Furcula healed, Scrappy Pesterbug can fly but prefers intense interactive contact with her human family, hence the name.
After she broke her furcula, Scrappy kept her vet flex on for four days which was three days shy of the recommended period of recovery. Her wing still had a little bit of drop, so I kept her caged for five more days to limit her wing movement. When I opened the cage door, she flew first to me then did a grand circle twice around the kitchen, living room, and dining room in celebration.
Scrappy is happy.
Scrappy enjoys her humans and spends most of her time bothering the hell out of us. In defense of our scalps, we often wear hats in the house. She views hat brims as excellent walkways and will circle the hat then peer under the brim at you.
She also enjoys her bath and will splash water fully two yards from her bathtub. In this hot Oregon summer, she will often take up to four baths a day or more.
She played with it for a half hour then put it in her water dish where many of her toys wind up.
My long-suffering spouse is bird-sitting for me until mid-August as I take a trip of a lifetime with my sister. O’K and I will be cruising the Galapagos Islands for the next ten days. So my next post will be all about penguins, Darwin's finches, magnificent frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, and whatever I can get a fleeting picture of while I am snorkeling.
I hope Scrappy does not forget me.
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I am so impressed that you got a decent action shot of the splashing. I have never been able to attempt that without the camera getting soaked.
Delighted to hear the furcula healed.
Scrappy! So not a ‘W’ name, after all?
Thanks again for the wonderful update and pics. And don’t worry—Scrappy will never be able to forget you. You're imprinted :-)
—Melissa
You are my elders in starling technology for sure! I hope you are right and that she will not forget me. Had a parakeet who did after a week-friendly but no longer in love with me.
The splashing was on telephoto--lots of motion on the pictures but this one sorta turned out.
Scrappy just fit and I thought it better to get out of the W rut. Poor "Wabbit"...at least it was better than Shaddrack.
That's it. I'm robbing a mockingbird's nest next spring. I'd make a so much better mom than she, so much better.
Bayou Bonnie II on the horizon
Thanks for coming by, Bob! This stuff is so cool. The one thing that I am looking forward to the most in Galapagos is the lack of fear of the animals. Lifelong I have felt this oneness with all things wild.
Watch those urges, Bob. Pigeons (kind dumb), starlings (smart and talkative, and English Sparrows (cute, loving, sweet, obstreperous) are all pet material. The rest of our winged relatives are off limits due to the wild bird act of 1973. Must tell you that I do suffer guilt about her imprinting on me and not returning her to the wild. They are a large committment.
Still miss my sparrow, Percy.
Why feel guilt? Happiness is happiness, regardless of what could have been, they're unaware. And that little girl seems happy as hell.
I remember bayou Bonnie. She seemed in heaven flitting around in my office and house. Revel in the gift mother nature gave you. I wish I could meet her.
It's just that I am promised to be an UNCAGED wild bird in my next life, and my spirituality which loves all my relations as equals to me. I know that wild birds often have short brutal lives, and logically I know that she will have an easier life with me, but still it is not the natural life which she was destined to have, even if that life was short, ended by a barn cat or turkey. I try to make up in love for the freedom and the joy of flying clear in the sky that she lacks.
I have loved wild birds as you did your bird, so know how deep and loving that relationshp can be. It is my best thing.
Thanks so much, Bob, for coming back and aI nod my head and agree to be easy within myself.
thank you.
xo
A friend at school gave me a journal (with sea turtles) and told me that this would be a spiritual trip for me.
Thank you, my friend.
But your little girl was rescued by a heart of gold, not captured to be sold.
There should be no guilt, no remorse. You gave her a life she likely would not have had if it weren't for you. A wonderful gift from you. She sees you as family, as friends. What a wonderful gift. What a wonderful gift. I would love to see a little girl looking under the brim of a hat, to see me looking back. Awesome lady, just awesome
God, I'm so fucking jealous.
Thanks for coming by to check up on the Pesterbug. Should probably stick a "W" in the middle there just to go with my other W pets. For a while, I was allergic to middle "Ws" but it's safe now, right?
Okay, Bob, you talked me out of remorse and into joy. As much as I enjoy her bringing wildness into my life, she may enjoy me bringing the human world into hers. It's presumptious of me to assume otherwise.
Flowery Dolores!
Thanks for liking my pictures. In order to get some decent wildlife photos, I need to have them in my living room under artificial light. Most of my wildlife photos show where the animal was a few moments ago. Galapagos should be different I hear--they are probably on some kind of retainer.
Thanks for all the love, love love, honey! Yes, a pesterbug but withal a fun one. Birds can be so intense. I love that we have Franny and Zooey here--a regular starling zoo! It is very heartening that they have kept them around for three years and I consider them masters and a resource.
Owl,
I, too, love a happy ending. When folks recommend movies, I always ask about that. (hmm, you left a feather...)
Mamoore,
Thanks, I think this will be the trip of a lifetime--otherworldly and wild. My sister O'K takes us to some remarkable places.
Bird spa! Had not thought of that, but why not? I am charmed that she likes my roses--the Doxie turns her nose up if it isn't edible.
Thank you, Pilgrim!
Bob, waking up at 0300 definitely signals that you need a bird! This time of year, they are having their 3rd or 4th broods out of which they will be lucky to see one survive. Do you know any horse people? Daughter got mine at the barn where they have lots of nesting places. I watched at our local grocery store for a sparrow but they are not as forgiving at the store, but that's another story.
Beautiful post. What could be more loving and noble than to help another living creature on its way toward healing and recovery, let alone flight?
I don’t think you need to worry about Scrappy “forgetting” you. Ever.
One bird my sister cared for, even after having been released in the “wild” many miles from her home, would come when she called for it - swooping down from the tops of trees to perch on her shoulder much to the amazement of those who stood by.
The little heart that beats inside Scrappy is, without question, a very grateful one when it comes to you.
Rated and appreciated.
I do believe that no post of mine would be complete without your comments. Thank you once again.
How lovely for your sister to be able to call a wild bird to her. I think that the Disney film Snow White struck home for me. There is a scene where she is singing and walks outside and has birds land on her shoulders and hands. That just clicked for me. I actually had that happen on a high lake in the cascades. That little bird (I think she was a juvenile--they are fairly fearless) gripped my shoulder as I paddled hard into a stiff wind for a mile across the lake. Hitching a ride.
You are such a terrific mom, even birds want to be your kids. Excellent job taking care of the little starling, btw. Scrappy will not forget you, you are his imprinted mom. :-D
Thumbed. And did I say how envious I am of your trip?
I want to see lots of pics when you get back, girl. :-D
This is so not about your post. I already said my usual 100 words about how charming it was. This is to let you know you are missed at OS. You bring elements that are always needed - kindness, encouragement, and clarity. Hurry back.