Hi Jerry and everybody else,

Sorry I've been busy recently.

Among other things we had a young bird (probably about a week old--some feathers)--- to try to rescue--brought us by a neighbor. Probably pushed out of the nest--by a cowbird? Siblings were also pushed out--- killed instantly--fell onto a patio. Our bird fell onto a sandbox. We got baby food--watered it down a bit--and fed the young bird. He or she started eating enthusiastically. Seemed fine overnight. The next morning still eating well and peeping. But after I went to work, Jan called and said she'd gone up after half an hour and he was dead. Probably internal injuries, we suppose.

Depressing--and it makes you question nature's balance. Why should cowbirds have the advantage? Laying their eggs in another bird's nest (like cuckoos, evidently)--then when their chick is hatched, that chick pushes the others out of the nest--to their deaths.

It doesn't seem right.