As I sat at my work bench I heard scratching. I just assumed it was one of my cats at the litter box so I ignored it and proceeded to work.
This morning after pouring water into my coffee machine and feeding the cats, I went back to the basement to check on my part when I heard the scratching once again. With the domestic felines all accounted for in the kitchen I realized I had a "guest".
I grabbed my large flashlight and started to investigate when I spotted a bird wing sticking out of the hatch in my chimney where I empty any ashes. Upon opening the hatch a poor little chimney swift emerged and began to run across the floor terrified and exhausted from his/her ordeal.
My cats heard the commotion and their curiosity brought them to investigate but having never seen a real bird other than out the windows they became afraid and ran upstairs to the bedrooms.
No longer concerned with the feline predators I gently scooped up the chimney swift and brought him/her outside, then fetched some water, bird seed, and a piece of bread I soaked in the water. I knew that they eat insects as they fly but the poor swift had to be dehydrated.
The swift was afraid of me but I talked softly to it and it seemed to calm down. Soon it tried to fly but couldn't get very far and clung to the outside of the house. I moved the water and things one more time to be near to the swift then sat a bit away guarding against predators as my little swift regained his/her strength.
To my delight I did not need to wait long as the little swift, now rested after his/her ordeal took flight and quickly disappeared.
Returning to the house I was greeted by my cat Keiko who seemed curious as to the most recent domestic adventure. Fortunately Keiko and his buddies had no idea what to do with a live bird in the house, for which I am grateful.
I hope my little swift is doing well tonight and look forward to him/her eating the mosquitoes that are certain to arrive with the warmer weather we are expecting in the next few days.
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| My Little Chimney Swift Recovering Outside |
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| It's OK Keiko, the Human Got Rid of the Strange Creature from the Basement |
