Bird Gone

Well, after some considerable struggle and several nights of no sleep, our baby bird expired last night. It had stopped eating as much yesterday, for no discernible reason, and apparently just ran out of energy. Emily had put a hot water bottle wrapped in blankets in to keep it warm, and that was where we found it this morning.

This puts our bird rescues at about 50% survival - We've reared a good number of nest disasters in the past, and this is probably decent odds. Baby birds at this age are unbelievably fragile, and there is always the hanging question of whether the bird fell from the nest accidentally, or was rejected for some unseen-but-crucial health reason. I certainly would not recommend anyone else to attempt this. Emily is fortunate in coming from a lifelong birding family, and having contacts with professional ornithologists to help with proper advice and handling suggestions.

And the best suggestion, always, is simply to put the bird back in the nest if you can reach the nest. Myths about the parents birds rejecting the chicks after handling by humans are just that - myths. Just be sure to wash your hands afterwards!

Anyway, we'll have a bird burial under the hedge, and then it's back to "normal" life.