Proto Duck

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!