Smokingboot

Because our cats love us werry much, and are glad we're back, they've brought in not one but two fledgeling starlings. One we got to the Three Owls bird sanctuary, and one we didn't have time to give the same favour. It died this afternoon, after I had fed it water and scrambled egg, which, apparently, they like.

I've never been a good cook but still.



The Three Owls sanctuary is tiny but special (http://www.threeowls.co.uk/) Their leaflet is full of stuff other than'Please give us money.' They give info on three emergency feeds for different kinds of birds should you find yourself looking after feathered waifs and strays overnight, plus they have an emergency helpline and a specific 'Tawny Owlet Helpline.' Seems one of their biggest problems is people who bring in in tawny owlets, having found them face down in the grass, and assuming, understandably, that something is amiss. This is not always the case; transpires that after your average owlet has bunged itself down to ignominiously greet the lawn, some are indeed hurt, but others take the opportunity to enjoy a quick nap. Afterwards, they will think nothing of climbing 18-20 ft back to the nest, so it's best to phone the sanctuary to check that the chick is injured and not merely sunbathing.

I like the Three Owls sanctuary, but I am not sufficiently hardened to phone and enquire after starling number 1. One death a day is enough for me.