Not Saying Goodbye
Living free at last, but seeing no reason to leave.I've gotten such a smile out of your comments about the phoebes' release. It's a story I couldn't wait to tell. It isn't really good- bye when we open the tent. The best thing about releasing young birds is that they rarely leave. They hang around the yard like dirty shirts. After all, I'm their momma, and the living is easy with Mom around. Phoebe was all in tears (well, so was I!),
Liam was loudly professing his sadness, and Bill was a little choked up too as they made their fluttery way out of the tent. Luther went first, of course, being the smarter, more adventuresome one. Avis got all flustered and couldn't figure out how to get out (you have to fly down to go out the doors.) Luther circled back and clung to the netting, chirping to Avis. 
They got quite frantic before Avis finally made her way out.Phoebe fretted and sniffled, worrying that they wouldn't find each other.
But find each other they did, and Phoebe even got to feed them some mealworms and crickets by hand before dark. We put their dish of mealworms out next to the birch clump where they settled, and checked on them every now and then. They played with the leaves and preened and relaxed. At nightfall they were gone, doubtless hidden in some high, thick vegetation. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Methinks 'twill bring a pair of phoebes, chipping for their breakfast.
posted by Julie Zickefoose @ 10:04 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
I don't know what it's like to raise baby birds by hand, but I did get choked up when "my" tree swallows fledged yesterday.
The phoebes were lucky to have you!
The shopping list made me smile.
When I was a little girl, my family lived in England. Our dog found and brought to us a baby starling. My mother raised him in our house and named him Stupid. Not being a trained bird rehabber, she didn't do as good a job as you do by any means but she did raise him and release him. I have a memory of watching my mother out the window of our house teaching him to fly. He'd fly up to the tree and fly back down and land on her head. Silly woman, he would say, I'm staying with you! He liked to walk and would follow people around the house and the neighborhood. Walking right into houses. But, eventually, he figured it out and realized that he was a starling and flew off to be with the other starlings (the girl starlings???). My mother still thinks back fondly to that silly bird that she raised way back when. Thanks for bringing those memories back to me.
The phoebes were lucky to have such wonderful adoptive parents in you and Phoebe. I hope you get to watch them for the rest of the summer. Who knows maybe one of them will come back to nest on your newly located platform next year. Congratulations on a successful release. Lori
hkdszbodIt has been a real pleasure following the story of these fortunate birds.
Thank you Julie.
Don't you just love the letters you nedd to type in to post.
Didn't mean to include them in the last post, oh well.
I can't wait to hear what happened this morning. Did they come back for their breakfast?
I love seeing your Phoebe with her binoculars.
Phoebe looks much happier here than she does on Bill's blog - thank goodness - I felt so sad for her!
Cool whip and crickets - yum!
Congrats on a successful release.
Dear Phoebe:
Congratulations! You did a great job raising the baby phoebes and then letting them go. I know you miss them and are sad now that they are gone. I know that it doesn't help when adults say useless things like "It is for the best." Still, you have done a Very Good Thing, and done it better than a lot of grown-ups might have done. So, be proud of yourself (We are proud of you) and when you feel sad, talk to Chet - Dogs are very understanding people.
Kathi
Dear Kathi,
I'm not that sad anymore, because they're still hanging around the yard.
Thanks for caring,
Phoebe
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