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Bud1880
Dec-07-2007, 10:28 AM
Just couple hours ago I walked out into the kitchen and looking out the window I noticed immediately some feathers stuck to it. Not a good sign usually. That window is only about 15 feet or so from a tree where we feed the small birds. We have one crash the window about every couple weeks or so. I looked out on the deck to see if I could see a bird laying there and sure enough I could see tail feathers sticking up out of the 3 or 4 inches of snow we've had the last couple of days. The feathers were moving so I thought the bird was still alive. I generally leave nature to it's course but my wife insisted that I go out and dig the poor thing out so it could breathe. He was really buried. About an inch of tail feathers and just a sliver of the trailing edge of a wing were visible. He was head first into that wet snow.

Well, I dug him out, this tiniest of goldfinches. His eyes were open and once I freed him of his snowy burden he fluttered and hopped onto the back of my gloved hand. Kinda startled me for a second but he never made any other attempt to move. I guess he was still shaking off that window hit . :D

My wife grabbed the camera off the kitchen table and, even with her very 'limited' knowledge of my camera, managed to get a few shots of this episode.

It was pretty cool. I held that bird for about 10 minutes then walked him over to the finch feeder and got him to sit on a perch. I went back inside and watched for a few minutes. He just sat there quietly. Later I went back to the window and he was gone. Just to make sure that he just didn't fall off or was pushed off by other birds I went back out to look for him. No sign of him on the ground so I can only assume that he was fine and flew off to get some needed rest.

If I ever find him again I'll most assuredly present him with a bill. Bud's Search and Rescue doesn't come cheap. :D

http://dabudman.smugmug.com/photos/229678051-L.jpg

http://dabudman.smugmug.com/photos/229678058-L.jpg

dbaker1221
Dec-07-2007, 04:27 PM
cool stuff Bud:thumb

ShepsMom
Dec-07-2007, 04:40 PM
Thank you for the rescue!! :clap:clap:clap What a cutie!!:lust

Bud1880
Dec-08-2007, 05:06 AM
cool stuff Bud:thumb
Thanks Dave.

Bud1880
Dec-08-2007, 05:07 AM
Thank you for the rescue!! :clap:clap:clap What a cutie!!:lust

It was my pleasure Marina. He may be a colorful snapshot next summer. :D

JenGrace
Dec-08-2007, 06:04 AM
Sweet story! :D

Giphsub
Dec-10-2007, 01:23 AM
Nice one :clap

Maestro
Dec-10-2007, 03:47 AM
Bud, that is a precious little diddie! We should let Nature take its course, but Nature probably did not plan on all the subdivisions, skyscrapers and other shelters being built with see through glass and/or plexiglass by we humans. You did the right thing. Sometimes you just have to intervene. It wasn't this goldfinch's time. Good for you!

Bud1880
Dec-10-2007, 04:48 AM
Jen, Mike, Stephen,

Thanks for the kind words. Appreciated.

Bud