Ride The Wind Wild Bird Rehab Center

12/25/2025

I was driving down the road the other day and in a hurry to get home.
Suddenly a bird flew out across the road and the car in front of me hit her.
The bird bounced off the car and landed on the right side of the road.

The car that hit her kept going......and I was going too fast to immediately stop....and it was also a country road with no place to pull over so I had to keep going until I got to the next nearest driveway which was on the left.

I pulled into that driveway...turned off my car.... got out... locked it.... put my keys in my pocket.. and began walking down the road back toward the bird.

I stayed on the opposite side of the road that the bird was on because I was parked up the road a bit and could not see the bird yet.
I did not want to scare it by approaching it too quickly.

So I'm walking and searching until finally...........
there it is....
a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Now I start crossing the road slowly walking toward the bird.
Since the bird was still sitting there quietly and not moving and apparently not aware of me....my plan was to sneak up on it and grab it.

Things were going perfect as planned and I was within inches of grabbing the bird.......

that is until Murphy showed up.

You guys know who Murphy is don't you ?
Murphy's Law ?
That Murphy.
He follows me around all the time.

I was inches away from grabbing the bird...it was calm and quiet and not moving....this was going to be a piece of cake compared to some past chases that I have had to participate in.

But Murphy had other plans.....because Murphy apparently yelled BOO or pinched the bird or something to scare it because the bird suddenly for no reason took off sprinting up into a yard.

And not just any old yard.....this yard's owner was overly fond of Christmas inflatables and decorations. They were everywhere.
And that's where the bird headed.

There were tons of decorations. And rows of assorted inflatables which were in front of rows of bushes. And the bushes were right up against the porch's foundation behind the inflatables.

I lost sight of the bird when it disappeared under Frosty The Snowman.

So now I had to try to figure out how I was going to maneuver through this obstacle course of all of those inflatables in order to find the bird.
I was sure hoping that the owners were not home.

So I got down on my hands and knees and started crawling around among Santa...and Rudolph ( with his nose so bright )..and Frosty as well as eight hundred and fifty two thousand other inflatables and decorations.

This was no easy task..... because there were cords and ropes and tie downs and lights and stakes everywhere.

I still did not see the bird....so I thought she might have gone under the bushes and was huddled up against the foundation of the house.

So after fighting with Santa...and Frosty......and the rest of the gang....and trying to crawl under bushes.....

Hot Diggity Dog...there she was....

in the corner where the porch meets the stairs which would make her easier to grab.

However....I still couldn't quite reach her so I was going to have to lay down on the ground and scoot under the bushes as best and fast as I could.

And while I was crawling around all of those inflatables I couldn't help but knock into some of them which caused them to move around and rock back and forth.
And since it was a quiet day with no wind....it must have looked pretty strange....and drew attention.

Yep.....that it did.

At that very moment I wished I had Dorothy's red shoes from the Wizard of Oz

" There's no one home.."
" There's no one home.."
" There's no one home. "

Because while I am laying under the inflatables and bushes I suddenly hear what sounded like a door opening followed by a woman's voice yelling.......

" WHAT THE F&% # ARE YOU DOING ??? "

" GET THE H # OUT OF MY YARD ! ! ! ! "

My first response in my defense was to try to explain.....but before I could even get a second word out she yelled

" I'M GOING TO CALL THE POLICE ! ! ! ! "

And she went inside and slammed the door.

Uh Oh....... #&%@.... there was a good possibility that I was going to be on an episode of " COPS "

I only had 3 choices now....

1st choice ........ I could go knock on her door to try to explain.
or....
2nd choice........ I could forget the bird and run like @ #!&
or.....
3rd choice......... I could continue until I got the bird.

I decided the 1st choice would never work-----

Because I don't think she would have opened the door to someone that looked like a lunatic with mud all over them and pieces of shrubbery sticking out of their hair.

I debated on the 2nd choice----
That was very tempting...I have to admit I thought about it.....
but then guilt set in.

The 3rd choice was the winner ---
I am very stubborn....I started it and I was going to finish it. Besides that.....the bird needed help and I was not going to desert her now. So I continued.

FINALLY....... I was able to reach and grab the bird.

And after carefully but quickly making my way through the maze of inflatables....me and the bird headed happily back to my car as fast as we could go.

I couldn't wait to get out of there.

I got to my car and reached into my pocket to get my keys.......

But Murphy had yet another idea.

#%@! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME ! ! !

I couldn't find my keys...they were not in my pocket.

Panic set in............

I frantically searched the ground by my car.....NOPE.

That could only mean one thing. They must have fallen out of my pocket while I was crawling around on the ground.

Murphy apparently didn't want me to leave before the cops arrived......no fun in that......

so he thought a delay would be a good idea just to give them a better chance to get here before I left.

I didn't know what else to do......I was still holding the bird and now we had to head back over to that woman's yard to find my keys.

I was hoping the irate woman was not looking out her window as the bird and I arrived once more in her yard.

I was also hoping that I found my keys and got out of there before the cops showed up and told me to put both my hands up.
That might not end well....since I was still holding the bird in one hand.


So......after searching I finally found my keys next to Frosty.
I picked them up.....and started to walk away but then I stopped.

All of this put me in a GRINCH mood......and just for a moment I was really tempted to punch Frosty...kick Santa... knock Rudolph over and deflate some of the other reindeer.

But then I noticed a nativity scene in the yard....so I decided not to pick on Santa and his friends....because I knew baby JESUS was watching.

And besides.....maybe...just maybe I hoped that Santa would give me some presents since I was so nice and took the time to help the bird.

But I knew better.....Murphy always makes sure that Santa never stops by my house.

Merry Christmas......
And Tiny Tim said.....
" GOD bless us everyone "

11/24/2025

Happy Thanksgiving.......

11/23/2025

This little Red breasted Nuthatch has been coming to my feeder for at least a week now. This is a terrible picture but it is taken out my kitchen window with my little ancient Kodak Easy Share point and shoot Camera.,..,.so this is what you get....but works for me.

He is eating the Peanut Butter Suet Recipe. EVERY single bird loves this and they will wait in line to get to it.
Here's the recipe if you want a huge birdie crowd lined up at your feeders.

Eastern Bluebirds fight over it...and Pileateds will knock at your door for it.
I have had Rose-breasted Grosbeaks eat it...and Warblers.
It's not my recipe.....I found it in a book and I have made it for many years.

It's easy to make and store....
and it smells like peanut butter cookies when you make it..
So there is a bonus for your chore.
Ha.....I made a rhyme.....
----------------------
2 cups peanut butter ( I use the smooth )
2 cups real lard... ( no substitutes...NOT Crisco )
4 cups " quick oats " oats
4 cups corn meal ...( I think yellow corn meal works best )
2 cups white flour
2/3 cup white table sugar
Handful of raisins if you want.
---------------------
Melt lard and peanut butter in large pot over LOW heat...stir constantly or it will burn
Take off heat and mix in dry ingredients.
You need to work quickly because it starts setting up fast.
When done it should be the consistency of really thick cooked oatmeal.
Put it in your container(s) and let it sit overnight at room temp. to cool.
------------------------
The pans I use to put the mixture in are approx. 3 inches high...
And I make the cakes 1 and 3/4... to 2 inches thick...but you can make them however thick you want.

But if you make them too thin they will break and crumble.

I line my containers with plastic wrap on the bottom and up the sides....that makes it easy to get out of the pan...otherwise it sticks.

If you line the pan good enough....you can just turn the pan upside down on your kitchen counter and it will fall right out.

Cut into squares after cooled...and store.
**Get everything ready BEFORE you start cooking it...because you won't have time after.
I make 4 times the recipe at a time.
Make it....I promise you won't be sorry.

11/03/2025

HELP HELP HELP....PLEASE share this everywhere.
I am looking for these particular cages...

MARCHIORO " Tommy " 120
The company no longer makes them...but there has to be someone out there that has some used that they no longer want.
Anyone got one that they no longer use that they want to sell ?
Name your price....... I will buy it.
I actually would like to buy 4 of them but any amount will do )

Please look at the picture....it is a large cage..
( there are two cages in the picture )
With TWO DOORS in the front,
Any color.
The measurements are approximately :

46 inches long
23 inches deep
20 inches high
PLEASE SHARE THIS
Call Tracy...
513-797-7239 ( land line can not text this number )
Thank you...

10/30/2025

I ain't fraid a no ghost.
Happy Halloween.....
Now get this junk outta my cage Tracy.
I don't know why I have to put up with this.

10/11/2025

WINDOW STRIKES....

BILLIONS ( yes I said BILLIONS ) of birds die every year from window strikes.
Our buildings...our windows are the reason.
And it is preventable.

There are many simple and in-expensive ways to prevent birds from hitting windows.
But it is up to ALL of us to help prevent this from happening.

I admit bird after bird after bird every single year from window strikes.... and many more die than survive.
I tend to post the happy ending stories instead of all of the bad outcomes....so you don't see all of those.

You are in charge of your home's windows.......you can prevent this....it is your choice.
You can be someone who helps save birds from these deaths.

You can be part of the solution....... or part of the problem.
That's not an insult....that's just a fact.

And what about the buildings that you work in ?
You can talk to your employer or owner of the building......
Inform them....show them ways that can help reduce or completely prevent this from happening.

I have another little warbler window strike that I admitted yesterday....and it is not going to be a happy ending.

I have talked about window strikes on this page many times through the years....and I always wonder how many people actually do something to help prevent these deaths from happening.

This is not a small problem....this is a huge problem.....every single time a bird hits a window...... it could have been prevented....but it is up to us to do something about it.....now........not later........now.

This happens EVERYWHERE.....not just huge structures......it happens at your house....where you work...where you shop....where you go to school......small buildings.....medium buildings...you name it.

if there is a window.....there is a potential fatal problem for birds......anywhere.

We can do so much better than this.
We created the problem..........and we can fix it....let's do that.
Check these links out below ....you need to see them :

https://abcbirds.org/news/chicago-collisions-event-2023/

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/a-single-night-of-bird-collisions-in-chicago-points-to-the-need-for-window-safety/

On the night of Oct. 4, 2023, a massive wave of bird migration swept through Chicago. Nearly 1,000 songbirds died after colliding with just one of the many buildings along the waterfront. But it doesn't have to be so: science shows darkened windows can make a big difference in saving birds.

10/11/2025

Another window strike.....
This little cutie Bay-breasted Warbler was found and rescued by
Olivia and Paula Teleky.

I admitted him about 5 days ago.....and released him this morning.
He actually had a big breakfast before he left.....
( I know because I counted the mealworms in his dish LOL )
So he was good to go to begin his long journey.

Thank you Olivia and Paula for saving this little one....he would not have survived had you not rescued him.

Fall plumage...Halloween plumage...first fall....spring plumage...juvenile female....juvenile male....best costume.....spring hairdo...second haircut....after dinner....before lunch...grade school...
non-breeding on a date.

When I don't know what they are ( which is frequent ) I make Don ID them.
So thank you Donald Morse Jr. for the Warbler ID..... :) :)

10/07/2025

Here we go again...
I got this guy in today.

ANOTHER Yellow-billed Cuckoo
ANOTHER Window Strike victim.

A very nice couple ( Barbara Schmidt and Fred Abblett ) found and rescued him.
Thank you for taking the time to help him Barb and Fred. :)

Want to see how many birds might be migrating tonight over your area ? Check this map out :
https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/

10/04/2025

UPDATE :
Want a happy ending to start your day ?

This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo that I admitted several days ago.
Kathryn Draca found and rescued him.

He was a window strike and from the condition he was in I really had doubts that he would survive.
But Hot Diggity Dog....he did.

I just released him a few minutes ago. :) :)

09/30/2025

Here is another Yellow-billed Cuckoo folks.....this poor guy is a window strike. I got him in yesterday.
Kathryn Draca found him on the ground outside the building where she works and rescued him.

He is in very bad condition....extremely emaciated etc.
I don't know if he will survive this or not.

This is still heavy migration time.....and I am getting lots of window strike birds in.
If you work in a building with lots of windows you should talk to your employer and see if they would use some product to prevent window strikes. Some places are doing that.

This beauty should be on his way to South America......
but instead he is here in rehab feeling miserable and fighting for his life.
Thank you Kathryn for helping him.

09/28/2025

I got this Swainson's Thrush in a couple of days ago. Two very nice people ( Annie Cardin and Marc Lemaitre ) rescued him.

These guys are long distance migrants and they spend the winter in South America.

This is fall migration time and migratory birds unfortunately are getting into lots of trouble from injuries due to window strikes...hit by cars...building collisions....cat attacks as well as other problems.

Migration is very tough on birds......and far too many do not survive.

The dangers they face are endless and the journey they face is incredible.

Some migratory birds fly non stop over the Gulf of MEXICO
and that is an unbelievable feat.

Flying non stop over the Gulf of MEXICO takes every bit of strength and energy and determination that they have.

You can help prevent window strikes and save some birds by making your windows safe.
Billions of birds die every year from window strikes.
I get tons of window strike victims in every year.....and sadly many do not survive.
Thank you again Annie and Marc.

09/27/2025

Update on the Cuckoo I got several days ago that Dylan Nickell found.
He has a broken leg...
I took him to a fantastic avian vet the day after I got him...who splinted the leg....it will be a couple weeks before bandage comes off to see if the fracture healed.
He is now able to perch and balance on one leg.
He is doing good Dylan... :)