One of Nestmates to the Blinded Jay~

It was 8 weeks ago tomorrow when I first met Blue.  It was blind in it's left eye, survived a hawk attack by only a few feet thanks to very tall wetlands grasses, and finally slowed it's family down to the point they abandoned feeding it at aproximately 5 weeks old.  I watched as it begged for food and the parents would get right up to it and then go feed one of the others on that last day.  It was heart wrenching and I no longer had a permit to care for it.  I spoke with someone with a permit and took some advise and googled lots of articles and set about feeding it on it's own in a very straight forward method.  It managed to eat and stay as happy as a bird with one eye could be.  It's family came to the protected area to eat from feeders frequently and they talked back and forth to Blue.  Today Blue passed away, for something was never quite right with it.  It had 8 more weeks than it would have had, and I am grateful for that.  Blue Jays used to sometimes get the best of me, but after observing Blue in it's wild state and see how big it's desire to live was, something changed in me and I truly appreciate them so much more~