Friday, February 09, 2007

IF: Crash 2














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The second post is in regards to 4 birds I saved last year after they had crashed into my French doors.(I'm not at all happy with the drawing.)The female Finch on the bottom right was actually saved twice! First from the crash into the door, and then from the mouth of the neighbor's cat later that same day. ( It still had the wound on it's beak from the window slam which is how I knew it was the same bird. ) I would pick the birds up after the crash against the door and give them CPR by blowing warm breath into my cupped hands. Eventually they would come to life after they came through the shock. (It's actually the shock that usually kills them, or a cat who sees them knocked out and goes in for the kill.) After a while they flutter and stir, and when I'm sure they're completely okay, I release them! Usually I break into a bad rendition of "Born Free" and watch them fly away. It's a wonderful feeling! Below is a photo of the Hummingbird just before it flew off. It circled me twice before leaving. I took that as a thank you!



Today I have decals on both doors that I bought at The Wild Bird Center. They look like etched leaves to you and I, but to the birds, they look like ultra-violet light that they stay away from. There have been no more incidents for a year!

17 comments:

  1. I liked both of your "crash" interpretations! The bird one was real interesting tho---I've never heard about blowing hot air into your hands to revive them! Thanks for visiting & the kind comments :)

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  2. You are a kind soul and a gift to God's creatures! Thanks for sharing this post and thanks for creating educational and beautiful art!

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  3. Thanks for the idea about the decals. I'll go online to see where I can get some. I still have feathers stuck to my window. So far they've all survived.

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  4. Hello Laurel, thanks for the comment on my blog, I've been so inactive with it lately that its nice to be reminded that there are other people out there who occasionally stop by. I love your bird drawing, and the imagery of you singing born free reminds me of every fledgling I've ever sheltered until its been able to take flight again. Cheers.

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  5. Oh-- these are both awesome!!!
    I don't know which I like better. Lucky finch to hve crashed into *your* door-- and lucky you, to hold the little thing! So sweet!

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  6. thanks for being such a great person. i like the bird drawings. thanks also for patronizing my blog.

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  7. Lovely illo and your story is great. You're a very kind person, Laurel.

    BTW, I also love the dog illo. Its clever and fun!

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  8. Laurel, I like them both, 1) for it's humor and 2) for its sensitivity. I've had birds do that too, and it's very disturbing. I live up high and haven't noticed if they fell to the ground. :( How nice of you to give them CPR!

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  9. how cool!! It would be fun to hold that tiny little life that rarely stands still in the palm of ones hand!

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  10. yes, it's super distressing when those birds commit suicide like that. I've never had one that didn't appear to be dead. Maybe I was wrong and they were only in shock. But they where bigger birds like rainbow lorikeets and seemed to have broken necks. it's been so long now, that my memories are hazy. Since I moved to Spain I haven't seen it happen. There is really very little bird, or any wildlife around here. (apart from pidgeons and sparrows, not that I am knocking them, I especially love sparrows, they are handsome little chappies.)I should point out that I live in the centre of Madrid which has about 7 million people now so it's not at all surprising there there is not much else.
    Thanks for coming by.
    oh, I used to be a bird painter as a teenager. Have you ever come across the work of Raymond Harris Ching?
    (i just found one)
    love Scott

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  11. I like both your crash drawings, but I think this one tugs at my heart a little bit more. What beautiful birds and what a kind soul you are!!

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  12. Laurel, I really do like this one - it does speak to me more. I prefer spending my energy on things that feel good to me, like helping people and animals. I've had birds crash into my doors as well, and while I've never had to revive them, I have had to keep cats away while they recovered. I've also helped a hummingbird who ended up on the ground somehow, and couldn't get his wings under him to take off again. and your picture is really very sweet, it's a naive style which maybe you don't like much, but I find it endearing.

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  13. I love them both. But I probably like the birds a bit better...cuz I love birds.

    I could hug the stuffing out of you for the kindness you do.

    love,
    cat

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  14. I've been there with crashed birds, it really upsets me, until i see them fly away again.

    Your picture of the 4 birds is beautiful... it has such a gentle quality to it, and reminds me of antique Chinese artwork, especially the background colour. Lovely!

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  15. Cool conked out bird collection.
    French doors should be used by scientists in the field. The hummer rules. We get about 30 a season. They empty 3 feeders a week. I am red btw. Same skin disease as MJ. Except it is the rare fire engine red variety. When I blush I turn fuchsia.

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  16. supersweet birds...esp the top one with the long pointy beak! makes me smile with joy :-)

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