We have two great cats. Both came from the Humane Society and are each unique. The female cat--Allie--is a real character. She loves to go outside, so I let her out in our fenced in yard where the pool is. No further.This morning, I went to retrieve her, and heard this HUGE commotion of squawking chirping birds--robins. So, I scooped up Allie, and then I saw it.
There in the pool was a baby robin. No doubt, in its efforts to fledge, it had flown and landed in the pool area. And I assume Allie thought--AHA--I am a bird charmer--they come to me. My suspicion is that to escape her, the baby bird flapped into the pool.
So there it was--floating, with its light little body--flapping its wings, but unable to extricate itself from the pool.
I put Allie inside quickly, then with the skimmer net rescued the baby robin. Then I ran inside, got some paper towels, scooped it up, drying it all the while, and walked it outside the pool area into our yard. Oh, did I get a round sound scolding from the mama.
I was amused--and then I thought--hmmmm--I wonder if some time in the dawn of bird existence some poor bird flapping to escape a large predator landed in the water--proto duck!
18 comments:
Robins are so feisty that it's a wonder you didn't get bombed.
I just checked your blog and the one comment (to this hour and date) from anvilcloud. I didn’t comprehend your reference to proto duck,so typed it into Google. And guess what, the third cross link was KGMom Mumblings, and your entry for today’s date. Is Google up to date, or is Google up to date! Oh yes, one of the further down cross links gave proto duck as a well traveled highway in the EuroAsia part of the world, and talked of the difficulties in doing archeological research because of the former Soviet Union and/etc. Love, Father “C”
AC--I have been dive bombed by birds protecting their nest, but they were not robins.
Anon (Father C)--too funny. I did the same thing now--typed proto duck into Google, and found it to be the second entry. Moving up!
I used PROTO in the sense of "original." Of course, I don't for a minute think a robin becomes a duck by virtue of swimming, but since I accept the basic premises of evolution, I do wonder what caused creatures to move from one habitat environment to another.
Hence, my musings.
Allie is a beautiful girl! Great save with the skimmer net. I have held my share of baby birds over the years and it is always a thrill and an honor to be able to step in a save one. Good job!
Opps, I meant, "step in AND save one. (Trying to quickly comment while also trying to look like I'm working!)
Great story! So glad it had a happy ending!
What a great story. I can just imagine the scolding you received from Mamma Robin. Three cheers for your daring rescue.
Glad you were able to rescue it. One summer, Wayne looked out the window and said something's in the pool. It was a kitten.Sadly, the kitten did not survive. After that, he set a 10" wide board from the shallow end to the ladder so an animal could eventually get out.
OH, I love your kitty and your story!
It is a good thing you were around to rescue it. I chuckled at your little evolution analogy.
Pretty kitty.
Ours likes to sit on the front porch--also "fenced" in behind a railing and on the second floor.
No matter how we watch them, they love to watch those birds!
Great save...I wonder what your cat was really thinking as you did that??
It is nice to once in a while to save a little critter and cheat cruel Nature.
Your little proto duck reference is a chicken and egg question. Did a little dinasaur floating on the water take off in flight to become a land bird or did a land bird.dinasaur take a fancy to the water. Hmmm!
Donna,
My kind of story :o) You are a savior. I'm glad you are in tune with nature to realize there was trouble. Many people just don't notice or care.
Hurry for you! I don't think little fledglings have duck power...
Mary
Great rescue! I've read a number of posts about cats today, a hint to update about my own!
Proto-Duck! Donna, you're a hoot! I've missed your wonderful mix of entertainment and thought-provoking posts.
I love the story of you and your husband finding love. So sweet.
Beautiful kitty! My kittehs love to watch birds, but they are indoor kittehs (FIV+, plus I don't want them to get hit by cars or eaten by bears). I'm glad you were able to save this little proto-duck from a bad fate (thinking of your pool as the La Brea Tarpits). And oh yes--Mama Robin at my workplace gets TICKED when I go anywhere close to the nest. She'd peck my eyes out if she weren't so busy feeding her babies!
Donna the robin rescuer! Way to go!
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