flapping her wings this morning and peeping. So sweet..... I know this is intervention of natural selection, but she was bullied, and I just can't put up with that!

As I was feeding her this morning I heard some stressful peeping from the original nest. The other two had fallen out of the nest and were clinging to the vines of my plant that the nest is built in. Jeez, this is not a safe nest! Ok, so I have put everyone in the nest that was built in this raku bowl and then abandoned, they all seem to be getting along, and mom and dad are coming for feedings. So maybe they all have a fair chance of survival and we will have more wrens around the house. At least they won't be falling out now. I know they are just little birds and death in nature happens every single day, but I just don't have a cold enough heart to turn away when I might be able to help somehow. It's not like I go out there looking for animals to rescue but this is going on here on my back porch!
So, this is how I am spending my days since I can't really stand for very long without my back hurting badly. The heating pad has become my new best friend. I did take the bandages off today in the shower and the incision is healing nicely. Feels good to have those hateful sterostrips off, they are so uncomfortable, pulling at my skin and itchy. The cut is longer than I thought, I absolutely cannot believe I got sent home without any pain meds and was expected to manage this with tylenol. You can't take enough tylenol in a 24 hour period to manage pain from a 4 inch incision. I did get dinner cooked for the first time last night and I have been up off the sofa for most of the day, so day by day, I am feeling much more like myself and less like a pitiful whining blob of misery! haha!! Poor Wesley and Gerry have been kindly putting up with me and going for lots of take out and bringing me things. Whatever would I do without them :)
xoxo

8 comments:

Michèle Hastings said...

Poor little birds must have first time parents, since they couldn't even build a safe nest.
(that's probable what people were saying when i gave birth to Danielle!)
I loved seeing them with their mouths open in yesterday's video.

Tracey Broome said...

I know Michele! The parents seem so unsure of what they are doing. Reminds me of how Gerry and I were with Wes when she was little. And she fell down the stairs!! Maybe that's why I feel compelled to watch these babies, haha! They are the funniest little things...

Maria said...

Hi Tracey!
I am a potter, but I am also a bird biologist and I just wanted to let you know that you are doing just the right thing! :) so stop beating yourself up about it! This is a wren nest on our porch, not part of a research study- i would have interfered as well. Hopefully the nest is successful in the end!
Love your blog...
-Maria

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Maria, thanks so much for your email! I feel much better! I have them tucked into a safe nest, it's up to their silly parents now. They remind me of some of the parents of the kids I used to teach:)

Peter said...

There is something very special about holding that tiny scrap of life in your hands. I know that bird rescues often turn out sadly, but they are so wonderful when they work out... and even when they don't, I always think it is good that the end came where someone cared and was kind. I am amazed and humbled by the trust that can quickly form.

Amy said...

I think it's both amazing and commendable what you did. Yeah that the bird made it through the night! I would've intervened too. On another note, can hardly believe you were only given tylenol. That is a bit absurd, for lack of better words. Glad you're healing well. Hang in there! Prayers continue for you both. :)

Shannon said...

well, if called to intervene in the big Nature, this is a really good compromise--just new housing with the parents doing the feeding. It's nice to be able to focus the attention on someone more vulnerable than oneself when one is not feeling good (or prone to pity parties, which I so am).

Tracey Broome said...

Peter, it is amazing to hold something that tiny that is alive, so special!
Hi Amy, yeah Tylenol! oh well, I survived! and so have the tiny birds :)
Shannon, I thought this was a good compromise as well, and yes it definitely took my mind off my own annoying pain!