I raised a baby bird

I raise poultry and someone called me about a baby bird, simply not knowing that poultry and birds of flight are totally different playing fields. He said he found it on the ground and that the nest had been washed out during a storm so I went and got it. I usually take little wild things to a wildlife rescue center about an hour away (closest one) but this night I just didn’t have the gas so I fed her and kept her warm for the night. I ended up finding out the next day that they would have just euthanized her because she’s a starling, an invasive species. But she was still a little life that needed help, so I helped.

Don’t fret. I cannot release her, not just because she’s invasive but because I am not a skilled rehabber, nor am I mother bird and i can’t teach her survival skills. She would have a very low chance of survival if released.

I had enough knowledge on how to keep baby birds alive long enough to get them to professionals but none on how to raise them up healthy, so I had to do a lot of research and get in contact with bird rehabbers and enthusiasts online to learn how to properly care for her. I did not sleep for many weeks because she needed to be fed every 20 minutes and then every 45 and then every hour and so on as she grew. Man that first night she slept through the night I felt like I finally regrew my eyeballs and brain. I thought they had all dried out and fell away.

All the videos I have of her as a little tiny baby bird are… of a tiny baby bird but my memory is of a mild dinosaur overlord unlatching their jaw and screaming into my face. Still loved her though ❤️

As it turns out, starlings make great pets and a lot of people have them as pets. They bond with caregivers and can even talk! She can say “hey girl” “pretty girl.” “bird girl.” And “hey baby baby baby.” And mimics the iPhone camera shot sound 😂 in the wild, since they’re *ssholes they only live 2-3 years, but with the right care they can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Her name is jimmy, and she is the coolest thing I’ve done in a while.

I’m on a starling adoption list so I can hopefully eventually adopt her a little gal pal. I’ve also let alll my friends and family know that if they find a baby bird to call me. If it’s not a starling I’ll just take it to the wildlife rescue, if it’s a starling I’m going to torture myself again by raising another one lol