Finch CPR

[Sitting Duck]

I am devastated. I have a double door, (Sally Port) system in my aviary but rarely need to use it. I have become very cavalier about going into my aviary. The 30 or so finches usually fly to the far end of the aviary and stay away from the door because this big scary guy is entering. Unfortunately my cordon blue babies were not as cautious and one of them flew right past me and out the door.
The baby did not fly far and came back and landed on a short fence right next to the aviary. I was freaked out but tried not to panic. I went and got my net and taped it to a long stick and very slowly sneaked up on him. I had the net about a foot away and was just about to pounce on him. I hesitated a millisecond too long. The baby flew just about 8’ right into a window. I thought he was just stunned. I picked him up and was waiting for him to come to. His eyes started to close and my heart started to break. I blew in his face and started to pray. His eyes completely closed and I started doing mini chest compressions on him. I knew it was silly but I was hoping for a miracle. I couldn’t believe that of all the places he could have flown to it was the window. If I would have pulled the trigger and swooped at him with the net a second sooner there would be a happy story instead of this tragedy.

[MiaCarter]

Oh no!
How heartbreaking. I'm so, so sorry. That's awful.
I bet it all happened so fast. You did all you could, though. This could happen to any of us, really.

There are few things worse than watching one of your babies die in your arms (or in this case, hands). It's something that stays with you forever.

I too have done CPR on a pet, so I probably would have done the exact same thing!
It sounds like he probably broke his neck since he went so quickly. I guess that's a good thing, as he felt no pain.

I hate to say this, but are you certain he's dead?
I ask because once, I was standing outside my office on a cigarette break. The entire front of the building was glass and I'd seen many birds fly into it. I watched a little grackle plow into the window and he dropped to the ground. I ran over and I thought he was dead so I went in to get a box. (I didn't want to just put him in the dumpster, so I was going to put him in the woods out back but didn't want to be the creepy girl carrying around a dead bird in my bare hands! LOL)
I came back and I picked him up. I was sort of admiring him - very pretty, sleek black feathers and his toes twitched! I actually thought it was a post-death muscle contraction or something like that, but within a few minutes, he was awake (though alert would be an overstatement.) I think he was quite literally knocked out by the impact. I called my husband to come get him and we kept him for about a week or so and released him.
I actually got three or four birds from that darn building's glass front. A sparrow another time, then a little black and white bird that I don't remember the name of another time.

Anyways, I'd just make sure he's not knocked out.
I'm sorry for your loss.

[Sally]

So sorry this happened, but as Mia said, these things happen so quickly that the bird is past you and out the door before you can even react. I too have tried CPR on finches, in a vain hope to try to revive them. Birds often get knocked out by flying into glass. I lost a bird one time because it flew into a mirror and broke its neck.

[Angela&Shalamar]

I'm so sorry! That's hard to lose one that way.

[Corkysgirl]

Oh no! I'm so sorry this happened to you! It's heart breaking to lose a bird especially when you feel you could have done something! So many times we wish we had "do overs." I've lost birds in freak accidents and still think of the "what ifs." You couldn't have done anything differently. As Mia said, he probably didn't feel anything. I hope that gives you a little comfort.

[finchmix22]

That is so heartbreaking! I understand trying to save the baby by any means. We've all resorted to anything that might save a finch. Sorry you lost him.

[Sitting Duck]

Thank you all for your comforting words. I thought I was coming to terms with the tragic event until this morning. As you know, new fledgling perch together. There had always been the four of them on the same branch huddled up cozy together. Today when I went to feed them there were only the three left, all snuggled up. It was very sad. I know we should not humanize them but I imagined them thinking, "Where is our brother?"

[finchmix22]

Me too. My family gets on my for "humanizing" my pets. You are fine here. We all do that to some extent. Sorry again for the loss. But, enjoy those 3 fledges! They are so fun to watch as they learn to eat and take a bath etc.

[MiaCarter]

It's difficult when reality hits you like that. I'm sorry.

I'm the worst when it comes to humanizing my animals. It's simply how I am. But my husband does it too, so no apologies required in my house! LOL

[Perfex]

Sorry to hear.

[Corkysgirl]

We're all of the same mind here! It hurts bad. They will adjust. You may take a little longer.

[Jen]

Awww...I feel so sad for you. We all humanize our birds...that's how they get their cute names, right?!?! Sending you a little prayer.