Feeding Baby, Eating, Growing Fast, Discovering New Foods

In just 2 months Birdie has gone from fragile injured dependent baby bird, to a strong flying, playing, pecking, normal independent eating and drinking full fledged Sparrow! This has been such a miraculous journey helping Birdie grow, thrive and survive!
This blog entry is a somewhat sequential summary of Birdie going from hand fed by necessity, to hand fed because it's fun and Birdie is beginning to expect things to nibble on!

But first, here's a short video of Birdie during the first week of dependence and disabled neck:

As Birdie became stronger, and grew more feathers

it seemed Birdie's neck gradually normalized ! 

Here Birdie is still turning awkwardly to eat

but navigating so much better!

With time, and experience as Bird-Parents, 

we also gained greater skill at getting the food into the target!

We were so excited when Birdie surprised us with sitting on our hands

almost normally! Feeding became so much easier and Birdie grew stronger fast!

Here Birdie was still in the original little nest,
but with the nest inside a larger pet carrier,
as those feathers and wings were developing quickly
and we couldn't predict if Birdie would 

suddenly take flight out of the protective enclosed area!

Here's Birdie in the BigBird cage! Graduation!

Birdie liked to perch on the little nest, munching happily from the tweezers.

But Birdie quickly transitioned from the enclosed nest area to the BigBird cage,
and as hisher wings grew strong, and Birdie flitted around the cage

I removed the little nest.. as soon Birdie preferred the upper area perches!
yep, just like what would be Birdie's natural environment...
living in a tree!

Soon Birdie learns all about hisher wings and in no time

Birdie is venturing out of the cage to perch atop the cage!

Once Birdie graduated to the cage, it seemed like heshe grew into 

a "regular" bird fast! It's been great fun introducing new foods.

Here's Birdie learning about a banana!

Yummy !

In no time, we found various colorful and delectable seeds and grains for Birdie

Bird Dad Jim brought home some cherries!

Birdie added those to the list of delicious treats!

And in no time, Birdie learned the kitchen table was a great place to hang out!

Here's Birdie and Scott having Cream of Wheat for breakfast!

In no time flat, Birdie learned spoons hold all kinds of treats!

Well we now have our very own "Starbucks" sparrow!

 I'll title these pictures: Biscotti Breakfast with Birdie :)

Jim found the most amazing mini Biscotti's at Costco and we enjoy them every morning with our coffee. Birdie soon decided this was hisher new favorite routine also, as Birdie looooooves nibbling and pecking on the hard Biscotti! Just look at the nibbling neck angle! No neck disability there!

Note the tiny little bloodspot on my thumb... Birdie missed the Biscotti
and that little beak got me, not the Biscotti!

Birdie's new beak sharpener is Biscotti!

And just this weekend, Jim decided on popcorn with his movie...

Yes, you guessed it, Birdie now loves popcorn! And actual corn too!

In addition to all these (supplemental) treats, Birdie has an endless supply of actual Bird Seed, hanging Millet Sprays, high protein Poultry Crumbles, crushed (with a baker's roller pin lol) dog kibble and Birdie still likes to occasionally eat the softened dog kibble from the tweezers.
It's certainly a relief to see Birdie so independent eating "normal" bird seed and drinking water by hisherself, but I will actually be sad when Birdie completely weans and graduates from eating hisher "babyfood" from the tweezers... but aren't all moms sentimental when their babies don't "need" them as much? :)

PS- Birdie also loves Blueberries, Green Beans, Corn, Spinach, Lettuce... whatever we eat, I let Birdie try.. well all the healthy stuff that is !