Last evening after work I went to plop on the couch to watch me some Emergency! and I noticed a blur of yellow out the window. I suspected a gold finch was getting a drink from the upper barrel.
I looked out the window and noticed the fountain wasn’t flowing. “Damn cottonwoods,” I muttered and slipped on some shoes to go clean out the pump. I reached in the water and noticed a dead bird floating against the pump. A stupid robin had somehow drowned itself. I grabbed some rubber gloves from the garage and pulled out the body and tossed it in the trash.
I came back to start taking apart the fountain to clean it and there was a second bird floating under the first. Was this some kind of avian suicide cult? I pulled the gloves back on and fished out the second robin. As I took it from the water he feebly shook his wings. This one was alive. Barely.
I sat him nearby on the mulch and he sat shivering taking little breaths but not moving. I cleaned and put the fountain back together. He sat there watching me, unmoving.
I went in and scrubbed my hands and arms.
About an hour later I glanced out the r window he still sat there. I went out and he turned his soggy head to look at me, but made no other move. I got my gloves and moved him over under a sugar maple tree to give him a little protection and comfort.
After supper I went to roll the garbage bins to the curb. I checked and the stupid robin had moved a few feet . I looked at him and he hopped away.
He may live, if his wings aren’t damaged. It started in raining in the overnight. I bet that bird is as sick of water as a non-duck can be.
4 comments:
Hmm... Is your fountain somehow murdering birds?
Had a similar mystery this week. 'Possum, just dead, under the walnut tree in the middle of the yard.
Maybe it got hit on the road and stumbled those 50 feet or so and then croaked, or maybe it ate something just treated with grub-be-gone?
Had to get the snow shovel, hold my breath and puke, and toss it into the woods so I won't shred it with the lawnmower. (Third dead critter I've had to move this spring. So, SO gross!)
Fred
The Revenge of Tippy Headren!
I hate robins. They eat and destroy half the fruit on my trees. I almost never get a single mulberry, any kind of berry bush is picked clean, and they peck holes in the fruit they can't swallow whole, leaving it to rot on the ground. They could go extinct and I wouldn't shed a tear!
I generally hate birds especially doves
Post a Comment