I think its probably fairly common knowledge that since coming to Bulgaria I have developed a real love of storks. They’re huge, they’re beautiful and I never tire of watching them. I was very excited when I returned here last year with a decent camera because I knew that, at last, I could get a little closer to them, albeit through the camera lens.
Did I ever think I would get this close to any of them ?
Absolutely not !! And yes, that’s my garden you can see behind my latest visitor.
This is a chick that was bought to me this morning by Illiecho, a man in the village. It’s probably flown out of the very high nest that it was born in and doesn’t have the flying strength or ability to get back up there. I actually saw it on the ground when I was walking Gina yesterday and did feel some concern about whether it could survive an attack by dogs or large predators. Illiecho saw it still there this morning and, for whatever reason, thought I could sort out the problem.
I was slightly flummoxed and the baby stork didn’t look too good and I’m thinking ‘I don’t want this responsibility’. What if it dies ??
Anyway, I rang Yanko, my vet and he contacted a bird refuge centre in Stara Zagora. This was sounding good to me because I figured I’d be running the bird through to the refuge late today…er, no. I called him back to find out where I should take my newest new friend and he gave me the number for a Dr Hristova at the centre, who I was to call.
I did and she told me that unless the bird was injured she could see no reason why I couldn’t raise it !!! What !!! I told her I knew nothing about storks, but she assured me that I would be fine. She told me what to feed the bird and to call back if I had any worries.
Colin popped in and asked me who was going to teach the baby to fly… I responded that clearly it wasn’t going to be me…I can’t fly 🙂
Anyway, I spent the morning chopping up liver and fish and thankfully, my new baby seems to like what I’m offering.
He/ she is beautiful thing and I can’t help but go out every so often, just to look at it. I’m not getting too close because it is a wild bird and needs to prepare to head South once the weather gets cold…that’s working on the premise that the bird survives.
It’s night time now and this lovely creature is settled in my garden… I hope it’s still there in the morning
What a lovely little story, Sue – I hope your baby stork thrives and then eventually leaves when he/she should!! xxx
Amaaazing!
What a wonderful gift from nature – to be given the opportunity to care for this bird and assist it to grow into a strong surviving adult, Sue.
What an achievement if it does get to migrate when Winter comes.
The bird is blessed to land with a human who won’t treat it as food, and you are blessed to be able to nurture it.
Definitely Blessed…
Cheers,
Jillian
careful, you mess with storks and you end up with babies!