The Bird Diaries: How they Grow

On July 15, I pulled my babies to handfeed. When I removed them from the nestbox, the oldest chick had pin feathers staring to emerge. The youngest, probably the third or fourth chick to hatch, did not. The two looked as different as night and day, yet the same. I began handfeeding every four to six hours over the weekend and on my vacation, gradually weaning the babies back to my work schedule of three feedings a day.

Being there for five days and watching the birds grow up made me truly in awe of these little creatures I nurtured. Each day, I saw them grow bigger. The pin feathers gradually unfurled, until I saw the immature picture of what the pet bird would be. The two chicks formed personalities. The youngest, I call "patience" for it waits its turn for feeding, at least it used to. Now, it's as vocal as the oldest bird, and both of them clamor for attention at feeding time.

For those who might be parents, nurturing a baby bird is much like nurturing a human child. After all, the bird needs to be fed, have the weaning cage cleaned, kept warm, nurtured, and cared for, with the same attention one would lavish on an infant. I mix formula, ensuring it is the right temperature, then gently feed only the prescribed amount to the little birds. They're like little babies, only with feathers.

And like little babies, they grow so quickly. Although it's only been a little over a week since I've begun feeding them, I see tremendous growth and change. I know that all too soon they'll be weaned, and although I'm keeping one as a pet, I'll have fond memories of this time with them.

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