The Great Bird Caper

Thanks for coming by on your Thanksgiving weekend. For the person in Virginia that looks at my blog, thank you also for coming by. 

I was not sure if this week I would write anything. It has not been a great week. But to keep my habit going, just write. 

Yesterday, I prepared the whole dinner. That was my first time doing so and I loved every step of the process. It was just me, Phil, my parents and Agatha. It was the slice of calm I was craving a couple of weeks ago with yummy pecan pie at the end. We received sad news the day before and were glad to have each other's company. Today, the hijinks ramped up a notch. 

Before packing to head home, we had a visit from a zebra finch. A bird native to Australia, it was most likely someone's domesticated pet that had escaped its cage. Lil' Finchy danced on the deck and cozied up behind me. I asked mom for some nibbles. As she opened the door, the bird flew into their house. It flew from one room to the next, landing atop high cabinets and door frames. Phil and I played "Finch Frenzy" for a good 10 minutes before it swooped out to the yard. It was the energy boost needed before a long drive home.

But the finch did not leave. It sat in the yard, almost camouflaged in the grace as it looked for food. There was no way of knowing where it was from or how long it had been out on its own. Phil swept up the bird and we tried to find it a safe space. My parents live in front of a large wooded area on the Georgian Bluffs, with lots of animals that would go looking for a small snack. We packed the bird into a box, gave it some holes and called around to find a place nearby to surrender the bird. No luck with the local shelters or rescue centres. We decided to take it with us and decide along the way what to do.

We had a larger container with holes for air. We lined the bottom with paper towel and leaves. We diced up a bit of an apple for nutrients and hydration. But as we tried to move the bird, it broke loose and flew around the garage. In the midst of its attempted escape, the bird flew straight into the window then slowly flew to the ground. It was still moving but was dazed and confused. Phil got it into the makeshift cage and we started driving. 

We debated whether we should keep it or surrender it. While passing through Shelburne, we stopped at a specialty pet store. Phil took the bird inside and was given the diagnosis that it most likely would not survive much longer. He kindly gave us some seeds to see if the bird would eat. Unfortunately, the poor birdy, I believe, had a heart attack and passed away. We laid it to rest at a park in Brampton.

Maybe next year will not have as much animal-related mayhem? Only 364 days to go.