fledgling :)

Check out this little fledgling hairy woodpecker that Rachael saved from drowning when it decided to fledge the nest and landed in the pool. Poor little thing. Rachael fished it out with a strainer and then let it sit for a minute on the deck. We weren't sure if it had really injured itself as it wasn't moving much. Just blinking it's little beady eyes. So after a few minutes she went to carefully gather it into a small towel and it tried to fly again, not far...just a foot or so. Finding the edge of the house it clung to it. Anyway it was still so exposed she did finally get it in the towel and we went to let it out up in a small dogwood tree in the back yard, close to where it came from and up off the ground yet not too high that if it fell again that it would be hurt. But just as she was ready to release it to the side of the tree it flew off! With a great deal of effort, but up it flew in to the woods, across the yard. It was wonderful to see it take it's first real flight! They are such cute little things! =0)