Sarah is this week's hostess for Fun Monday, and she wanted photos of our "normal" day...I signed up late, it's Sunday, and I may have a little trouble with this one. I can't start off in the morning, so how about a peek at a 24-hour period? Let's start with Friday night...we heard cheeping, coming from a strange place, and found a helpless baby cardinal nestled between some decorative items at the garage entry. Quickly devising a trap, we tried to decide if the red spots indicated an injury.
The bird was cheeping and "panting" - so we put it in a larger tub for a closer look:
No, those are NOT bloody spots. Those are little red feathers! A baby male cardinal! So, being the curious sort - I just had to lift the lid to get a better look...and...well...then....
MAYHEM! Healthy cardinal, yes. Injured, no. BOTH good things...except for all that flying around the kitchen. And all the screeching by the child. And all the flailing of the male persons in the immediate area. I was beginning to wish we didn't have such an "open" floor plan. 
Finally - a successful recapture. Now, what was that saying again?
Okay - time to head outdoors. Our first attempt to "release" did not turn out as expected. 
The second attempt included a flight, with the same result. Finally, the baby was placed in a bush near an area where we could hear what sounded like panicked cardinal parents. And more flight! But...the baby seemed to want a new parent...
Sigh. C'mon bird...another flight later, and the baby wants to roost on our back lights. Gentle coaxing was necessary.
Coaxing, coaxing, and then? Something told me that we might have to send the bird home with our friend.
Finally, after a bit more encouragement, the baby cardinal decided to depart us.
The next morning found me working at our town's "Wheels and Wings" festival at the local airport, where I got to watch my kiddo and her choir group perform.
And had an encounter with a chicken. Oh, but look deeply into her eyes...this is no ordinary chicken.
This chicken has a special talent. She is trained to walk on a leash.
What's even better is that halfway thru her walk, she laid an egg.
Just another normal day in the life of Tiggerlane. Now go to Sarah's, and check out all the other Fun Monday participants!
25 comments:
Never a dull moment! What about the leak?
Amazing!!! I've never seen a baby cardinal. We have mates at our feeder, but never chicks that I can find. Loved this! Great Fun Monday.
Mine's share if you care to join me.
A chicken on a leash? Will wonders never cease... and laying an egg halfway through the walk - priceless.
We had a cardinal fly into the house one time. It took us a half hour to catch the poor bird, and then only because it was exhausted. When we took it outside and released it, it flew into the nearest tree and stayed there without moving for over an hour.
wt - NEVER! And the plumbers (no Joe) should be addressing the leak this morning. Will update.
hootin' anni - I will definitely pop by! And I thought it late in the year for a young bird to be out and about, but I was assured that this was a baby cardinal. Too cute!
lala - I was amazed myself. And then I wondered, if you squeeze a chicken...nevermind...
richies - That would be scary...I would be worried it was hurt. When we first found this one, it kept trying to tuck its head under its wing, presumably to "hide."
That's got to be uncomfortable, walking when you've got to lay an egg!!! Cute little baby bird! They are a LOT of work!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH you had a aviary two days now, didn't you!
Is this the part where I get to call you a "bird brain," Tiff? BWAHAHAHAHA!
Did your horoscope say anything about BIRDS entering your life?
We don't have cardinals here in the High Desert and I do miss them. They were my grandmama's favorite !
I just about jumped out of my chair when I scrolled down and saw my mug on your side bar. Thanks for having the nerve to post it.
Have a wonderful week and watch out for more birds.
Holy Birdwoman, Batman! What an experience with the birds! Great story...thanks for sharing!
What a unique experience! I’m glad you were able to return the cardinal to its natural environment successfully. I’ve never heard of a chicken that walks on a leash ;--)
Very entertaining post. My Fun Monday is at Small Reflections.
Hugs and blessings,
When I was a kid we used to have birds fly into the house through our fireplace. We always had to let the dog in and force her to notice the bird. Then the chase was on! LOL
We'd open all the doors and finally the dog would chase the bird out one of them. I found it pretty entertaining.
A chicken on a leash just isn't right somehow! I guess if she is laying eggs she can't be too unhappy!
What an amazing 24 hours! That baby bird sure found some caring foster parents for part of its life - lucky thing!
The chicken on a leash is just so funny! And laying an egg mid way through - you just couldn't make it up...
Thanks so much for sharing your life with us for this Fun Monday :)
Sarah x
Is that your son?
equoni - I just was amazed she could lay it, right there on the runway, in front of everyone. There are some things I have to do in private!
bond - yes - enough to last me the rest of the year!
desert songbird - absolutely! You and Bond must be in cahoots...
swampy - thank you again...and now I need to go read my horoscope. And read them BEFORE I have another weekend like this!
{i}post - LOL! If I see a bat in the next few days, I'm blaming you.
storyteller - I'll be sure to stop by! And I was SO glad I didn't have to "mother" a baby bird.
jay - that's hysterical! Unless, of course, you had a bird dog...who would occasionally eat the birds. But maybe you left that part out for my benefit?
chrisb - what's worse is the leash isn't around the NECK...which made sense, after I thought about it more. It's around her leg.
sarah - I was amazed about the egg...would have had a photo if her "handler" hadn't stepped on it so quickly after it was laid.
m@ - I should be insulted that you think me old enough to have a son that age! But it IS the South, I suppose...so technically, I guess I could.
I have to say, I don't like birds or mice they are darty.
Birds would come down the chimney and when I opened the fireplace to add wood to the stove they would DART at my head which would force me to scream and then retreat to the couch to cover my head with a blanket and scream GET IT OUT GET IT OUT!
There I feel better.
What an interesting visit from the Cardinal. We visited your neck of the woods last week. We traveled to Mena, Arkansas and went 4-wheeling. I had the best time in the world. We had a perfect cabin and great food in Mena. Those trails are awesome! My first 4-wheeling trip. But not the last!
You know what? I would have been running in a circle screaming or something if this happened in my house. I would have lost my shit. I say this with shame.
The leashed chicken, however, is brilliant. And also a good name for a bar.
I'm sorry, I'm behind on your posts - my feed reader is acting all bitchy. What's that all about? Say hi to the chicken's mother for me. ;)
vicki - that paints quite a picture! Mice kinda get to me as well, but I don't want to see them hurt. Hubby doesn't mind killing them...ick.
junebug - you SO should have looked me up! Can't believe you were HERE! That's cool - we have some awesome trails - which sounds pretty hick, but you know what I mean.
melissa/mark - OMG...LOL! PRICELESS last sentence! Yeah, and you are way behind on showing me blog love. And that is a totally good name for a bar. AND WTF with CALLIE AND HAHN??? THE MOTHERLAND??? Sheesh.
I meant to ask you, do you go 4-wheeling? I thought I posted this comment already. We intend on coming back sometime.
I had a friend when I was in my 20s that had a pet cardinal growing up. It lived in the house...just like a dog!
I'm wondering about the sanity of the chicken on a leash guy. Odd!
I do not like Hahn's teeth. I don't know what it is, I just have a feeling...that they are furry. And Callie needs someone equally as hot as she is, because I'm not believing there could be chemistry anywhere, especially NOT the motherland.
Hee hee, the chicken is mad. I loved this post, and I loved your revenge on lastminute-itis. :D
junebug - despite living here, I do NOT go four-wheeling. I think part of that is b/c hubby-the-nurse sees it as a high-risk-of-injury activity.
real live lesbian - our chamber of commerce board of directors elected him to do this - the woman in the photo is the actual chicken-wrangler!
jo beaufoix - I wonder how you know the chicken is mad? You must have skills!
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