Flittin' Young'un

As Clytie and I walked along the river, we were followed by this young blue jay.  He seemed most interested in us--he sat watching us long enough, I was able to catch a quick picture of this bold fledgling.

I like the way his feathers are sort of ruffled--he seems like a teenager to me.  (grin)

Baby Blue Jay

Here you see a baby bluebird we rescued from Samson the Cat. I was nearly asleep when the kids frantically knocked on the door. Though it was dark outside, it seems they were hearing a big racket out in the side lawn.

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Throwing on my big comfy robe, I dashed down with the kids to see what was the matter. Samson the cat seemed mighty intrigued by something there in the grass. Shooing the cat away, we found a fledgling bluejay, whose strength of voice had had apparently frightened the cat into keeping his distance.

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We put him into a shoebox, lined with soft towels, and gently put a lid with holes over him. If he survived the night, we would know if the cat had made his mark or not.

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The next morning the little fellow was still alive and kicking. When we consulted the wildlife rehab center, they advised us to put him someplace safe where his parents could find him. When fledglings first learn to fly, they spend three-four days on the ground. Dangerous times for these small birds.

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I felt honored that this little bird rested so trustfully in my hands. The same was true of a tiny fledgling chickadee Samson the cat brought into the house a few days ago. I made sure he was alright, and about four hours later, I put him into a birdhouse with a large opening, in the top of the walnut tree. His parents found him, and some time later they flew away.