A Happy Ending

Posted in Animals, Animals (Vertebrates), Birds, Garden, Garden Birds, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , ,

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

This evening I heard a bang whilst watching some tv. It sounded like a bird had hit the patio window, and when I went to investigate I found this little fella lying sprawled on the decking. I feared the worst, but it had its head held up and looked dazed. I kept my distance for I didn’t want to frighten it to death, which can happen with wild birds. But as I stood and watched his little head slowly slumped to the wooden deck, and I thought he had gone.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

However his tail was still twitching and I thought he may have passed out. I couldn’t leave him out there for fear of cats getting hold of him, so I gathered him up in my hands where it lifted its head up. I placed him in a cardboard box and took him into the house to let him recover a while. When I went to check on him not too long after he suddenly flew out the box to my delight! It flew a short distance in my living room, now all I had to do was catch it and set it on its merry way.

Eventually I caught it and took it outside, and it flew away at speed, apparently unharmed.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), July 2018, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.

66 thoughts on “A Happy Ending”

    1. It always seems to be the patio doors or the bedroom window and all at the back of the house, but thankfully it doesn’t happen very often.

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  4. I know all to well that “thud” noise you are referring to. My heart sinks when I hear it.
    Fortunately, birds do often survive with a bit of time to rest. It was good of you to bring it indoors away from predators. Don’t you wonder if it will tell its friends about being scooped up in giant’s hands and placed in a box!

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  6. I’m glad to hear that the little goldfinch recovered. 🙂 They’re charming birds, aren’t they? Actually, out on my surveys today, I heard a lot of goldfinches singing away. It’s funny because it is a sound which I hear almost all year around – for 6 months in New Zealand where they have been introduced, and for 6 months here in the UK!

    -Emma

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    1. 🙂 They are lovely little birds, Emma, and I am glad you can enjoy them over there, too! I have 3 or 4 of them visit the feeders daily along with Greenfinches.

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  7. Thanks goodness for that, Pete.

    I had the same experience with a Rainbow Lorikeet, but within the minute, it died and when I picked up it’s still-warm body, I must admit I shed a tear and was really upset. I’ve had this happen in my previous 3rd floor apartment after I washed the exterior of the windows each week and the reflection looks exactly like an extension of the sky. Fortunately in those cases the doves recovered almost immediately after the crashes.

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  8. Bless you for taking the time to care for this pretty thing. I’ve saved some, and lost a few, but there’s something about them that I just can’t turn away from. They can recover from a pretty good whack — I’m always surprised by their resilience.

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    1. Thank you, Linda, and bless you for your rescues! I have lost some in the past also, or it has happened when I have not been here and the cats have had the stunned birds.

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    1. Thank you very much, Pepix 🙂 They very rarely survive these sort of accidents, but because it was a young bird it may have given it the edge.

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  18. Well done 🙂 And now you know that boxes with birds in them could better be opened oudoors 😉

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  20. Aw, well done! So often wild animal rescues don’t work out; it is great to have a good news story!

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  22. This happens so often to our little feathery friends, good job they often come round, but probably with one hell of a headache. What a nice feeling to see it fly off unhurt later. I’ve known people thunk into windows too, including myself.

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  23. A thud I hear far too often as well! With trepidation I will head for the patio. I’m glad the goldfinch was okay after some TLC – it looks so sweet nestled in your hand. It looks tiny and vulnerable.

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  24. I’ve seen this happen numerous times. The bird needs about 20 minutes or so to “come back” and then flies away… such a nice feeling. Glad yours was just fine.

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  32. Ah – your kind act for the day. I have done this same thing with birds, but alas it does not always work out well. The humming bird I tried this with did not recover. Nice post Pete.

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