Horace Lived

     One week ago today, I found a bird under a backyard tree.  I called my friend Betsy, an "independent animal rescuer" and asked her what to do.  She was unsure. She told me to put a glove on and move him into the shade. She simply wasn't optimistic when I described his size and condition.  I did move him.  He opened his mouth for sprinkled hose water, but then he shivered.  He didn't look long for this world. Later that night, my neighbor Ashlee came over, and she showed me how to feed him some mushed up bread.  He sure was an ugly thing...

       The next day, a mama robin started hanging out and taking care of him, yet every time I came out he peeped for food from me.  So I fed him too.  (And I named him Horace, an unattractive name so I wouldn't get too attached.)  Brad suggested I leave a bit of food handy for Mom to feed him.  She is very skittish, and she flies away whenever we come near the patio window.

     This is him on Saturday.  He's still ugly, but he's a different kind of ugly, a healthier ugly.  I've received lots of advice on facebook regarding how best to take care of him, but he's doing okay with the bread and water and Mom diet.  We have neighbors who are checking on him too.  It's pretty funny!
     We had a party on Sunday and it was scorching hot, so Brad cut up a box condo and sheltered him.  I brought him food and water, and I showed him to Maeve (my two-year-old friend).  This is what he does when he wants to eat:

     He chirps so loud (we hear him from inside), and when I feed him he falls over backward.  It's funny 'cause I was feeling bad that he'd fall backward until I noticed he did this for his other mom (um, his bird mom), too.  He also still likes the water from the hose to be sprinkled his way.
    Overall he's doing well, and just like a "real" baby, he poops when I feed him--so all systems are go. My one big concern, the lawn maintenance guys are coming to cut our straw grass this morning.  So I'm putting the box condo back out with signs in English and Spanish, "Be careful, baby bird!"

Later this morning...

     Thanks to all my Spanish translators on facebook.  I used Tommy's words since he said please and thank you!

     The chair was added above the box condo to assuage neighbor Ashlee's anxiety.  They can't miss seeing him now!

      Horace this morning.  When I started walking away, he was chirping.  Mom is somewhere nearby, I heard her chipping at me.

      Now, if the mowers don't come today, I will leave this set up until they do. One day I know he'll suddenly be gone from me, though Brad says we'll see him walking before he flies, but I don't want him gone from me due to a lawnmower!

Six O'Clock PM
     Even though we checked him this afternoon and shaded him from the heat, Horace died.  I just went back to check on him and found him beautifully feathery but dead.  Yes, I cried.  Brad said it was the fault of the heat.  I still just feel responsible somehow.