Adventures of a baby grackle

We have a nest of baby grackles in the corner of the warehouse. Monday morning the guys came in and told me that one of the babies had fallen out onto the floor of the warehouse. I called the bird rescue lady here in Memphis and she told me to just put him back in the nest.

I have vertigo, but I had my brother run me up on the forklift to replace him, as none of the "men" were wiling to do it but my 71-year-old father! The nest is probably at least 25 ft. high. We also put soft cushiony material under the nest just in case he fell again.

The bird stayed in the nest until Wednesday morning, when I found him again on the floor. He was noticeably bigger, and he obviously recognized me, as he never tried to peck me and he looked at me with an expression like, "oh, hey, how ya doin'?" We put him back. That same afternoon, I had already left for the day when my brother called and said, "come back, your bird fell again." SIGH. This time, I put him back up there and attempted to barricade the nest with a box.

This morning? When I came in and went out to check on things? There he was again! Even bigger and still looking at me with that same cute expression. Not knowing how long he had been down there, I fed him some cat food, as the bird people said I could. When the guys came in, they again ran me to the top of the warehouse. This time, however, I put up a barricade of THREE boxes, duct tape, etc. and there is practically no way he can escape. If he does? Well, then he will have obviously wanted to commit suicide.

He is really cute. Never bit me. Had the good manners to never poop on me, either. What a gentleman.

What I learned is that the "you can't return them to the nest if they fall" sentiment is an old wive's tale. You can. Birds reportedly have a bad sense of smell and will welcome their offspring back. You also have to keep them warm until you return them to the nest. I held my little grackle buddy (aka Bubblebutt) in my hand against my chest.

God bless the animals.