Baby starling

caseopele

So, I found a baby starling today that had fallen from it's nest (most likely the one right under my roof). It looks like a fledgling, which means it was probably trying to fly and the parents were still feeding it on the ground. I was worried about leaving it in front of my building though since there are quite a few feral cats around here. And one of the guys living across from the armory told me a cat was "accidentally" killed by a dog at 4am a few days ago.

So, a neighbor caught him for me and I put him in a wooden wine crate on the fire escape. His parent heard him chirping and checked on him periodically, squawking whenever one of the cats was in the window. The baby kept trying to fly out of the box but couldn't quite make it. It started getting really windy and looked like it was going to storm so I brought him inside. I set him up on the windowsill with all kinds of objects around it to keep the cats out. The baby has just been sitting in the box, wouldn't eat any of the delicious cat food soaked in water I offered. I put a small cardboard box filled with ripped up paper towels in to give him a little nest and he's in there now, hopefully sleeping. I'll put him back out on the fire escape in the morning and maybe he'll be able to fly.

So, I have 4 cats, I'm not too worried about them trying to eat the baby but... Wednesday (the oldest) is extremely uncatlike, can't jump to save her life, and is not agile at all. She is also a huge freak. I had 2 iguanas when I first got Wednesday, she would break into their cage to "visit". I would come home and she would be sitting in the damn cage next to the iguanas just hanging out. Never tried to eat them or hurt them in any way, just liked to sit with them. Well, somehow this little wacko managed to climb over all the crap I put around the box and "visited" the baby.

DISCLAIMER: No baby birds were harmed, kitty butt was spanked a bit though.

This is the 2nd time she got in the box.





I rearranged things since and she hasn't managed to get back in there. I'm going to cover the box a bit when I go to bed just in case.

Eww, I just previewed this post and Little Ms. Naughty needs her ears cleaned!

sweet tea

ha! they look so cute together!

this is the beginning of a great children's book...maybe i'll have to write it if you don't.

faycat

That is really freaking cute. Your kitty looks like she wants to be in the box with the bird, but doesn't want to get too close, she's pushed right up against the side!

Isn't there a wildlife rescue group around here that could take care of the bird, or at least give you advice on what to do? As for food, I've heard of using wet cat or dog food to feed baby birds.

MOD

The look on your cat's face is awesome!
Maybe you should keep the bird, then you'll have cats, dogs, and a bird all living all together!

caseopele

Well, I have bad news, I was too upset to post about it before. The baby died sometime between 3am and 8am on Friday morning. I think it was too cold for it, when I went to sleep at 3 it was still hot but the temperature dropped after that. I brought him inside because it was incredibly windy and put his box up on a shelf that the cats couldn't reach. I don't have a microwave so I couldn't heat up the gel pack I have to keep him warm. I put a small cardboard box in filled with ripped up paper towels so he could sleep inside it. Apparently it wasn't enough. I've spent the last 6 days beating myself up for doing everything wrong. Telling myself I should have done everything different and it's my fault he died. He would have been better off if I left him outside. Or if he did get killed by a feral cat then at least the cat would have gotten a decent meal.

I am horrified that I caused the death of this baby bird and am tearing up as I write this. I'm sorry to bring bad news to you guys.

quijibo

you tried to help.
you did your best.
it didn't work out.
next.

that Wednesday is crazeee

rose

Please don't beat yourself up. You did your best to help this bird. It's been chilly for July, but I can't imagine it was cold enough for a bird to freeze, especially since the bird was not newly-hatched but practically ready to be on its own. Most likely there was something wrong with the bird, and you gave it a nice, safe home in its last days -- so try to feel good about that.

MOD

I have a feeling it wasn't the cold also. Something was probably wrong with it to begin with. DO NOT beat yourself up!

sweet tea

the bird would definitely have died if you hadn't taken it in, so you have nothing to feel bad about. you tried to help, which is laudable even if you didn't prevent the inevitable.

you're not God, and you are a good person.

caseopele

Sorry for the Woe is Me post! I sound like a total self-absorbed twit. Like Sweet Tea said, I'm not God and I know now that I did what I could. I've just had a really rough few weeks, last wisdom tooth erupting from my gums like an alien, hip pain, and work crap. Thanks so much for all your kind words guys, you are the best!

And I have further proof that Wednesday is a complete lunatic!

stacey

Im so sorry - you did more than most people would and its always hard when they go. (One of the reasons I dont think I could foster animals).

caseopele wrote: Well, somehow this little wacko managed to climb over all the crap I put around the box and "visited" the baby . . . And I have further proof that Wednesday is a complete lunatic!

It seems to me that maybe Wednesday knew that something was wrong and that's why she was trying to hang with the baby bird - so looks like you have a very compassionate and smart little lunatic .