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Our grandson, Zane, overheard some adult friends talking about birds one day. Jim knew someone that had a canary and thought that it would be fun to have one. Zane has a good memory for details.

My wife likes to feed the wild birds. I have discovered the number of birds one has at their feeders is directly proportional to the amount of feed a person puts out for them. If my wife has enough feed and feeders for fifty birds, sixty will show up and eat it all. If there is enough for a thousand birds to eat well, twelve hundred will pig out and fight over the seed until it is gone. We have feeders on both sides of the house to keep them spread out. The problem with large numbers of finches, juncos, chickadees, cardinals, flickers, and every other wild bird in the neighborhood fighting over the food is eventually one will try to take a short cut from one side of the house to the other through the living room. Pretty little birds must not be the brightest animals in the world or they would realize, being winter and all, we have the windows closed. Every once in a while, we will hear a loud "boink" and look out to see a dazed bird on the porch that did not see the window until it was too late. If the bird with the unfortunate accident is lucky, Louie, the boxer pup is inside and stays their until it is able to get its bearings enough to fly away. Sometimes, the bad day for the bird that runs into the window gets a lot worse. If the dog happens to be on the porch when the bird knocks himself out, the dog has a quick snack before anyone can stop him.

One day last week, Zane was at our place since a blizzard had canceled school. Birds eat continuously during severe whether, just in case it gets worse or the food runs out. One of the five hundred or so juncos decided to take the short cut to the other side of the house through the living room. When Zane heard the "boink", he jumped up and looked out the window. The pretty little gray bird lay on its side, breathing heavily, unable to get up. The first thing Zane thought of he could get a bird for Jim. The bird would be happy to be rescued. Jim would be happy to have a new pet. It was a win/win situation. He ran out into the howling wind, picked up the unconscious bird and brought it into the house before any marauding dogs could get it.

My wife, watching the drama unfold, got a shoe box before she was even asked. She is wise in many ways, especially at reading the minds of little boys. She has learned over the years, to them, there is no such thing as letting nature take its course. Boys think every injured or orphaned animal needs to be rescued and she knows it is easier to help them in their mission until they are old enough to realize, nature takes its course with or without our help.

The shoe box was prepared with food, water, and a soft bed made from a piece of cloth. Zane suggested they put the box on the dining room table so they could check it frequently. My wife, who has been known to have wild animals running around her kitchen during their rescue operation, insisted the box be kept in the garage. A half hour passed and they went out to check the patient. Zane carefully lifted the lid and the bird flew out. My wife is definitely wise beyond her years. A bird flying around the garage is much more easily tolerated than that same bird flying around the kitchen.

When the one garage door was opened, the recovered bird flew out free and happy. Jim will have to settle for a canary, but not because Zane did not try.[[In-content Ad]]

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