Day 155
10/16/22
Our morning ritual always culminates with my three walks. The first walk is always with Gus, because he simply would explode if he didn't get to go right away! Lilly and Ranger are next and then, little Sam gets to go for a shorter walk around the block.
Today, everything seemed routine. Gus and I headed to the river and I marveled at the colors of the leaves...even though they were muted by the cloud cover. The wind was a bit strong, but we Minnesotans know how to put on the layers, "dontcha know!"
When Gus and I were almost to the boat landing, I noticed something moving in the grass about four feet from the path. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a morning dove simply sitting on some leaves. We moved closer and it seemed the bird was unable to flee as the only part moving seemed to be its head. As we approached, Gus had his attention towards the river, so I had only a moment to decide whether this beautiful bird needed help.
Of course, I couldn't do anything without a box and our trusty falconer gloves. Also, Gus would have been overly helpful in assisting me in the rescue attempt. Looking around for predators (there are a number of feral cats down by the river) on the ground and in the sky, I decided my only option was to hurry home and return with my car.
My dear, sweet husband didn't even question my request to save this poor creature. Mac had already called the Roseville Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and offered a monetary donation if they could take the dove. He was ready when I dropped Gus off at the house and we piled into the car with our gear. Hurrying to the spot where the possibly injured bird had been, we discovered it was gone. We looked under a few evergreens and along the river, but to no avail. I choose to believe it had been stunned and suddenly discovered it could use its wings to fly once again. We packed the rescue items back into the car and headed home.
On my second walk with Lilly and Ranger, I thought about that bird. It seemed helpless, but I wondered if it would have let me pick it up without a fight. I honestly believe it would have fussed a little, but would have realized we were trying to help. That is how my mind played out the scenario.
A few years ago, our amazing neighbor across the street had discovered a bird's nest that had fallen from a tree when a branch broke off in the wind. There was one baby bird that had survived the fall, so he took the nest, placed the baby within and secured it on a nearby tree branch. The hope was that the mama bird would hear its pitiful cry and return. The only mama who heard it and responded was yours truly!
We called the Roseville Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and they told us to bring it down. Into a box, nest and all, went the ugliest baby I have ever seen. He didn't really have feathers yet and looked like a Dr. Seuss character! That didn't matter...I was already protective of the little bugger!
When we arrived, two volunteers came out and immediately identified "our baby" as a woodpecker. They went to work and when we left, the little thing was on a warming pad with an eye dropper delivering nutrition into its open beak. He seemed to be doing just fine!
Another time, Mac and I were finishing the closing of our Pelican cabin when I heard the most PATHETIC mewing in the world! In the back yard was a tiny kitten (later guessed to be about five weeks old) that was all alone and scared! Once again, out came a box and in went the kitten. I fed it a few crackers and offered water while Mac (my hero) began calling all of the Humane Societies from Brainerd to the Twin Cities. Every place was at their limit where cats were concerned. I had already bonded with this little thing and told Mac, "I am not a cat person, but this baby is coming home with us!"
Mac called the Heartland Animal Rescue Team (HART) one more time. Would they take a small kitten AND a $100 donation? Absolutely! Bring it right in...and the cat too! We did just that. By the time we left that precious thing, one of the volunteers was already filling out an application to adopt it.
Like the dove, the Dr. Seuss bird and the cat, we all need a little saving from time to time. Even though we might put up a fight and try to fix things ourselves, there are times when we need someone to rescue us. I, for one, am going to be more observant of people who might not need falconer gloves, but kid gloves, a little kindness and a lot of compassion.
