bouldering has given me some really weird instinctive reactions to things. I was just sitting on the kitchen counter and happened to glance upwards, then automatically braced my foot on a cabinet and stretched up until I could touch the ceiling…. it only then occurred to me that the impulse to top out on the kitchen cabinets is a strange one.
Hans Holbein the Younger; Nicholas Poyntz, c. 1533 – c. 1543.
Hans Holbein the Younger; Cicely Heron, c. 1526 – c. 1527.
I really really like late 18th century waistcoats. Especially the 1790′s ones with the little lapels and straight waistlines, so here’s a photoset of some of my favourite ones. (And here’s a link to my pinterest board with more of them.)
speaking of being a massive ecology nerd, guess what season it is, folks!
That’s right, it’s FLEDGLING BIRD SEASON here in North America, which means it’s time for an annual reminder that most species of birds have almost no sense of smell. Someone probably told you that if you touch a baby bird, the mother will smell you on it and reject her baby. THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
Pictured: a young Mourning Dove, after being rescued from the tender mercies of my dog, circa spring 2005. It’s a fledgling! Note how it has most of its feathers, but still looks a bit awkward and scruffy, and, being unable to properly fly, can be caught by an elderly husky or a child.
Hatchlings: IF it is covered in fluffy down (or partly naked) and cannot flutter successfully, it’s a hatchling, and has fallen from its nest prematurely. Look for the nest- if you find it and can reach it, return baby and then gtfo and let the parents return. If you can’t find the nest, or if you find it in pieces on the ground, use a small box lined with dryer lint or dog hair or similar fluff and attach as close as possible to where you found the bird or where you think the nest was. Return baby!!!!
Fledglings: If you spot a young bird covered with feathers on the ground, chances are it’s a fledgling (bird tween, can flutter) who is not doing well in flying 101, but it is probably NOT injured or sick. Hanging out on the ground is part of the learning to fly process! If it looks like it’s in immediate danger (i.e. of being run over, stepped on, or eaten by a cat or dog), the best thing you can do for it is to gently scoop it up and place it in the branches of a nearby tree or shrub, and then LEAVE. The parents are likely nearby, and will return once the coast is clear of humans/predators. If it flutter-hops away from you and you can’t catch it, then don’t worry! It just successfully avoided a predator (you), and therefore can probably continue to do so.
DON’T DON’T DON’T: Try to feed it, bring it into your house or car, or take it to your local vet or animal shelter.
IF it IS actually for-real injured, you can catch it and contact a local wildlife rehabilitation professional (and then listen to whatever they tell you), but keep in mind that they get a LOT of fledgling birds, and those birds have a pretty high mortality rate. They may tell you that there is nothing you or they can do but allow nature to take its course, and that’s hard, but important to hear and respect.
Be aware that the bird should be considered to be injured if a cat has touched it with teeth or claws, even if it doesn’t look like it’s hurt. Cats’ saliva is full of bacteria that have an extremely high infection and fatality rate for small animals like birds, and it’s usually also on their claws. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator and let them know there was a cat involved.
Annual reminder!
Additional notes on the above from someone who’s spent years volunteering as a wildlife rehabber:
1. Taking in any native bird and trying to care for it yourself is illegal in the US without proper permits. Most of the time it won’t matter because no one really cares if you have a sparrow, but it could
2. Hatchling birds need to be fed every 15-20 minutes when young, expanding to every half hour to an hour when they’re older. Wildlife rehabbers have the resources to do this; you almost certainly do not
3. Hatchling birds need special food and vitamins depending on species. Getting the right nutrients is critical at a young age given the rate at which hatchlings grow. Do not attempt to feed the bird yourself. Do not attempt to feed it what an adult bird would eat. Do not attempt to feed it jam or jelly–I don’t know why it keeps happening, but I keep having to try to clean sticky crap off of robins
4. If you are unable to get an animal to a rehab facility, still contact that facility. They may know an independent rehabber in your area, or if all else fails may be able to give you species-specific directions
5. Animals that have been imprinted on humans are unsuitable for release to the wild and will be euthanized unless they are a species desirous to a zoo or somesuch. The longer you keep a wild animal, the greater the chance that animal will need to be killed. Birds especially at risk of imprinting on humans are geese, crows, and ravens–we have to put down several every year for this reason. Keeping minimal contact with the animal is the best policy in all cases, but is crucial for waterfowl and corvids
6. Don’t feel bad if the little guy doesn’t make it. The mortality rate for baby birds is extremely high
7. Don’t let your cats outside
8. Consider donating to your local wildlife rehabber. The center I volunteer at gets in over 16,000 animals each year; anything helps
Good addition to the post, especially point number 7!
okay so, concept: after Maia fully assimilates the idea that physical contact can be positive and that his friends/wife/relatives are happy to offer it to him, he starts draping himself all over those he’s close with, like a big friendly grey cat.
the best thing about both roommates being out for the evening is being able to improvise musical theater style ballads about (and to) my dog, loudly and passionately, without worrying about disturbing anyone with the fact that I can’t sing
A Pretty Taste for Paradox 