I had a visitor today

LouisianaJoe

LouisianaJoe

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[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Because of tropical storm Cindy, it was very windy at my house today. I was leaving my house to go to the store and when I opened my garage, a young cardinal flew into my garage and landed on the steering wheel of my riding mower. I slowly walked over to the mower and the little bird did not seem that scared. I put my index finger horizontal and lightly pressed it against the bird's breast just over the feet. It hopped on my finger. It remained calm and stayed there as I walked out of my garage. I walked over to a shrub on the side of the garage and pressed it against a limb and it jumped to the limb. It started making what seemed like peeps calling mom. As I pulled out of the driveway, I saw mom show up and acting a bit stressed. I thought that the little bird is in good hands now so I left. When I returned little bird and mom were gone.[/FONT]
 
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Right now this years babies are just learning to fly. Many of them have not developed any real fear of humans. The other morning I went out on the back deck that carport attaches to and startled a young robin. He took of and flew right into my truck canopy that I hang from the carport ceiling. Knocked himself loopy. LOL. Picked him up and held him a bit, then he started to get excited and I let him fly off. One of my brothers had a little owl that he helped out and started feeding. I hung out around his cabin and would fly over and land on his shoulder. Birds are not stupid, many types are social creatures and once they figure out your not going to harm them can get quite tame especially if tthey figure out your a source of food. I had have a small apple tree in the front of the house. A couple years ago a robin nested in it. I get up early and drink coffee on the front deck. I started digging some worms and setting them on an old plate at the base of the tree. Mom got quite used to me and my favor and had no problem with me looking in the nest. Little ones hung out all summer and were always there in the morning for breakfast. LOL.
 
We get a ton of birds flying into our windows. Many don't make it, but some just get their bell rung. Last year I heard a small "thump" and went out to see if there was a kinglet or other small bird in distress. I almost missed a ruby-throated hummer on the ground. I picked him up on my finger and brought him up closer to see if there was an obvious problem. He flew onto my shoulder and appeared to be ok. I walked with him to my front door and lightly banged on the door so the dogs would summon my wife. I pointed to my shoulder so she could see him. He took off at that point and landed on my other shoulder. I stood on my front steps for few minutes with him perched there. I finally walked to the cherry tree next to our hummingbird feeder and nudged him to hop onto a branch. He sat there for a minute and then took off to another tree. Through the whole ordeal he was calm. I don't believe he saw me as a threat.

(sadly)We get to handle a lot of birds that way, but that, to our knowledge was the first hummer. Nothing has ever come close to that interaction. It was totally amazing. Mostly, I'm glad he survived to tell his kin about it!!!
 
In the late 60's I drove a 62 Porsche. It had the window vents that most cars back then had before AC. I was driving down the road one day and a sparrow hit the vent and landed in my lap. I pulled over and held the dazed bird in my hands. It finally came to, pooped in my hand and flew away.
 
I have seen wild baby birds that were handled by humans that were then killed by the parent birds.
Same thing with rabbits. At one time I raised a small pen of rabbits and suddenly the baby rabbits were found dead in the far corner of the pen. I found out my little girl was handling the babies and the mother rabbit killed the ones she handled.
 
Didn't think cardinals were indigenous that far south. Learn something every day.
 
We take our Shi-tsus out every morning at 7am. The dogs like to watch the squirrels. We sit out there drinking morning coffee. The wife has set up 10 bird feeders in our front yard, sounds like a sound track from an old Tarzan movie. The only thing missing is the noise of a peacock. I briefly thought of getting 1 or 2, but they're mean and would prolly peck everyone's eyes out. The ultra noisy sandhill cranes have finally moved on to greener pastures.
 
I learned this year that as baby birds grow and the nest gets crowded, they often fall out due to all the jockeying for position. When that happens, it's best to leave them be, as this can be part of the learning-to-fly process, and usually happens when the babies are almost ready to take off anyway. One of the parents will continue to watch the little one, feed, and encourage it until it's able to take wing. And you're right: human interaction, even with the best intentions, can be a problem at that stage. I have to admit, though, it's hard to leave one by itself on the ground when there are predators in the area.

Had it happen to a little bluebird in our yard this spring. He didn't make it, unfortunately. Just part of Nature's way. It did upset my wife, though.
 
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