The baby woodpecker

One morning, I could see through the window that my kitten, Sweety is gazing at something very excitedly. As I know from experience, she is very keen on the uninvited guests to the garden and I thought of better having a look myself.

It was a woodpecker!

Sure. Sweety does not know him. But he reminded me of my childhood friend, a baby woodpecker

When I was with my grandparents, a bright coloured woodpecker couple had made a nest in a cotton tree in the garden. At first, the hatchlings just peeped, asking their parents for food and adding to the general cacophony of the forest. Later, they climbed on to the branch and began the flying lessons. Mum- woodpecker was guiding the little ones. However the first attempt was a failure. They fell on the grass, flapped their wings then rested, flapped some more and then rested. Without a lot of strength and the knack for flying, they weren’t having much success. I showed the scene to the grandpa “look at the little birdies.”  I have always loved birds and animals, and always tried to find affectionate names for them.

It happened that one of the little birdies got up too high and as it was falling to the ground and, hit the mango tree trunk. It hit hard and lay motionless on the ground. I found the baby- bird laying, picked it up and carried it carefully home.

“Grandpa, a terrible thing has happened! The birdie is dead! ” I announced

My grandpa listened to the bird’s heart- It was beating

“He is not dead child, just unconscious. We’ll take a good care of the poor thing”

Grandpa found a cardboard box for the birdie and I picked up some grass to put on it to keep the birdie warm. Then we covered it with a net.

“What about his meals grandpa?” I questioned

“Let’s place some grains, bread crumbs and water for the birdie “replied grandpa.

By evening the birdie had woken up, drank some water and ate some bread crumbs. He did this for two days. On the third day, the birdie started to peep and squawk as something had gone wrong.  We came to see what the matter was. The poor baby bird has got tangled in the grass. He was pulling and squawking, but could not get free. Instead he seemed to be more and more tangled with the attempt.

“Help the poor thing child” said grandpa, “but be careful. Pull off one blade of grass at a time. The birdie must be afraid and will struggle. Don’t squeeze it. ”

I was very careful as I did not want to make the situation worse. But suddenly I cried out as my hand was hurt.

“It scratches!”  I cried

A bird’s legs are very thin and the claws are very sharp, like needles and cling very tight. Of course. They have to be. That is a gift by Mother Nature. How else could a bird climb up and down a tree head first?

Even though my hands were scratched, I managed to untangle the little birdie from the grass.

Two days later, the birdie seemed to be fine and much healthier. We bought the box out of the balcony and removed the net.

“Let him decide for himself” said grandpa. “If he can fly- fine. If he falls, we’ll pick him up”

The next day the box was empty - the birdie had flew away. But it had grown accustomed to people, and flew around the house all day long, eating his faviourite bread crumbs.

 Birds do not forget the kindness!