Meet Harpo...

This morning as I was walking back in with Coleman & Sunny I saw something moving in the gravel. As I got closer I saw it was a tiny little bird that looked as if it was dropped / pushed / fell from a nest... However there was no nest to be found.

Thankfully the doggies didn't see it before I did. So, I hurried them in & grabbed a couple paper towels & went back out & gently picked it up. It immediately opened it's beak wanting food. Not being a "wildlife" type of person, I had no clue what to give it, except water.

As I held this tiny little creature in my hand (still in the paper towel), I tried to find something to give it water. Finally I just got my finger wet & dropped a couple drops to it. Then it went back to sleep. Poor thing.

Anyway, I called my vet & they gave me a couple options to call. 1. The Gorman Nature Center & 2. The Ohio Bird Sanctuary (OBS). Since Gorman Nature is closer to me, I called them 1st. However, they directed me to call the OBS. I called & received their answering machine. I left a message... However, I really didn't want to wait for them to call me back. So, I did what the outgoing message said... I found a box & placed the little one into it.

It was awake again looking for food. This time I took one of my ice tea spoons (smaller than a regular teaspoon) & "fed" it some water. Then I rushed & changed clothes. I looked up the address & a map & saw the OBS was easy to get to. So, I gathered my things & the box & headed out.

On my way, I called OBS again & a nice lady named Gail answered & said they'll be there. She wasn't sure what they could do for it. But they would try.

Oh, yeah, each time it would open it's beak it wasn't making any sound... so on the way I had the idea to name it after Groucho Marx's brother - Harpo. (Because Harpo was always silent.) So, I wrote Harpo on the side of the box... When I arrived Gail directed me to the clinic where, Katie would help me. She took him & put him in an incubator (box & all).

Gail came in & said she believes it's a Grackle. She said they had one in a cage outside. So, I went to see what Harpo might look like when he grows up. I saw a bird, but not sure if it was the right one. (I figured I'd be able to look it up when I got home.) I stopped back in to check in on him one last time & they were feeding him softened up food. Seeing he was in much capable hands I took my leave.

On the way home I called them back to find out how old they think he might be... Katie said since he doesn't even have his "down" he MIGHT be about 2 weeks old... if that!! They did say I could call back & check in on him. So, when I can I will give you updates!

Just so you can see that Harpo is alive... Click on the video below. (This is the 1st time I've used my Flickr account to upload & post a video... hope it works.) Oh, there's no sound, because I used my camera & besides, he's not making any sound. And it's only about 10 to 12 seconds.

Talk about pulling at the heart strings. If you're the praying type, please keep this little guy in your prayers. As I said, he's in great hands now! 

I just called to get a quick update... Gail said he's holding his own. They'll know better tomorrow how he's doing. For tonight he will go home with one of the staff members. They said if he makes it, he will be released into the wild... when he's old enough... which I figured... especially since I found out that a Grackle is a common bird.

As I said, I'll keep you up to date as I know... & if I can, I'll go get more pictures of him in a week or so. (When he starts to get his feathers & all.) So... STAY TUNED... this ride is not over yet!!