I am not much of a naturalist/environment guy but my wife is. So much so that I’m considering changing my dietary tendencies to be plant based like she is and not be a heavily meat based person anymore. Anyways I mountain bike a lot, and today as I was going on a lap down towards a downhill section, I noticed a small bird in the middle of the way. It couldn’t fly, was just hopping a few cm at a time, and its tail was visibly damaged. Usually I would have just kept riding and let nature do its thing but a year ago we were out and she found a hummingbird on the ground and saved it – so I am trying to do the right thing here. I spoke with a guy that was passing me and he googled a vet I could take it to. I emptied out my fanny pack as much as I could and went to bring the bird to the bottom of the trail where my wife would meet me and we would take the bird to the emergency wildlife vet. I had about a 3 mile descent to do, and took it very slowly. Made it to the bottom where she was waiting and turns out birds are very fragile and even an emptied fanny pack with the zipper open suffocated it. So instead of the bird hopping to potential safety, I accidentally suffocated it in my bag and then took it out to show my animal loving wife who was then brought to tears. To cap it off we saw some roadkill on the side of the road which made her even more upset.
TL;DR birds are fragile, nature is cruel, don’t transport avian creatures in fanny packs.
Comments
Keep in mind the bird was already injured and likely in shock. Whatever injury the bird had most likely was the cause of its demise. I doubt the bird suffocated. More likely it was bleeding internally based on your description . Be at peace with yourself for trying to help the best you could with the resources you had on hand.
Oh I’m so sorry it didn’t work well, but You did the best you knew how. Your heart was in the right place. I tried to rescue animals too, and I have had my failures in the past as well. I think many of us have. It’s heartbreaking when you think you’re doing the right thing and it turns out you made a mistake. In the end, it made me a better rescuer. I hope you don’t let this discourage you from trying next time.
I read a story once that said a native American tribe had a story that when a person passes all of the animals they’ve known in their life are lined up along the path on either side to wish them well or not, depending on how that person was to them in life. Now you have this little bird on the side of your path who will wish you well because you tried to help. I don’t even know if it is true that a tribe had this story or not, but I can find comfort in the idea that the universe is keeping a reckoning of our good intentions.
Awe I’m sorry that happened! You had the best of intentions. It just really be like that sometimes.
You tried, man… don’t beat yourself up over it too much. I found a grackle baby years ago that had fallen from a nest during a storm. I placed it on a branch, thinking the parents would take care of it… found it the next time I mowed my yard, dead in the grass.
You do the best you can, but life is fragile. Vow to help again in the future, despite the outcome this time.
Don’t feel bad, it was probably already doomed when you found it. (So sorry!) 🙁
I say this as someone who rescued a baby bunny from my yorkie a week or so ago. It was still alive and breathing when I placed it back where it (likely) came from. But it never moved again, and I found half of it in the same spot several hours later…
I rescued a purple Martin once. It was tiny. I fed it mealworms and crickets. Gave it water with an eyedropper. It was just starting to fly a little. It would fly a big circle and land back on me, then refuse to fly anymore. It was slowly flying longer distances and I was excited for the day it wouldn’t fly back. Landlord was spraying the trailer for bugs. Said to put the bird cage outside. We came home to a dead bird. The cage was wet and smelled chemically, and there were no other wet spots outside. The landlord sprayed the bird on purpose. All that work for nothing. You’re the opposite of that landlord. You tried to help. You did your best. Birds bleed very easily, and it probably was bleeding internally before you picked it up. Heck, they can sometimes die from sudden temperature changes. You didn’t kill the bird, it was already dying.
I remember reading an article years ago about a guy who tried to revive a bird he found on the ground with an eye dropper of gin. (NB Not a great idea!) It was a humor article – I think an endpaper in Smithsonian, but I can’t remember. Anyway, the bird wobbled a bit, then did actually fly away. The author mused that he could imagine the bird explaining why he was late to his wife: First, I got blown outta the tree, then this guy took me prisoner and put me in a box, then I swear to God, he forcefed me martinis, but I escaped and came straight home…
Nah, a fledgling wouldn’t suffocate in an empty unzipped bag. They have incredibly efficient respiratory systems. (Veterinarian and former wildlife rehabilitator here.) Fledges are fragile, and if it was already injured it was a long shot for it at best. You’re a good egg for trying, and for taking steps to be kinder to the creatures around you. I’m sure your wife is over the moon about it. =)
For future reference, here’s a good guide on what to do if you find a baby bird:
https://rosemarymosco.com/comics/bird-and-moon/found-a-baby-bird
You tried. And now you know better for next time.
Last weekend my dogs found an injured bird while we were on a walk. Brought it with us and started reaching out to rehabbers. By the time we heard back from one it had died, and it was about an hour later and had been held carefully the entire time. Sometimes it just happens.
I tried to rescue a baby bird once. It infested my house with mites and died anyway.