The Prodigal Waxbill

[Weew]

During the warm months in central Florida (April - November) I let my finches enjoy a semi-wild life in my screened-in pool enclosure. They get along fine and it keeps them very healthy.

This spring (April) I lost an OC waxbill through a tiny drainage hole in the corner of my porch. I secured the hole but the waxbill never came back. I figured he was headed for Miami or something.

And then a week ago (September) I was in my yard and I heard the familiar warbling from an oleander tree. There was no mistaking his little orange cheeks, which looked a more brilliant orange than I'd ever seen on him.

I set up a "patience trap" - a wire cage with a sprig of millet just inside an open door, and a length of kite string run through the bars to pull the door shut. After a half hour of sitting still (a cold beer helped pass the time), he went for the millet, I pulled the string, and I got my bird back.

I wonder where the hell he's been all summer?

[finchmix22]

Wow, what a great story! He was having the time of his life exploring and looking for a mate! He finally realized she is in your enclosure!

[delray]

Wow, what a great story! He was having the time of his life exploring and looking for a mate! He finally realized she is in your enclosure!

finchmix22 basically said it all, but seriously, that's really great and cool.

[Sam007]

He was in Miami having fun!

[lovezebs]

Weew
I think he was laying on a beach somewhere getting a tan on his cheeks in the daytime, and sowing his wild oats at night. That's why he has that smile on his face.

[monotwine]

Fantastic! I'm sure you must be well pleased he decided to come home. What's the chances of that coming to pass. Great stuff.

[KarenB]

Hmmm, wonder how he was making a living in Miami.

[Rox]

Oh wow! That is actually incredible

So happy that your boy came back and that you managed to catch him. I would love to know what he had been up to

[Weew]

I'm just grateful he didn't end up as a pile of bones in a puddle of hawk poop

[wilkifam]

I wonder where the hell he's been all summer?

@Weew

Did you ask him? I'll bet the has been giving the birders something to talk about.

[Gráinne Barrett]

How fortunate that that happened! That's a very lucky thing to happen!