This is about an experience I had today with a gray catbird, identified with the help of this website http://www.libirding.com/LI_Birds/Welcome.htmland photos I took. It certainly was not the way I expected to spend my Saturday morning.
I was sitting at my computer in a room at the front of the house when I heard a loud thump on my living room window. I was suspicious as to what the noise was because in the forty years we have lived here I have heard it twice before, but what ensued this time was unique.
I hurried to the living room window and looked out. There was a little gray bird lying on its back at the edge of our small brick porch. It wasn’t moving, but I thought I saw its eye flickering and maybe a faint chest movement. I watched a few minutes as a strong breeze ruffled its feathers and pushed its tail upward. Its one eye that was visible to me seemed to shine briefly then close. After several moments the wind died down. It lay still.
I continued to lean on the windowsill watching and hoping. My indoor cat Cleo joined me to watch. She stayed a while her tail swishing back and forth. With no movement to attract her, she left after maybe a minute or two. I watched still. Suddenly the little bird made a valiant effort to turn itself over, but only managed to move a few inches. It remained on its back. Again its eye closed.
I went outside for the first time and gently lifted the bird. It made no effort to resist. I placed it carefully, upright on the soft leaves of a plant below the porch. It moved slightly. I went back inside and began a computer search to find out what kind of bird it was. The result: a gray catbird. A few minutes later I looked out the window. It hadn’t moved. The next time I checked, it was from outside. I dared to gently stroke its soft head. I continued to watch. It moved again, more than before, and came to rest huddled, but upright, close to the porch bricks. I got my camera and took two pictures. I wondered if I should call anyone, but who? I wanted to do something to help, but what? I searched my computer for guidance, while checking every few minutes on my beautiful little gray catbird. Then, a little less than an hour after I had heard the thump, I stepped outside one final time. It was gone. I didn’t see it fly off, but I know it did, and I hope it doesn’t have a headache.
