May 17th 1999 —– Sept. 12th 2000
Robin (bird)
I found Ava in my back yard laying in the grass in our pet cemetery.
I figured it was a dead bird and went to remove it with a stick.
When I touched the baby bird it squeaked.
I picked it up and took it inside. After I warmed the bird I decided to try to
raise it because I couldn’t find a nest to return her to.
For 2 months I fed the bird which I named Ava (Spanish for “bird”)
every 45 minutes from 9 am to 8 pm plus once more before I went to be
around 10 or 11 pm. Ava grew to be a beautiful female robin and
even learned to imitate my mom’s cockatiel. Ava often did the pretty bird
whistle whenever she saw me coming into my room.
I returned from the library on September 12th 2000 to find her sitting on
the bottom of her cage waiting for me to get home.
She said good-bye to me and passed away shortly afterwards in my hands
where she had her second chance at life and where her life suddenly ended.
She showed me that I really want to be a wildlife rehabilitator and raise and
release other baby birds that are found without mom and dad.
I could not release Ava because she had a severe deformity of her left foot
and she couldn’t hold on to a perch correctly.
Plus when I found her she had her eyes closed and imprinted
on me immediately.
I will miss you greatly my little Avachicky!!
Diana
| Ava |