A Fledge Amidst Chaos!

[MiaCarter]

So last night, the most bizarre thing happened!

I *think* Squeepers may have fledged? Not sure!

Here's the epic tale.....

So, I had everyone out for free flight time.
I popped into the bathroom for a moment and while I was gone, my husband came into the bird room.

I returned and my husband said, "Oh, you forgot to let Jackson and New Girl out!"

I look to their cage and it's wide open.

Me: "Nooo! They're on quarantine! They can't be free with the others yet!"

Husband: "Ahhhhhh.....oops."

By this time, they're all flying free. I have Molly Sue exploring the new cage where Jackson and New Girl live.
New Girl is exploring the big cage where everyone else lives, including Squeepers!
Not good.

So I immediately set about the task of capturing everyone and putting them back in their respective cages so I can disinfect anywhere/everywhere the new girl visited.
Of course, I've just let them out about 10 minutes prior and nobody has any intention of going home yet!

And New Girl is not at all tame or hand friendly and she's not landing on the floor, so my toss-the-towel trick won't work. So I grab the net and set out to net her.

Big mistake. I should have caught all the others first before I got the net because it immediately transformed me from "mom" into "the big scary human with the net."
It's absolute chaos!

I'm standing there trying to see through all the fluttering as I figure out which one is New Girl.

I lift the net to go after her and I see there's someone already caught up!
A little white someone. Ivy, I thought.
As I open up the net, I see a little grey head.
It's Squeepers!

How on earth did I catch Squeepers??

No idea!
Squeepers hasn't fledged yet! (Any day now, though)
Yet somehow, she ended up not only outside of her nest, but outside the cage and in my net!

My best guess is that when New Girl went into her cage, Squeepers got frightened and jumped out of the nest and then, out of the cage.
I'd been standing with the net down by my side as I was trying to figure out which one was New Girl, so she must have fluttered into it then.

I have no idea.
But I *do* know is that it was quite bizarre!
Squeepers has never left the nest on her own accord before.
So it was a strange time to emerge! (If it was me, I'd stay *inside* the nest if things where chaotic and scary outside! But that's me. LOL)

I replaced her inside the nest and she hasn't come out yet this morning, so I think it was a one-time thing vs. an actual fledging.
But it was very odd! And quite funny when I opened up the net and realized I'd caught the last bird I'd expect to see in there!

Alas, everyone is back in their respective cages with everything disinfected.

Geesh....no more "helping" with the birds, Husband!

[delray]

Wow!!!! You must have had an interesting night it lol. Everyone got a chance tey cage. How long was new girl in quarantine for?

[MiaCarter]

delray - Only about a week or so. We definitely have at least a couple more weeks to go.

A very interesting night, indeed! LOL

[delray]

Ok deffinetely continue quarantine. Good luck! Do you have a bird room?

[delray]

Oh wait never mind i read above u do have one.

[MiaCarter]

Ok deffinetely continue quarantine. Good luck! Do you have a bird room?

Absolutely!
Yes, we do have a bird room.
It's right off our main living area with French doors so we can bird watch (and the birds can people watch LOL).
I'd love to have them in my living room, but kitties make that impossible. So we set up a lovely little room, all bird proofed! I'd love to turn it into a giant aviary --- like a hunk of forest in a room --- but the husband said no.

[delray]

Sounds like your finches are in a nice place!!!! You don't want your finches to be your kitties snack !!!! So they are good where they are

[MiaCarter]

She did it!!!!

Squeepers fledged right before my eyes!

Everyone was chirping and singing and she'd give a single chirp and the parents would reply. They went back and forth for about five minutes as she stuck her head more and more out of the nest and then......she jumped!

....Now she's exploring the cage bottom with mom and dad. So cute!

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
Congratulations Squeepers.
Mia, your little girl is growing up!

[MiaCarter]

MiaCarter
Congratulations Squeepers.
Mia, your little girl is growing up!

I know it!
It's just crazy that a few weeks ago, I had this tiny little swaying, open-mouthed creature and now I have a bird! It blows my mind, really.

Now she's sitting in the corner of the cage. Hasn't figured out how to perch yet.

[Sally]

The chaos may have led Squeepers to fledge, as any commotion can make them leave the nest, but it sounds like she is ready anyway. It is miraculous how quickly they grow and change into a bird. Welcome to the outside world, Squeepers!

[delray]

Congratulations Mia!!!!

[MiaCarter]

So Squeepers had a big day! First day out of the nest!

But she's back in now.

For about two hours this afternoon, I watched her try to flutter up to the nest, but she just couldn't make it. Poor kid wasn't even close, but I didn't intervene as I know she needs to learn.
But after a while, she started to get stressed doing the open-mouth pant. She'd rest in the corner for a few minutes, panting and closing her eyes, and then would try again.
It was becoming a pitiful cycle. And she was so far off. (it's high - about 2.5 feet up)

So I intervened and put her in the nest, where she promptly got dinner visits from mom and dad, then cuddled up and went to sleep.
I hope I did the right thing.
Otherwise, she was going to spend the night on the floor.
She seems very happy now, so it *feels* like I did the right thing. Hope so!

[delray]

I think you did the right thing. She might not have been ready enough to be out of the nest for good. Your momma instinct came in lol .

[MiaCarter]

Well, she's back out again today!
She's just hanging out on the cage bottom with mom and dad.

She's taking her time learning how to perch and fly! But I think that's okay. She'll get it when she's ready.