Yesterday, the last day of Winter 2013, I sat listening to blackbirds singing outside in the garden. The window framed a view of a crumbling stone wall and snow was trying to fall slowly amongst the rain. I sat quietly sipping coffee and smiled to think of the longer days to come and sunshine warming my body.
Soon the boys were busying themselves with preparations for their days at their schools and THUD!
I jumped wondering what sight would shock sleepiness away and was quickly surprised to see two male blackbirds fighting over a female, who had just attempted to swoop away from them and had hit our window loudly. Whilst her mate saw off the rival, she could not get her balance, let alone fly.
Middle and youngest sons came to see what had happened and commented on her strangely outstretched wing, and why were her legs not working properly? "Lets just wait and see." I said, the male blackbirds had gone, no cats were nearby and my husband was out walking our two dogs.
She was just 50 centimetres away from our French doors and it didn't look good. I made the boys stay still and partly hidden and we watched painfully as she turned in circles on her brown belly, tail feathers in the air, eyes unblinking.
I picked up my phone to take a photo but my 5 year old said "no!" and I agreed it didn't feel right photographing a dying bird and explained to our 12 and 5 year old that she looked in a bad way. She stopped spinning and started a strange rocking, seesawing motion, then found her feet again and tucked in her wings and stood frozen.
We continued to watch as she seemed to fall into a sleep with her eyes open. I got down onto the floor and watched sadly as her eyes began to close.
Time was ticking by and the dogs would be home soon. I went out to the utility room and checked that the cat was in, and the wild thing was, thank goodness.
As we watched, and wished her better again, Louis asked "Shall I get a shoebox?" "Good idea!" Max replied. I grabbed a tea towel. I told the boys that we'd move her to a spot where she would be a little safer and warmer?! (I think my logic was maybe she was in shock?)
The boys watched while I slowly opened the door and she then blinked at me (a good sign!) but she did not move at all.
I lightly covered her with the tea towel and gently cupped my hands around each side of her delicate feathered body and lifted her into the box.
We could observe her and she could see out of the box too. She'd be safer if it snowed harder and could stretch and escape when feeling well again.
My husband returned home a few moments later. The dogs completely unaware of why we were watching an orange Nike shoebox with Just Do It! appropriately written on the side.
We weren't doing much about getting ready and within minutes she moved, and as if she had just woken up, hopped out of her sporty bed across the patio and onto a bright red football!
She was blinking at what seemed a normal speed for a blackbird, peering around getting her bearings. She sat for another little while and then flew up, up onto the roof of my studio, gave us a one second blink and flew off in the direction of my mother-in-laws cottage next door.
