Ayla was bad again.

I was in the yard and a robin came swooping down all excited then took off to the big tree in the corner of our yard. First I thought an eagle was upsetting the neighbour hood birds then I thought...Ayla!...so I ran to the tree thinking she was up the tree, but the robin still chirping wildly darted back to the deck. Then I heard an answering cry under the deck. I struggled to get my "child bearing hips" through an opening all the while yelling at Ayla. Finally I found her with a baby robin behind a supporting beam. Will lots of yelling at her I was able to secure the baby robing and get it and me out from under the deck. The mother was still calling frantically to it's young. First I climbed chair and put the baby on the roof of the building, still the mother never came for him/her. Then I put it in the "Y" of an apple tree. It just stayed there with the mother flying between trees.

Finally I gave up and took possession of the bird and realized it had a broken wing. To make this story shorter, now I have the responsibility of being "mother" to a baby Robin. I started by feeding it oatmeal softened with water from a baby spoon. After the first night when I realized it was going to live I gave it a name, suitably calling it Billie after Hurricane Bill that was underway, and "Billie" because not knowing it's gender gave it a more uni-sex name. I googled what to feed baby robins which were worms of course and fruit like strawberries & blueberries.

Did you know they eat every 20 minutes to 1/2 hour?!! Billie has attached itself to me and now even "chirps" when it's hungry and last night I discover it will also chirp and call me just for company! So this morning after the storm has passed with out any power outages or major damage I was out in the drizzle digging up "breakfast" (and lunch and dinner and all the feedings in between) gathering up worms in the garden. We've accomplished the knack of feedings. At first I was nervous and thought Billie would nip my fingers. We had an awful mess of strawberries  all over the cage (Alya's cat cage for vet trips) Billie looked terrible all red and sticky with strawberry juice and I also got some thrown on me. Now I've got it down pat and know how to stick fingers and food down Billie's throat and he/she gobbles it up.  I can even pick it up, just put my hand up to his belly and he will hope right on my fingers. I think I am stuck for a long haul. Billie is still a baby with a broken wing.

Haven't figured out what to do if the wing doesn't mend or how to "teach" it to fend for it's self. I began my first day of a week holiday (from the store only so I still work Monday & Friday mornings and Wednesday afternoon and my other part time jobs). So I'm heading out and must go feed Billie his second breakfast before heading out to work. Anybody do this before? (not work or vacation lol but look after a wild baby bird) Any & all advice would be appreciated! Have a great day.