Today I think I did a benevolent deed, if I’m allowed to blow my own trumpet. I rescued a baby bird. Talking of which, what’s a little one of a bird called? Maybe you can tell me in the comment section.
Anyway, early this morning, before sunrise as I was getting my knapsack ready for spraying organic insecticide that I personally made for my passion and vegetable farm — in my next post I will tell you how I did it and the ingredients — I saw Jaguar, my puppy sniffing at something in the grass. Out of curiosity, I went to check and it was when I saw this tiny helpless bird sprawled in the cold dewed grass under the mercy of the dog. It was just by sheer luck, Ninho, Jaguar’s mother wasn’t around, otherwise the poor thing’s fate would’ve been different.
I picked the bird up and covered it with my palms to keep it warm as it was trembling like a palm tree in a cyclone. For a moment I put everything else aside in an effort to see to the health of the poor bird.
I rushed to the storeroom, grabbed some old sheet and covered it. After that I could feel life getting back to its frail body as it opened little black topaz eyes. As I left, I closed the door just to make sure Ninho and her baby wouldn’t get to it and then resumed my chores.
An hour later when the beautiful warm sun was shining brightly, sending golden rays through the tall eucalyptus and misiola surrounding our home, I returned to check on my visitor. I was impressed to find the bird still curled in the sheets but active with feathers gaining its dark brownish color. The limps looked strong enough even though it was evident the little thing was just out of its parents’ nest. I didn’t want to keep it from its adventure, so I decided to release it.
Before letting the bird go, I had to take a moment to think of the best place to release it. Mother’s flowerbeds looked enticing, that’s where I let the rabbits play, but it wouldn’t be safe for the bird since the dogs can get to it when it gets out learning to fly. I chose the guava trees near the grazing field behind our home. That would give it plenty of room to learn flying without risking being mutilated by the fierce dogs, and also give it a better chance of running into its kin who I’m sure were frantically searching for it. So that was it.
I delicately carried my acquaintance, who by the way, I still wasn’t sure of its gender, to the guava trees. I placed it on the lowest branches where the sun was shining and left it basking. I returned half an hour later to see if it was still there but it was gone. I smiled to myself and hoped it had found its wings.