Grackle Savior

by Jane
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Today I saved a Grackle.

We have a sunroom at the back of the house that has big windows all around. Occasionally I hear a loud bump, which is most often a bird hitting the window.

I always go out to look under the windows to see if there are any on the ground, but they're usually just stunned and recover and fly away.

But this morning I went out to find a Grackle on its back. It was breathing heavily so I knew it was alive. I talked in gentle friendly tones as I do with all animals (when they are behaving) as I watched it.

It seemed unable to move. I let it lie there for some time, then I scooped it over on its feet to put it upright.

I didn't see any obvious wing injury. I backed off to see if it would fly away or move. It was still panting, and likely stunned.

So I gently scooped it up and set it down, upright, in some rocks in the dry bird bath by the feeders. And left it to allow it to recover.

Half an hour later on this bright sunny day I went to the window to see if the patient was still in the recovery room.

Well, it had checked out of the hospital and flown away.