“Kawuneeche Spring,”
By Marty Coffin Evans © 2014
A loud thump and crash interrupted our quiet lunch. From our picture window overlooking the headwaters of the Colorado River we peered over the sill.
“Oh dear, another bird just flew into the window.” There on the flagstone patio lay a small Pine Siskin on its side.
Had the impact killed it? Was it stunned or dying?
We watched a few minutes wondering about its fate. A gentle breeze ruffled the small grey-brown and yellow feathers on its side.
It looks like it’s breathing, we thought. “I’m going to find out,” my friend Donna said.
Out she went and carefully scooped up the little bird. With a tender motion, Donna began stoking the back of its neck from the base of its head down to the shoulder and wing area.
As it remained quiet in her hand she waited for it to gain strength to stand. All the while she continued the gently stroking. With a little wiggle, the Pine Siskin moved enough to step onto on her finger.
“Here, want to hold it?” Donna asked. “Put your finger out and it’ll move over. Keep stroking the neck. That stimulates a little nerve at the base of the head.”
Gaining a strong footing it began moving its tiny toothpick size feet to different places on my fingers. With alert eyes, it looked around this new perch.
As storm clouds rolled in, accompanied by claps of thunder, we kept stroking this young bird. Soon heavy rain drops began pelting us. We kept stoking the Pine Siskin until finally, wet enough ourselves, we placed it carefully on the nearby picnic table.
There it sat near several growing puddles of water. “It will fly when it’s ready,” Donna explained.
Sure enough, after a few wet moments, our little Pine Siskin fluffed its feathers, hopped to the edge of the picnic table and took flight.
We watched our little rescue fly off toward the verdant beauty of the Kawuneeche Valley leaving us with a sense of satisfaction, relief and happiness in knowing our small part in helping its return to a bird’s life.
June 2024