I had a heartbreaking incident last night. I was preparing my meal in the kitchen and I glanced out of the window and saw a bird on the bird bath. I wasn't surprised by this because that's why I have a bird bath. And it's not the first time I've seen a bird on the bird bath! However when the same bird was there half an hour later I felt concerned. So I went out and approached him/her/it very gradually and quietly. It was a young jay. Absolutely beautiful. Fluffy little feathers and those innocent, trusting eyes but he was just standing on the bird bath. He made no attempt to fly away which bothered me because I thought that he might be injured. There was nothing visible that I could see. I wondered if perhaps he'd been shocked by something and was just recovering. So I went back indoors and left him. Another half an hour went by and there was still no change. He was still not moving and in the same place. So I grabbed a handful of peanuts to see if perhaps he was weak and needed to feed. As I tried to throw the peanuts to him he did pop off the bird bath and into the undergrowth clearly alarmed. It looked to me as if he was injured and possibly couldn't fly. That upset me a lot. I left him alone. I didn't want to shock him or frighten him anymore. Because I know that sometimes the shock can kill a bird. And I trawled the Internet to see if I could find any help or advice. But a lot of the charitable organisations are quite understandably affected by coronavirus and were more or less telling me to get in touch with a vet. But at that time on a Sunday evening I felt it was unlikely that the vet would be of any help. And there was no way I could get there. I didn't know what to do. I found a little pot of water because I thought he's got food and he's got water that's maybe all he needs and I felt he was better in the undergrowth than he was standing out like a sore thumb on the bird bath. I put some more peanuts down as well but that just seem to frighten him. Once again I thought it best to leave him so I came in doors but I just couldn't settle or get him out of my mind. So I texted my next door neighbour. He's been a bird lover for years and is quite knowledgeable. So I briefly told him. The next thing I know he's knocking at my door. He kept a social distance I'm glad to say. And he said the bird had been in his garden for the last couple of days. He had seen the parents about but he thinks they've left the bird to fend for himself. He thinks the bird was stopped by a cat and flew up and over the fence. He thinks the bird can fly. I'm not sure if the cat might actually have nicked him. I said I don't think the bird can fly. So my neighbour asked if he could come round the side and have a look. He did. And he observed the bird for awhile. And he said he's moving in exactly the same way as he was in the garden. Anyway he said as long as he's got food and water and he's just left alone we have to let nature take its course. He said trying to catch him and take him somewhere could kill him which I had considered. So that's what I did with my heart in my mouth, I left the little fella there in the undergrowth. I refilled the water pot and put some more peanuts down. When I looked this morning the water pot had been knocked over and the peanuts were still there but I couldn't see the bird anywhere. My neighbour reckons that if anything had caught him there would be feathers in evidence. I hope he finally got brave enough and was able to fly. Or his parents came back for him. I'll always wonder what happened to him.
The window cleaner turned up unexpectedly today today. I didn't mind. The rain has stopped and I think we'll have a few clear days or dry days. He usually texts. Now he reckons he doesn't have my number which was rubbish because he's texted in the past! Anyway I was here and I was able to open up the side way and pay him. Which I'm glad about otherwise he wants paying by bank transfer and all that nonsense.
My friend sent me some photos of her weekend barbecue at her son's. She reckons there were only nine people there, only one was out of their bubble and they were all socially distanced. I would have to say the photos suggest otherwise. There is one of her daughter hugging the niece. But it's not for me to comment. I found that people talk the talk but they don't necessarily walk the walk. People bend the protocols to their own ends. Not even sure they realise it because they swear blind they are locked down and following all the rules. She starts her two week quarantine on Thursday prior to her surgery and then she has to quarantine for a week after that. I'm hoping to pop in to see her on the Wednesday, I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks now although we are connecting via the pop master game.
This today -
'The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in the UK.
The infection was confirmed following tests at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge on Wednesday 22 July.
Although this is the first confirmed case of an animal infection with the coronavirus strain in the UK, there is no evidence to suggest that the animal was involved in transmission of the disease to its owners or that pets or other domestic animals are able to transmit the virus to people.
The advice from Public Health England is for people to wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.
All available evidence suggests that the cat contracted the coronavirus from its owners who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The cat and its owners have since made a full recovery and there was no transmission to other animals or people in the household.'
So, animals can catch COVID-19 from the owners. Interesting. How about the other way round? Can owners catch COVID-19 from their pets? I've not stroked any cats or dogs during this pandemic. Not from choice, believe me, but from common sense. I think that common sense must prevail.Still feeling a bit down today. I think it's pandemic pessimism. They'll probably come up with some kind of mnemonic for a person's mental state following, during and after lockdown. Maybe I can get counselling. I'm joking. But it's no joke.
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