Anyway, a couple weeks or so ago I had an average morning. But the dog kept barking outside. I tried to ignore it because he barks at everything. But then as I started listening I realized it was a different bark. Something was bugging him and he wouldn't leave it alone. So I peek out the laundry room window and see him barking at the corner of our little "patio" outback. I went outside to see what he would not leave alone and there was a little bird! It was all fluffed up but very lethargic looking. I felt bad for the guy. I picked him up and he didn't look injured but really cold.
We have had a really cold winter with tons of snow. Which is awesome because I love the snow. But I think some of the birds have been having issues getting through these freezing and below freezing temps. So I brought the little guy in and pulled out my electric heat pad and wrapped him in a towel and set him on there. I tried giving him water through a dropper. With the freezing temps I'm sure its hard for these guys to find water too. He wouldn't take it. Then I made up a tablespoon of malt o meal. Its the only thing I could think of that was similar to the stuff we'd feed to baby birds. He wouldn't eat that either. So I just let him sit there. He kept closing his eyes and wasn't doing much. After about 45 min he did start to perk up. I was getting all excited. He ate just a drop or two of the malt o meal then took a little bit of water. Then after a couple more minutes he thought he should fly.
Awesome. So then I'm trying to chase this bird all around my kitchen and living room. After a few minutes I finally caught him. Poor guy must have been so scared. He must have just been really cold. I plugged the heating pad back in outside and put him on it by my bird feeder. He only stayed there a second and then flew off to a neighbors tree. I just hope he made it. A few days after him we found a dead bird in our garage. I usually leave the back door open for the dog to go in and out. I guess a bird must have come in to get a little warmer and then we shut the door for the night and he probably froze to death. He didn't look injured at all. But Scott has found them flying around in our garage on the cold, snowy days. I'm sure this winter has weeded out all the sick and weak animals. At least its finally warming up (minus the snow we're supposed to have coming our way). I am excited for spring!
I guess this is actually probably a female. Not much coloring or markings. Should have referred to it as a she :)
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