Father Goose?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
June 7, 2008 3:34pm CST
My husband was mowing this morning and almost ran over a baby robin that had escaped the safety of his nest. He moved it a few times and it kept hopping back in his way, so we put it in a box to keep him from harm.
I know, I know, we probably should have left him so mama could come back and feed him, but there are cats all around and he wouldn't have lasted an hour on the ground alone.
We'll do our best to get him worms and such and we'll leave him in an area that mama can get to him if she wishes, and hope for the best. He may not make it, but he definitely wouldn't have otherwise.
I was able to snap several pictures of my 6'5" husband playing mama to the little guy.
6 people like this
15 responses
@tessah (6617)
• United States
8 Jun 08
you did the right thing in picking him up.. and i would continue to care for him if yer able. once a baby bird falls out of the nest.. the mother doesnt tend to it.. so he surely would be left to die. consult with yer vet and ask where to get food that can be fed to him through an eyedropper and keep him in the box inside until hes big enough to fend for himself (can fly) good luck 
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
He made it through the night just fine and I posted an update this morning in another discussion, I'm on the Hunt.
This guy wasn't just hatched, his eyes are open and he is starting to get 'real' feathers as he pulls out the downy covering. I've read that they aren't necessarily abandoned when they fall at that stage, but he sure would have been cat food if I'd have left him alone to fend for himself.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Aww--that's so sweet...sounds like your 6'5" hubby is a real softie...you're going to have to give us updates on how the baby bird is doing
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
He is. He can look pretty intimidating just by his size, but it doesn't take long to figure out that's all it is.
Daylight is coming in. I best go check on my little charge and yes, there will be updates!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Sounds like the events of the last few days at my house. The cats terrorize the baby birds, the parent birds bombard the cat, and I swoop in to remove the cats, move the bird, and hope that all ends well.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
LOL. Yes, it may be a bit of work, but what else are we going to do?
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Awwwww...I know what you mean about cats...Nothing survives around here...we even lost 4 baby bunnies (wild) to some cats....That really made me mad...I sure hope the little guy makes it....
It is our motherly instinct kicking in and we must do what we can to help...Even if it doesn't work out the way we would hope...
Good luck..
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Many, many updates!
Check my discussion on "I'm on the Hunt" ...http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1551824.aspx
And then my blog (link on my profile). Lots more pictures too!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
7 Jun 08
you both are god people to take the time for that little bird, bless his heart. i hope his mother finds him. y'all just showtheir is still good people in the world.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
7 Jun 08
New friend, you are doing wonders for my ego, LOL.
Honestly, we're just 'people' that don't like to see critters suffer. I know my cat would get the little guy if she could.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
7 Jun 08
you don't know me but i am a person that says just what they think. sometime it doesn't go over so big w/folks but oh well, i'm honest. glad i boosted your ego we all need that once in ahile.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
7 Jun 08
I think they do when they're very young, first hatched. When they're this age I think they can handle small worms.
Tom fed he three worms and he seemed to be doing fine. The larger ones he cut into smaller pieces, but he took them!
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
7 Jun 08
It's hard to say whether he'll survive or not. He's a little guy, but not just hatched, so maybe he'll do ok.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
8 Jun 08
Did you find the nest yet? You should really put him back in, the baby robin I mean, because I bet his mother is frantic. But at least he is where he is safe and if his mother does not come back, you will have to take lessons on how to get a baby robin to fly. I think the baby robin may have imprinted on your husband and thinks he's his daddy, so maybe you had better look for the nest.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
The bird was under a very tall tree and we've looked and can't see the nest, so I'm sure it's higher than we could reach even if we could find it.
I've just come back from feeding him two cicadas and a couple of ants. He sees us coming and he stands up and opens his mouth, just like he would for mama!
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Awwww. I'm sorry to hear that. I bet is was cute seeing your husband nurse the little thing. I hope you all can nurse him back to fitness. I have heard that if you touch the babies, the mama won't come back for them. I wish you all the best with it though. It could be an old wives tale with that saying.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Yes, he's definitely got a soft heart with all of God's creatures.
Mama may not come back after him, but we really had no choice. He was right out in the open in the front yard, headed for the road. If a cat hadn't got to him, a car would have.
We had to try.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
8 Jun 08
wow! That is cute, I hope his mama will find him and no cat will harm him once you will put it back in the yard! I know the mama is looking hard for him this very moment..LOL!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
We kept the box outside, a few paces from my front steps since my cat was still in the house.
I just finished feeding the little guy and put the box in the back of the Brister (ATV/golf cart looking thing) since I had to let the cat out. I don't think the cat can get up there, yet mama can still find him if she wants.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
There are robins everywhere here. The tree he fell from is right outside the house and there are always robins around. I don't think she'll have anything to do with him now, though, and we couldn't just leave him there.
If you want updates, check my blog!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Jun 08
I think its really great that your hubby rescued the
little guy as he was in a precarious spot and the cats
would likely have got him otherwise. have fun feeding
the baby and good luck, God Bless.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Yes, Tom is an old softy for sure.
I've done an update in another discussion called 'I'm on the Hunt' and have also started a blog.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Well, I am very late chiming in on this but I bet your husband looked like a big gentle giant compared to that little baby bird...lol.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
10 Jun 08
He absolutely did! He's like that with all creatures. You should hear the stories I have about the cat ...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I hope that happens too, but I doubt it at this point.
There have been several robins in the front yard all afternoon, and they appear to be looking for worms, not babies!
@ebookyoung (184)
• Nigeria
7 Jun 08
Thank God that the robin was safe. How awful it would have been for it to be run over. How about your hubby's pix? Is it in view?
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
7 Jun 08
If you read this in your email, go to the site and read it. The picture is there at the bottom of the discussion.
He is feeding him a worm!
