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The Finster Log
R.I.P. Earl Grey
Posted on: 12/29/06, 20:41:34
Somehow, pets seem to get ill and/or die when you're away from home. I don't know if statistics would prove it, or if it's just part of Finster Guilt. But that's the way it seems to be.
Bruce and I were away for most of the day on Wednesday. As far as trips away from home go, this one was pretty safe: I had time to feed the Finsters and give Earl Grey his meds before we left, and we got back home shortly before the lights went out, so I had just enough time to change out the poop paper and give them fresh water. Easy peasy!
But my ministrations bothered the birds just enough to spook them all out of their nest boxes. And when Earl Grey came out, it was clear he wasn't doing too well. He fell out of the nest, he fell forward onto his face, he didn't stop chirping to call out to the other birds, but his voice didn't sound right. Such an unhappy bird! And there was nothing we could do. Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep....
So Bruce put him into the most popular nest box, turned the lights out, and we waited while all the birds settled down for bed. Earl Grey stopped chirping, and a couple of the birds joined him, which was the best possible way he could spend the night. And Thursday morning, he never came out of the box.
I had to cut the box open to get him out. (Lucky for the Finsters I'd made a fresh batch recently, and had an extra to put back in its spot.)
Who knows, I may not have noticed anything terribly wrong on Wednesday if I'd been home to watch. And even if I'd been there, there's no guarantee a trip to the vet's office could have helped. Besides, just the day before he flew away from me twice when I tried to catch him for his meds, and he took a long, squeaky, happy bath! But birds can go quickly. Even the soft, sweet ones.
In the "Good News" column — because I've really been trying to find good things lately — Szechwan (Pepper) sang his Hunka Hunka Burning Love song today. It's possible that his voice didn't sound quite right, but since it's been awhile since I've heard it I'll just assume I don't quite remember it. HE SANG!
R.I.P. Earl Grey, November 2, 1997 — December 28, 2006.
Bruce and I were away for most of the day on Wednesday. As far as trips away from home go, this one was pretty safe: I had time to feed the Finsters and give Earl Grey his meds before we left, and we got back home shortly before the lights went out, so I had just enough time to change out the poop paper and give them fresh water. Easy peasy!
But my ministrations bothered the birds just enough to spook them all out of their nest boxes. And when Earl Grey came out, it was clear he wasn't doing too well. He fell out of the nest, he fell forward onto his face, he didn't stop chirping to call out to the other birds, but his voice didn't sound right. Such an unhappy bird! And there was nothing we could do. Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep....
I had to cut the box open to get him out. (Lucky for the Finsters I'd made a fresh batch recently, and had an extra to put back in its spot.)
Who knows, I may not have noticed anything terribly wrong on Wednesday if I'd been home to watch. And even if I'd been there, there's no guarantee a trip to the vet's office could have helped. Besides, just the day before he flew away from me twice when I tried to catch him for his meds, and he took a long, squeaky, happy bath! But birds can go quickly. Even the soft, sweet ones.
In the "Good News" column — because I've really been trying to find good things lately — Szechwan (Pepper) sang his Hunka Hunka Burning Love song today. It's possible that his voice didn't sound quite right, but since it's been awhile since I've heard it I'll just assume I don't quite remember it. HE SANG!
R.I.P. Earl Grey, November 2, 1997 — December 28, 2006.
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