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Post by downylover on Aug 20, 2016 17:37:30 GMT -5
There's a very injured blue jay outside. I tried called a wildlife center but they're closed now and I don't know what to do. His eyes are open and he looked right at me but he doesn't seem to be able to move much and looks like he's not going to make it. He's laying there in the middle of the lawn.
I just poked holes all over a box and put it over him. Years back I had an injured bird and a rehab person told me to put it in a box because if it was going to recover it would feel safe if it was less exposed. And, if it was going to die it would at least die less terrified. He didn't have any obvious wounds and was way too far away from the house to have flown into it or a window. I wish I knew what happened.
Sorry to rant. I have no one I can call to help me with him.
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Post by l2b on Aug 20, 2016 18:24:19 GMT -5
There's a very injured blue jay outside. I tried called a wildlife center but they're closed now and I don't know what to do. His eyes are open and he looked right at me but he doesn't seem to be able to move much and looks like he's not going to make it. He's laying there in the middle of the lawn. I just poked holes all over a box and put it over him. Years back I had an injured bird and a rehab person told me to put it in a box because if it was going to recover it would feel safe if it was less exposed. And, if it was going to die it would at least die less terrified. He didn't have any obvious wounds and was way too far away from the house to have flown into it or a window. I wish I knew what happened. Sorry to rant. I have no one I can call to help me with him.
Hi Kim, You are doing the best thing for him right now, he knows you care and that means a lot. Do not give him any food or water, if you pick him up, use gloves. Put the box in a quiet, darkened room & if he hasn't gone to Heaven by morning, and is still sick, please let me know, together we will decide what will be the next step.
Hang in there, I'm rootin' for you. l2b
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Post by downylover on Aug 20, 2016 18:33:10 GMT -5
Thanks for replying, l2b. If he dies I will bury him. I've had birds die before (thankfully not too often). This is sad because he's alive and I feel like I should be doing more for him but I don't know what. He seems badly injured. I didn't look out side for hours and hours so I'm wondering if he was injured during the storm. We had over 3" of rain in a couple of hours plus very loud thunder and lightning and some wind. Probably more likely that a hawk or something grabbed him and got scared off. He looked right at me and made a sound. That's what broke my heart.
And yes, I know its dumb to be attached to wild animals that live outside but I can't help it.
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Post by downylover on Aug 20, 2016 19:08:05 GMT -5
Update: I just checked him and he passed. Its probably for the best. I don't think a rehab would have been able to help him even if it was still open for the day. RIP, little jay.
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Post by BarbK on Aug 21, 2016 13:12:56 GMT -5
Hi Downylover, I feel terrible for you and also the Blue Jay. I dread looking out and seeing a sick bird as you did. We have a rehabilatator nearby and years ago we got the same advice from him about putting the bird in a box in our garage. Thank God, the next day, the bird was fine and we released it.
But you did come to his rescue, did the kind thing and helped him so much.
It's not dumb to be attached to birds outside. I can't stand to see any animal suffering. I understand fully what you went through. You really did good.
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Post by downylover on Aug 21, 2016 19:41:54 GMT -5
Thanks, BarbK. (good to see you here again)
On a happier note, tonight I counted 19 cardinals outside. Lots of baby cardinals this year. I hope some stick around. The more of them the merrier.
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Post by BarbK on Aug 21, 2016 20:38:23 GMT -5
Hi downylover, if I ever saw 19 cardinals, I would faint. Even 10. I feed the birds during the summer. (Not as much as I do in winter), but I don't get a big variety of them. Maybe that's why I don't go on the forum that much. It was very rare for me to get house sparrows, but now that Sandy has taken a number of our trees, I'm getting so many of them. Very few grackles, though.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Aug 21, 2016 23:07:32 GMT -5
So sorry about the blue jay, downylover. Philosophically, I know it's Nature's way and that everything passes eventually, but emotionally, it's a little less simple. *hugs* As for the cardinals, I think our pair had one male and one female offspring this summer--but I've still only ever seen 2 at the same time! LOL 19 would be astounding!
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Post by downylover on Aug 22, 2016 9:17:59 GMT -5
I can't recall who it was but there was a former poster here who had crabapple trees in their yard. She posted photos of them with dozens and dozens of cardinals. I've always wanted that many! I think some that are born end up staying. I say this because my numbers have slowly increased over the years. I think one thing that helps them stick around is something I've been doing for the last 5 or so years - just before dark all the other birds are gone for the day but the cardinals are usually still around. I bring out a handful of peanuts out of the shell along with some other treat if I have it - grapes are their favorite. They often get left out of the peanut rush because the jays, woodpeckers, etc tend to swarm in for them. They've definitely learned the pattern. They gather and when the door opens then barely fly off. Within a minute or two they're all back happily eating. If you don't feed much in the summer you could still do something like this to keep the cardinals around all year.
I had less grackles this year too but unfortunately I had starlings show up. They're worse than grackles but they mostly come in spurts when they have babies. Same with house sparrows for me. I will go weeks and weeks without them and then they show up. There's definitely months were I have a bunch then months where I have like 2. Our neighborhood lost so many trees with Sandy too. The biggest change is the increase in hawks and that I didn't see/hear (I mostly hear them) flickers for a couple of years.
Thanks again for replying about the blue jay and not making me feel like a crazy!
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Post by happybirder on Aug 23, 2016 10:43:15 GMT -5
downylover...I think it was me on the old forum (birdnutz99) that posted many pics of our crabapples. We have 12 of one kind and one Radiant Flowering Crabapple in our 3 acre yard. I went to the old forum and searched on crabapples and there is one post where you replied to one of my crabapple posts re a pic in full bloom.
We have had 58 cardinals on our PFW counts for the highest totals. That is when the worst of winter is here and many inches of snow is on the ground covering all of the naturals. They are such a treat for us when it is so bad outside. They and the cedar waxwings really appreciate the crabapples.
I planted a bunch of viburnums for the birds and critters and they are just hanging down this year with bright red fruits. The cardinals adore our June berries and devour them beginning in May when they just start to turn color. They camp in the bushes all day long and gobble all they can hold.
I was saddened to read about your blue jay...I grew up on a dairy farm and have always been tender-hearted about anything that is hurt or dying. I read all the posts here but don't log in much to post.
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Post by downylover on Aug 23, 2016 14:20:08 GMT -5
Nice to see you here again! Yes, it was you! Sorry, I am awful with remembering who posted what but I remember seeing things. I loved those pictures with all the cardinals.
I hope you return and join in. I wish everyone would come back.
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Post by happybirder on Aug 23, 2016 14:43:28 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that I planted highbush blueberries long ago and the cardinals love those, too. These plants are so gorgeous in the fall with smoky-purple leaves. They grow taller than our regular blueberry plants. I always smile when I see the cardinals in the berry type plants. I think they scout out all the foodie bushes. We have some huge elderberry plants, too, and all the birds gobble the berries up on them.
My camera that I always used died and I got a new cheap one but have not used it much. The constant rains this year have caused the mosquitoes to be a huge plague and I got bit every time I tried to go out and learn how to use it.
All of our huge cockspur hawthorn trees lost all of their fruits to a bad fungus problem caused by all the rain. We hardly have any apples on our trees this year due to such a wet and cold spring. The house finches love apples and the neighborhood pileated woodpecker makes the rounds to any apple trees in our area. They are so funny to watch and listen to.
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Post by BarbK on Aug 23, 2016 18:21:08 GMT -5
downylover, what a great, great idea about putting out nuts and grapes for the cardinals much later in the day. I often see them at the feeders when it just about gets dark and all is quiet. I believe the reason I don't get much of a variety or a lot of birds is because I don't have many bushes in the back yard. We do have a huge bush near the back fence where the cardinals always fly to. I believe if we had more, we would have more birds. We have trees, but I don't think birds roost in trees as much as thick bushes. I'm just not a gardener.
happybirder, so nice to see you back and so glad you mentioned who you are from the other forum. Even though I'm not a gardener I always enjoyed reading about your flowers, etc.
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Post by downylover on Aug 24, 2016 23:24:41 GMT -5
Your gardens sound wonderful. Like BarbK I am not a gardener, not even a little, but I like to see pictures and read about others.
BarbK, its such a peaceful 15-20 minutes of the day. Its mainly all cardinals out at that time but I'll get catbirds (love them) and a woodpecker or two show up as well. I usually only stay out 10 or so minutes then leave them to eat up in peace for the last 15 minutes of their day. I highly recommend giving it a try.
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Post by BarbK on Aug 25, 2016 10:14:27 GMT -5
downylover, I do love to see the cardinals at the feeders at the end of the day. I have feeders near my kitchen window and dinette area and one of my birdbaths near our patio door, so I can frequently observe them near dusk eating away. Lately, I've noticed a mourning dove out there pretty late, which I haven't seen before. But not as late as the cardinals.
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