On Monday my husband and I decided it would be so nice to go for a walk along the canal. It was forecast to rain in the afternoon so off we went first thing in the morning.
It was a little overcast but such a lovely cool temperature perfect for a morning stroll.
I really enjoyed the morning but it soon turned to a bit of a rescue mission when I heard the sound of a young bird with a stressed call. I tried hard to tune my ear in to where the sound was coming from and low and behold the poor wee thing was floating exhausted in the canal calling it's little heart out. I pondered how we were going to get to it when it was just a little to far out to reach it. I suggested we use our hands to paddle the water to create a movement that would bring it closer to us. PHEW! It was working ... it was really a wonderful feeling. The little moorhen chick could see we were trying to help it and it suddenly found the energy to paddle it's little legs. as hard as it could.. So at last it was near enough to help. My husband removed his hat put it in the water and scooped up this precious little creature.
Now having looked around really well we found a place to give it shelter near where we found it and just had to leave it hoping it's parent would find it. It was still calling and at least it sounded a bit more relieved than it previously was.
We went back up the canal and finally I heard more chicks this time being fed by the parent. Boy what a relief.....so back we went retrieved the chick placed it close to where the parent and chicks were feeding and left it to hopefully be looked after once again by it's family. Boy what a morning.....not sure if I relaxed or ended up more stressed but knowing we at least gave it a second chance was a huge relief.
It was a little overcast but such a lovely cool temperature perfect for a morning stroll.
I really enjoyed the morning but it soon turned to a bit of a rescue mission when I heard the sound of a young bird with a stressed call. I tried hard to tune my ear in to where the sound was coming from and low and behold the poor wee thing was floating exhausted in the canal calling it's little heart out. I pondered how we were going to get to it when it was just a little to far out to reach it. I suggested we use our hands to paddle the water to create a movement that would bring it closer to us. PHEW! It was working ... it was really a wonderful feeling. The little moorhen chick could see we were trying to help it and it suddenly found the energy to paddle it's little legs. as hard as it could.. So at last it was near enough to help. My husband removed his hat put it in the water and scooped up this precious little creature.
Now having looked around really well we found a place to give it shelter near where we found it and just had to leave it hoping it's parent would find it. It was still calling and at least it sounded a bit more relieved than it previously was.
We went back up the canal and finally I heard more chicks this time being fed by the parent. Boy what a relief.....so back we went retrieved the chick placed it close to where the parent and chicks were feeding and left it to hopefully be looked after once again by it's family. Boy what a morning.....not sure if I relaxed or ended up more stressed but knowing we at least gave it a second chance was a huge relief.