Baby Bird Saga V

(Just realized I wrote this but kept it in drafts instead of publishing it, so here comes Saga V after Saga VI!!!)

Today my friend hung Babybird’s cage in the Plumeria tree.  Although recent strong winds have blown many of the blossoms to the ground, it is flowering and filled with leaves.

Fortunate because for half of the year, all of the leaves fall off and it is nude. She spent her afternoon watching him as the parent birds came down to feed him on his rock, then put him back in his cage and I took the later afternoon shift to watch from the hammock.

He sat politely on the rock for 10 minutes or so until the father bird came and fed him, making about 5 stabs down his throat.

I fear our little bird is looking a bit scruffy. I’m sure mother birds must preen their feathers for them, but I’m trying to touch him as little as possible. Waiting for those tail feathers to grow back out–or perhaps to grow out for the first time.

Then, when papa flew away, BB got restless and jumped down into the ground cover  I rescued him and put him in his cage, switching its direction in the tree so the door could open for me to put in fresh water.  I don’t think he ever drinks it, but just in case.I also hung up seed bars in the tree and scattered seed on the stones.

About a half hour later, I heard  a terrific din coming from the cage.  It took me 30 seconds or so to register that there was something on the side of the cage.  When I got up to investigate, I saw that papa bird was clinging to the side of the cage and feeding him through the bars!
This dedication of his parents is so exciting to see. Two days ago I wouldn’t have given this tough little bird one chance in a hundred of surviving, but here he is on day three–still fighting.  We think one wing is broken, perhaps from being caught in the wire when he jumped from our improvised nest yesterday.  It hangs a bit, but he’s still energetic in his hopping and squawking, so perhaps he’ll make it on determination alone.

Papa bird checks up occasionally, either by a flyover or by perching in the palm tree or on the guamuchil tree in the undeveloped lot next door.

My friend leaves tomorrow, so all of the animal chores will be mine. I had an almost sleepless night with breathing problems so I fear I’m allergic to Morrie as I am to my other dogs.  Sadly, no more sleeping in my bed.  I got him a new little bed today so hope he’ll stay in it.  Tomorrow I’ll try to find him a sleeping cage like Diego’s.  My house is starting to look like a zoo!