Farewell Bertie

[Patty_Duke]

Today I lost one of my ferals. Bertie showed up on July 4, 2008
with a torn wing and a mass on his crop. I picked him and began
to care for him/her and tried finding a vet. He really wasn't too
happy with me but that didn't matter. My regular vet was
inundated and couldn't take him so I had to bring him to
The Wild Bird Fund. The rehabber said the wing had to come off
and that there was a tumor that had burst through his crop. I
really wanted this bird to live.After the rehabber pulled off the scab
the bird came right over to me, hopped on my hand and nuzzled me
I guess that was it for me. I left him there and the amputation went
okay. I was fully expecting to bring him home to live with me on Wednesday
and then I got the call. He didn't make it. The damage was too bad to
the crop and he died. Right now as I write this I am crying. It is really
amazing how quickly we become attached to these birds. I know they
can't all be saved and that he/she is over the rainbow bridge free from
pain and a whole bird again,but it still hurts. Bye Bertie Queenie and BB miss you and so do I