The tale of the lonesome bird

 

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In a previous post I briefly mentioned a starling we have at the rescue, but as it’s such a character I thought I’d tell it’s tale in full, mainly because we’ve never quite had a bird like it.

It arrived as a featherless chick and had a face only a mother could love. As it grew it became increasingly demanding and literally had an insatiable appetite. Due to a chronic lack of space and because of the endless care it seemed to need, it eventually ended up in a cage on our work counter.

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This of course gave it an excellent view of all the staff and our activities. It took to people and animal watching with glee, and every time we fed a different bird it would poke it’s head through the bars and chitter eagerly to try the different foods the other birds and animals were eating.

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 So we offered it a bit of everything. At first it feigns indifference…

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Then it goes for it. It loves to stake the grapes on a small spike on it’s perch. All new foods are first dunked in it’s water bowl….then tested taste-wise. As a result it now eats mealworm, bread, pigeon corn….but only the dried peas in the mix mind, chick eggnog, apple, pear….the list is endless.

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Whenever you go into it’s cage to clean it, it sits upon your hand or arm and chatters away, merrily grooming you the whole time. And it has a huge selection of toys….sticks, small balls, bells and mirrors.

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Anyway, one fine day it learnt to feed itself….and so it went into an aviary with other garden birds, even a thrush which is spotty enough to resemble a starling.

PTDC0505What happened next shocked us all. It sat on it’s perch and did absolutely nothing, it even refused to eat. The only time it came to life was when a member of staff entered the aviary, then it would leap onto our heads and shoulders and prance about utterly manically. It would chitter and chatter and groom our hair…..and when we left it would stick it’s head under it’s wing and go back to being motionless. It got so bad everyone dreaded going into the aviary.

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Here it’s in the white tub having a bath.

Everyone hardened their hearts and for three days and nights the starling lived with the other birds in the aviary. On the fourth day that little bird was lying on the aviary floor almost lifeless and was rushed back to the unit, we thought it would die but as soon as it was returned to it’s cage on the counter it sparked into life again, never have I seen a more hysterical bird….it chittered and chattered, repeatedly poked it’s head through the bars and pranced and bounced as though it was newly born. To say we were all astonished is an understatement. Then it literally slept for an entire day. It quickly resumed it’s previous activity of people and animal watching, and it’s constant interaction with us. And it was clearly very, very happy again.

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Having a good shake after a bath.

Is it possible for a bird to die of a broken heart? This one nearly did. It must have felt inconsolably lonesome as everything it knew and considered to be family had been taken away. It’s most odd, this kind of behaviour, once birds self-feed they always revert to the wild……not this one though. 

So what to do….we have been hoping another starling would arrive so we could try it in the aviary with it’s own kind, it knows what it looks like, it’s always looking at itself in the mirror…..but no starlings have arrived. I’m not sure it wants the company of other birds though, it seems to thrive on the endless stimulation at the rescue and it does fly around and explore the unit each day but it soon returns to sit on our heads…..

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And finally….

It’s latest obsession is watching the Dunlin being fed, it even eats Dunlin goo from a syringe!

 

 

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40 Comments

  1. Your animal stories are always so touching Snowbird. I agree with Casa Mariposa: this chick thinks he is human and is a bird in name only. I do think creatures lose their way and can die of a broken heart! I am glad this little guy recovered and hope he will find a way to rediscover that he is really a bird.

    • Ahhh, thanks Jennifer, I agree with you both, it does relate to people over birds, here’s hoping it still leads a long and stimulating life.xxx

  2. What a lovely lovely story, Snowbird! Makes me think of Wimsey and his affinity for people. When we thought he was a stray, he wouldn’t eat unless someone was nearby to keep him company. And Darlin is a perfect name for a bird so sweet on people 🙂

    • Thanks Anne, he is a little Darlin for sure. Ahhhh….Wimsey’s story is a total heartbreaker isn’t it, I am SO glad that dear little guy found you and Roomie, how lucky he is.xxx

  3. Sorry for the late comment. What a wonderful story, I hope you find a future that is agreeable to the little bird.

  4. What a darling; I’ve fallen in love all these miles away! It seems an amazing gift to all the hard rescue workers, a winged reminder that you’re all so dear to those you save! 🙂 I’ll look forward to updates on this dear one. Blessings, Dina!

    • He is a little sweetheart, I love him to bits, to think he almost died, what a loss that would have been!
      You are right, as usual, he is a gift and gives us all endless pleasure. He is happy but I would love him to have a better life but so far he has chosen this one. I shall keep you updated, thanks Kitty.xxx

  5. Awhh. What a lovely story.I haven’t seen many starlings for a long time. They are pretty scarce. Hope yours manages tohave a wild llife eventually. But in the meantime may you all enjoy one another’s company xxx

    • I have noticed a distinct drop in the starling population too, they used to be everywhere like sparrows didn’t they? I’m sure we’ll think of something to do with the starling but until then he’s our constant companion. Thanks Keggs.xxx

  6. A sweet but very poignant story. Given that it was a lone starling perhaps this was the only possible outcome. Interesting that most birds raised in captivity eventually revert to wild.As others have said, he may be a new permanent member of staff for the shelter.

    • Thanks Jason, I think this guy is a one off and needs to be with us until other options can be tried. Practically all birds revert when they self feed. we have had single starlings in even younger than this one and had no problems releasing them.xxx

  7. Your little feathered friend is imprinted on the bipeds surrounding its early and continuing days. As you say, it has chosen its family network and through experiences of the caring handling it has had and the companionship it has become used to. You’ll all just have to accept you are the adopted brethren of your little Starling. Has it got a name yet.
    🙂

    • Yes, it thinks it’s one of us now and as yet still no starlings have arrived….it simply loves the endless stimulation of the rescue, it watches everything with such interest and even comments on things, when new birds come in it remains quiet until we have finished what we are doing then chitters afterwards to us….it is definitely commenting! Glo has named it Darlin…..I do like that.xxx

  8. What a beautiful story, and YES birds can die from a broken heart. Nine years ago when I was living in Barnes I looked after a woman’s budgie…it was for two weeks….well I let the bird fly free…I played beautiful music for it….I painted it…talked to it and loved it. Sadly, the day came when the bird had to go home….and the woman didn’t talk to it…at all….and the bird died about four days later…I believe of a broken heart. I even called her Buttercup:) I often think of that little bird…. I think you should keep this little one on the counter as the hospital mascot. Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend. xxxxxx

    • Oh, what a sad, sad story about little Buttercup, how I wish you could have kept her, it sounds like you really bonded with each other. How odd that your bird died on the fourth day, our little starling would have died then too….maybe that’s how long it takes a bird to die with a broken heart. I wish you could have kept your bird too….ahhhhhh. Thanks Janet.xxx

  9. A lovely post. What a lovable little bird. Do starlings get imprinted with the first thing they see like ducks?

    • Thanks Chloris, no, starlings and other garden birds tend to revert once they are self feeding, ducks and gulls always imprint on the first face they see when emerging from the egg so remain wild no matter how often they are handled. This little chappie is a one off.xxx

  10. What a fascinating story about Darlin’ the Starlin’ ~ truly amazing and so interesting that it tries all the food and becomes so animated around humans. Thanks for sharing the info and looking forward to future posts about it.

    • Well….you have gone and done it again haven’t you? Darlin it is!!! What an absolutely fantastic name…I LOVE it!!! Thanks for that! If this bird is ever released it will survive as it has the most varied diet EVER! xx

  11. What a brilliant story – I am enraptured! How amazing that it should so quickly identify itself with humans … and be totally out of its depth with its own kind !! Wonder what you’ll all do?? Wonder if he/she will ever go back to the wild??? Next chapter eagerly awaited! I’d no idea they were so very sociable and so easy to socialise – or is it just this one?????

    • Oh, this starling is a total one off! We’ve had them in a day old and have released them successfully. And they have been kept on the counter too! All the time the starling was on the counter, a robin, thrush and a couple of blackbirds were nearby and they all reverted beautifully once they could feed themselves, this guy is unique!Whatever the final outcome we shall strive to give this guy the best possible life…..and even if it refuses to leave us at least it can fly free around us.xxx

  12. Most delightful story!!! I bet children would love this one…..Like all other creatures rescued and raised from vulnerable infancy, it will mimic the ‘hand that feeds it’…..Even in the ‘Wild’ such stories are not uncommon. Nature is truly marvelous! Thanks for sharing…Love it! Hugs! x

    • Ahhh…..I’d have the kids sobbing Bushka!!! You have it in a nutshell though, there is always a one off isn’t there? One thing I have learnt at the rescue is that every single animal is individual! Just like us.xxx

  13. What an amazing, and indeed fascinating, post. It looks rather as though the centre has got a resident starling so you’ll have to name it.
    It goes without saying that you’ll have to keep us updated. xx

    • Well Glo has done it again….she has come up with Darlin….very apt don’t you think??? I will certainly keep you posted Flighty.xxx

  14. A fascinating story. I hope there’s a solution to its craving for humans rather than its own kind as it would be difficult to let it go back into the wild and fend for itself.

    • There is no way that bird could be released at the moment, but down the line it may like to hang out in the rescue gardens where it is fed and can interact with us….there are several options, it could even live with me and have an open cage outdoors where it could return too if it wished….ideally it will bond with other starlings….sighs…early days yet but we will all keep our thinking caps on and do our utmost to ensure it lives a stimulating life.xxx

  15. Poor little thing. The new rescue pet. It’ll need a name..

  16. Awww, bless it. I think this one will be with you for a very long time.

  17. Sounds like the rescue has got itself a new helper. Such a cute story, I hope you a happy solution in the end 🙂

    • I hope for a good outcome too Jenny, if it has to stay with us at least it has endless stimulation and does get to fly around each day.xxx

  18. I bet you are all attached to it too.

    • OH YES!!! We were all absolutely gutted when it was doing nothing in the aviary, but you have to toughen up with wildlife as you want them back where they belong….this one nearly broke our hearts especially when we thought it was dying.xxx

  19. What a lovely story – and very strange. Will it survive if you let it go do you think – or is it a keeper.

    • We couldn’t let it go until it flies free in an aviary and behaves like a wild bird so I think we’ll have it for a while…..it is very strange but then we often get the odd creature who is so very individual and breaks all the rules! Starlings are incredibly social birds but we have had them in the same age as this one and they have reverted beautifully to the wild once feeding…I shall keep you posted!xxx

  20. It doesn’t know it’s a bird. It thinks it’s a human and couldn’t figure out why it was in the aviary. That creature is a bird in name only. It identifies itself as a person and wants to be with other people. I doubt that will ever change but if it does, let us know! What a funny little guy!

    • I agree Casa….it doesn’t see itself as a bird even though it knows and recognizes it’s own reflection. This is an incredibly curious and intelligent bird and it enjoys the endless stimulation of the rescue, funny thing is all the chicks are kept close and can see what we are up too as it’s easier that way as we have to feed them endlessly……none have ever behaved like this guy, not even other starling chicks….it’s a one off and will be dealt with as such….maybe down the line it will be flying free around the rescue with it’s cage on the counter always there if it wants to go into it….I’ll keep you posted.xxx

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