Taken with a Nikon D5100
How shall I begin this story? With a little bird by the name of Hope. Yes, a mynah, two weeks old, by the name of Hope.
1 - Encounter
It all started with a seemingly uneventful day. I was waiting for my bus, and, while waiting, tried to take a photo of this mynah, hoping to catch a good shot.
Taken with a Nikon D5100
A few moments later, it seems that I caught more than just a good shot.
With four minutes remaining, I decided to go to the bus stop and wait for the bus. I sat down, looked down - and saw this barely breathing bird about the size of my palm just lying there in front of me.
Right in the centre of this picture was where Hope was.
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
I was shocked.
"What am I supposed to do?" "I could not just simply leave the poor bird there!" "The bus is coming and you have to go to work!" "So many people at the bus stop - some are watching!" - so many questions and arguments.
I reached out my hand - and there was no turning back.
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
It was warm - lukewarm, perhaps. It was cold. It had difficulty breathing. I had taken out my jacket before I reached out for the bird, and wrapped it inside. It fought, kicking, with its mouth opening and closing, trying to catch its breath.
I asked for help from my friend. She helped me to find a vet.
I walked over, carrying the bird in my bag to protect it from wind and harm.
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
2 - My Visit to Two Vets
The place was not open when I reached.
While waiting for the place to open, I had this discussion which decided the name of the bird:
F: So its name? (:
F: While you wait?
Me: How about Hope?
Me: I'm obviously bad at animal names
F: Later Hope dies how? ):
Me: Well I hope he or she does not
F: So, hope?
Me: Yea. Hope
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
When the clinic opened, I had a strange suspicion that this clinic does not treat birds. Sure enough, only cats and dogs. I was redirected to another clinic.
A short taxi ride later, I found myself sitting in the clinic with a gasping Hope waiting to be seen by the vet.
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
3 - Prognosis
Two hours had passed since I found Hope, and it was being treated by the vet. The vet told me that it was about two weeks old (not having kept birds as pets before, I was quite surprised - I believed Hope to be a few months old at least).
She mentioned that at this age, Hope was supposed to be able to stand, but it was lying only on its side. She mentioned that Hope had a bloated abdomen which was not common. It could be an infection. It could be some injury sustained from the fall from its nest.
There was "a chance of mortality".
Before Hope was given back to me, the vet showed me how to feed Hope, with a syringe and some formula (which was given to me as well). It started to open its eyes a little and was eating, albeit swallowing bit by bit. She said that no antibiotics could be given to Hope, because of its age. We could only wait and see if it would survive the next days.
I arranged an appointment to go down on Friday for the checkup.
Hope was obviously hungry. The vet told me to give it 3ml each meal, but it wanted more. I gave it, probably, three times that amount, and it ate it all. It was thirsty too, drinking a lot of water.
Each time it seemed to gain a little strength. There were times it opened its beak wide, asking to be fed, before lying back down again, closing its eyes. But the times when it opened its eyes were more and more.
As it were, I grew more hopeful.
4 - Dilemma
While I was with Hope, all these time, practical matters were in my mind.
*I cannot bring Hope home. Yet I had to feed Hope three times each day.
*If the check-up shows that there is an infection, I have to treat Hope every day. But I would not be around for a period of time - and I knew no one who would be able to look after the bird.
When I arrived at my workplace with Hope, with the intention of keeping it there, I was struck with another problem.
Hope is in the box with my jacket.
Taken with a Sony Xperia XA1
I needed to find a suitable place to put Hope. But because of the cardboard box that was given to me by the vet to keep Hope in, it may be mistaken as rubbish - and thrown.
My colleague mentioned that the school may not allow pets.
I needed to find better help for Hope. Someone who could take better care of her.
My friend suggested another friend. I contacted her.
5 - Decision
I contacted my friend, and she suggested going to ACRES - an organisation that specialises in wildlife rescue.
I contacted them, and they would like me to bring the bird to them.
I threw away the towel given to me by the vet, which Hope had soiled. I was out when I was contacting ACRES, so I bought some new towels for Hope, and lined the box with them to give Hope a nice dark and warm place to sit in.
Taken with a Nikon D5100
While waiting for the taxi I booked, I took these photos.
Taken with a Nikon D5100
Taken with a Nikon D5100
Hope was curious. It kept wondering what I was doing with the Nikon D5100. Kept turning around to look. Its mouth no longer opened and closed to breathe.
On the taxi, I had to cover the box with another towel because I was afraid the music would affect it.
6 - Farewell, Hope
Thirty minutes later, I was there. Ready to pass Hope to the people in charge of ACRES.
I handed the box to them. The formula (which I only remembered after walking away). I asked if I could visit Hope. They said I could text them to find out how it is doing a week later. I will probably do it after my camp.
I grew attached to the mynah.
As I asked if I could take photos of Hope (I wanted a final look of Hope), the little fellow opened its mouth at me. It came to expect food from me. When in the morning it was so frightened of me and kept kicking against me.
I grew attached to the mynah.
Farewell, Hope.
Taken with a Nikon D5100
I grew attached to the mynah.
Farewell, Hope, the two-week-old mynah I grew attached to in less than a day. I will dearly miss you. I hope the people at ACRES will give you a better care than I did. Farewell!
