Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Michelle
I had no idea how to help a baby bird who had fallen from his nest in a tree near our farm house. But a little research and a couple of simple supplies, and we were able to do just that.
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Yesterday, our usually quiet, docile fields were alive with noisy chaos.
Teams of people were working to cut down trees and clear a pasture for a wonderful young dairy cow, on it’s way. But amidst the chainsaws and sawzalls buzzing and branches and voices rustling, one daughter heard the faint cry of a different baby. Maybe one of the recently downed trees had held his home.
She followed his petite song and found the sweet little fledgling hiding under ferns on the forest floor.
She gently cupped her hand around his meager frame and searched for me, knowing I would be her enthusiastic comrade, eager to do whatever we could for the tiny crooner in her palm. Eager to know how to help a baby bird who had lost his home and his momma.
She held him gently while we researched how to help a baby bird.
We learned we would only be doing him harm if we attempted to care for him, and (we were surprised to discover) it’s illegal to care for a wild animal.
We also read that, contrary to what we had thought, our scents would not deter his parents from still caring for him, and if we could return him directly to his own nest, that would be best.
Update on the field-clearing, fence-raising efforts: It was a work of love, for sure. But well worth it, considering these beautiful current inhabitants. (Click there to meet Scout and Selah, but be forewarned, your heart might melt at the sight of a young new cow momma loving on her beautiful newborn calf.
Since whatever tree must have housed his home was now being cut into firewood, we decided the best solution was to make him a new home and pray his momma would find him there. So next we researched how to make the best human-attempt at a makeshift nest. We found a container with drainage holes in the bottom and lined it with soft material: yarn and tissues.
Then we placed him securely in a tree near where she found him.
We watched for a while, then walked away hoping our diminutive efforts would be enough.
I was thankful. Thankful for her sweet caring instincts when confronted with the disadvantaged. Thankful for a chance to, once again, study nature with my daughter–the same little one who would proudly fill up pages in our family’s Backyard Book (especially ones about birds) and traipse with me through the woods with her journal and pencil in hand on our Nature Journaling days.
Thankful for my now-grown daughter’s decision to trust me with her concern; ask me to again learn with her, side-by-side; and allow me to work with her to devise a solution. Together.
This morning, our make-shift nest was empty.
Click below to hear me explain what we did when we found yet another tiny baby bird under a tree, near our farmhouse.
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“Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.” Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)
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