The Country Side of New Jersey
Bluebird I
Posted by Betty (Phillipsburg, United States) on 14 May 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
This little bluebird caused a little drama for us on Sunday afternoon. It crashed into the kitchen window and landed on the cellarway roof. After some discussion, we decided that my daughter should so out and get it because it was in danger of being blown off the roof (it was windy). It's mate (picture tomorrow) was flying over our heads from a wire, to the roof, to a clothesline pole calling and calling to it. We placed it in a shoebox lid on the deck where the mate could see it, and in about 1/2 hour it and it's mate flew away! Thank goodness it wasn't seriously hurt!
@Ana Lúcia: Thank you... great for me, but not so much for the bluebird! At least it wasn't injured, just stunned.
@Helma: Thank you, Helma.
@Marta: Thank you.
@Arash: Thank you, it was a lovely bird!
@Teresa Durães: Thank you, Teresa.
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
What a beautiful shot of a young bluebird ... such beautiful detail, Betty! That was very kind of you (and your daughter) to care for the bird in that way ... all it needed was a little TLC and then it flew away ... I love a happy ending!
14 May 2008 10:14am
@Ron: It is so rare to see a bluebird in this area! And to have that happen right on our doorstep was amazing. We just couldn't let anything happen to it while it was stunned! Thank you for yoru comment.
Cheryl from Texas, United States
wow, nice capture Betty! I'm glad you saved it!
14 May 2008 10:45am
@Cheryl: Thank you, Cheryl.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
This is wonderful Betty, and very lucky to have you rescue it. I'm so pleased it recovered and flew away :)
14 May 2008 10:59am
@MaryB: Thank you, Mary! We kept watch to be sure nothing else got it, we were glad it teamed up with its mate! It was amazing how upset the other bird was!
@Michael Skorulski: Thank you!
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Good rescue. These poor things stun themselves against many a glass. But sometimes there is a waiting cat down below, and not a kind rescuer.
14 May 2008 11:57am
@Viewfinder: That was our thought, cats... but we also have hawks. We couldn't just leave it for predators!
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Beautiful close-up shot. It looks so calm in the hands. My parents have a lot of windows that are "flown into."
14 May 2008 1:36pm
@Steven: Thank you, Steven. It was amazingly calm...
Peter Miller from Lichfield, United Kingdom
Great photo and a lovely story to go with it
14 May 2008 2:04pm
@Peter Miller: Thank you, Peter.
Earnest from Oklahoma, United States
An excellent story to illustrate your photo. Birds can be amazing. I once came upon a fallen chickadee that had recently died and there was a snake headed toward it, thinking he would get an easy meal. As I watched and to my great astonishment another chickadee flew down and picked up the fallen bird, taking it somewhere... I don't know where. The snake got no meal and I stood dumbfounded, wondering if my eyes had deceived me.
14 May 2008 2:48pm
@Earnest: Earnest... that is an amazing story, and surely once in a lifetime! Wow! Nature is incredible!
Observing from Chester, United Kingdom
Astonishing photo... such brilliance and clarity I feel i could touch the bird.
14 May 2008 3:13pm
@Observing: Thank you.
@MJ: Thanks, MJ.
@See The Light: Thank you.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
wow you've captured a fantastic moment here, he's so beautiful, kind heart and great photographer, what more is there? :)
14 May 2008 5:24pm
@Lorraine: Thank you so much, Lorraine.
@António Pires: Thank you, Antonio.
@Sandrine: It's adorable, isn't it? They are such beautiful birds!
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
I'm glad it was ok after its mishap. Pretty bird indeed
14 May 2008 9:29pm
@Richard_Irwin: It was fine...
@Evelyne Dubos: Thank you, Evelyne.
@Rags: Thank you, Rags.
njsux from Shrewsbury, NJ, United States
Very cool. Sometimes they don't do well after being handled - glad it was OK. I thought my house was going to blow down last weekend!
14 May 2008 10:26pm
@njsux: Thank you... yes, it was very windy, and this little bird was stunned and sitting right on the edge of the roof (about 8 ft drop). If it had blown off, I'm sure it would have been injured!
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
That's a wonderful pic and story of great kindness. Birds are so fragile and a little gentle help can be so rewarding when things work out well.
14 May 2008 10:39pm
@Ronnie 2¢: Thanks, Ronnie.
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
I just hate it when they crash into windows! I had a very similar experience about a month ago with a robin. Great shot by the way!!!
14 May 2008 10:43pm
@Craig: Thank you. At the office, they usually end up laying dead in the grass. This bluebird crashed hard enough for us to hear throughout the house. I can't image a robin hitting the window... it would break!
vu@granby - Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
Good shot of the caring hands of a poor small dizzy bird .
15 May 2008 12:00am
@vu@granby - Gilles Martineau: Thank you, Gilles.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
That is so cool. A bird in the hand is worth . . .
Nice shot, Angelina. Oops, I mean Betty :-)
15 May 2008 12:08am
@Michael Rawluk: Very funny, Michael! :-) That was before my morning coffee!!! Thanks!
Chris from South Jersey, United States
He is real cute - how lucky for you (even if it was unlucky for him) that you were able to get so close and get a great shot like this. And in the end he flew away - a happy ending!
15 May 2008 1:43am
@Chris: It was very interesting... especially since I had never seen a bluebird this close!
Kelela from Upland, United States
A beauty! Sweet subject and a story with a happy ending. Thank you. Really good!
15 May 2008 3:19am
@Kelela: Thank you, Kelela.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Betty, what a little beauty. Thankfully it didn't get too badly hurt and you took such good care of this little guy.
15 May 2008 5:37am
Anita from West Nottingham, United States
Great photo! I like the framing of the bird with the hands, which are lighter and set off the bird. Perfect exposure and light. What a treat to hold a bluebird. Thanks for sharing your story.
15 May 2008 10:18am
@Anita: Thank you, Anita! It was a very special treat to see one so close!
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
Oh, Betty, I'm so happy I got to see this ... what a lucky little fellow he was to have flown into YOUR window. You were truly blessed to get this close and you capture him so well. Your daughter must have been thrilled to have him in her hands. Thank you for sharing the excitement of your day - and of his!
15 May 2008 11:41pm
@Judy: Thank you so much, Judy. You know... to help any bird is a thrill, but we were never this close to bluebirds before. It was a great feeling when it flew away!
Wizened Eye from United States
Sweet image of a beautiful bird. But! The thumbnail I clicked on was of a foal's face... I can't find that one! We both live in the "north" and seem to like similar subjects.
17 May 2008 12:16pm
Barbara from Florida, United States
Nature is wonderful sometiimes needing our kindness. Nice capture and good deed.
18 May 2008 9:44pm
Seraphine from San Francisco, United States
Unhurt, but with a nasty headache.
This picture makes me want to kiss it
and make it better.
26 May 2008 10:39pm
@Seraphine: It's so upsetting to see a beautiful little bird like this stunned, but it wasn't killed... we were thankful for that! Those bluebirds are still in the neighborhood, I saw one of them today.
Konica Minolta MAXXUM 7D
1/200 second
F/11.0
ISO 100
135 mm (35mm equiv.)