The true story of BB: A lesson in love

BB is the name of a bird. Before I start the story, I must explain the name. My daughter asked me what a good name for a bird is…without hesitation…I said “BB”…and then added “as in BBQ”, it was suppertime…and I wanted chicken…BBQ chicken. Well, as you can guess Breanna loved the name BB… even though I was kidding…. but hey whatever works. Here is the start:

I allowed my daughter to go up to my parents after I was guaranteed her thieving punishment would continue. My brother and my parents promised me they would. They did say they would give her privileges as she earned them and worked for them. Fair enough, we have worked this out and I think this suited her misdeeds. One early day, my brother was mowing his lawn when he tapped his lawnmower into his picnic table, well be darned if a little bird fell to the ground under a small heap of sticks and leaves. This one and only baby bird with a broken nest. There was no way to fix it and not much could be done as often once a human touches such things, mothers will abandon them even if they know that is theirs. Paul put on gloves and did what he could but the nest would not hold and he dared not leave poor (soon-to-be) BB there to starve and be abandoned without a nest, that being said, this is nature and in the wild this is what would happen…but not Paul…not my family…we love our animals always have, always will.

He went immediately up to my parents’ apartment. (Paul owns the building and my parents lease the apartment from him) Breanna and Ashley (my niece, four months younger than Breanna) came out to find out what was going on. Immediately my brother told her and Ash to go out and get some worms. Ash went but she is not a friend of nature (well at least not the creepy crawlies) and Breanna had to get the worms herself. When she came back they had placed BB into a box with old rags and Breanna held a worm over BB’s head and it opened its little beak like baby birds do and ate the worm. Every day, Breanna went out gathering worms for her baby bird. The bird was left in the care of the two girls as Paul has two dogs and both he and his wife work full time outside of the home so he knew he wouldn’t be able to care for the baby bird as much as they would.

It came to the point whenever the baby bird saw Breanna it would lift its little head and reach for food; I guess Breanna became BB’s adopted mother. BB would sing and chirp much to the delight of all of the family members and I have been put on the phone to listen to BB’s song. BB could not fly, it would flap it’s wings clumsily…but as time went on getting stronger and fatter on the diet of worms, at last report last night BB was able to flap it’s wings and hover about a foot off the ground, but cannot fly in a direction, yet.

Pictures have been taken, but since my parents don’t have a computer they can’t be sent to me. My sister in law has been dealing with some other issues and cannot add them to her computer at this time. I am being patient though. Since they had BB, it is become apparent that BB is a robin. At first, there were no distinctive markings. It loves to ride on Breanna’s and my brother’s fingers. If anyone tries to get the bird on their finger, my father for instance,the little bird just keeps traveling up my brothers arm and nestles his neck for ‘protection’. BB has picked his new parents. My brother; his lifesaver (twice) and my daughter; the meal provider.

One day, they decided to try and feed bread to BB. He must have been too young still; he was choking on the bread. My father immediately told my brother to go and get one of his syringes while he held the little bird. They removed the needle and used just the plunger to ‘suction’ BB. He is fine now, twice this little bird almost lost his little life, both times because of our family, and both times saved by our family.

My mother, who of all of us, is more sensible and opts to keep a distance, stated in a booming voice…NO MORE BREAD…just worms!!!! …This had scared her. BB has gotten into all of our hearts.

Breanna wants me to go up and see BB, but it is a 5-hour drive one way and this time is not such a good time to go. Breanna knows BB will have to be released when it can fly on it’s own. They are now trying to teach it to find worms they are placed on the ground. He can’t just yet. Right now, he is just being loved, and cared for the only way we know how. He is thriving and singing every day. He was saved twice because of love, and he is thriving because of that same love.

I will add a picture of BB as soon as I can obtain one.