Little gifts

The chickadees from the box in the front yard magnolia chose today to fledge and my special birthday treat was the chance to *rescue* this little one from my neighbor's steps. Getting out of my car from work, my neighbor was almost frantic at the baby bird who had taken up residence just outside his front door. He said it had been sitting there for a few hours and every so often another little one would come along and try to help it. Bird whisperer that I am (lol!) I was able to pick up the little chickadee and place it in a bush without so much as a cheep in protest. The parent scolded me from above, but we both felt the baby would be safer off the ground. A few minutes later when I returned with my camera, I watched it make a very deliberate flight to the pear tree where it perched for its' first photo. I often poke fun at my neighbor because any sort of wildlife encounter makes him very nervous. He'd have left the baby bird alone, but worried over it endlessly. I'm glad he knew enough to leave it alone. So often, well-meaning people *kidnap* perfectly healthy baby critters in an effort to help them. I'm wondering now where the other five babies are. I haven't seen them, but consider that to be a good sign. I'm sure they'll show up in a few days at my feeders with their parents. Baby birds are the sweetest things and the chance to hold one, even for just a second, is a nice little gift on my birthday.