The terrible winds whipped up fierce sheets of rain that tore off lots of branches and along with them the birds and squirrels sheltered in them. The wooded lot is a shambles with broken branches everywhere. I keep looking out there to see if there are any survivors of the storm but nothing is stirring. I threw some birdseed down in there. This usually produces a several squirrels to come running. Today there is nothing.
The Wildlife Rehab Center is swamped with birds and animals rescued from downed trees. Sadly, there are many that cannot be rescued.
The friend-of-a-friend posted this on Facebook
We had a very bad storm in Minneapolis Friday and I've been without power since. Several downed trees, flash flooding in my neighborhood and the largest power outage in the state's history. While biking around the damage yesterday, I heard woodpecker calls coming from a tree trunk on the ground. Walking over I realized the tree had fallen with the entrance hole on the ground and the chicks were stuck. It was too heavy for me or even one other person to move.
I biked around until I saw a tree guy with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board driving by and flagged him down. Even though he had hundreds of trees and branches to deal with, he followed me to the tree and helped delicately cut the trunk so we could roll it over. The chicks were freaked, but we could see they were close to fledging. He documented the tree and said they would lean it up and leave it the next week so the birds could fledge. I watched from a distance and listened to the chicks call and within five minutes, the adults flew in, calling back to them.
Still processing it, but that is the one really wonderful thing about storms. How much we help each other, even birds trapped in a tree trunk. Thank you, Dan, from Minneapolis Park and Rec.
If you look close, you can make out a young hairy woodpecker face in the hole.
22 comments:
I hope your wooded lot is cleared soon and you can continue looking after your small friends. Best wishes to everyone to recover.
Oh, this is so sad. We don't think often enough how these storms impact the homes and well-being of our animal friends. Thank you for reminding me...
My sister in New Brighton just got her electricity back this evening. Hope you're doing well...
This is terrible. I am praying for the people affected by this.
What a sweet post today. There's always a 'softie' out there somewhere, isn't there? Maa
Ms Sparrow Such a heart warming story about the baby woodpeckers getting help along with the rest of the community .
Oh my! I am so sorry to see those gorgeous trees gone. That's so sad.
I hope the folks without power have it back by the time you read this.
It's seems like an especially rough storm season across the country this year. I hope things settle down.
Stay safe, jj
Thanking Dan, too. I've learned a lot about storms this year. Hope the power comes back quickly and the damage is less awful than it first appears. Twin Cities are in my prayers.
Take heart Ms sparrow, the only reason the wildlife isn't showing its face is because they are all in their storm shelters, partying. I hope, anyway.
Always amazes me in winter when something that weighs 20g can sit in a tree overnight at sub-zero temperatures and then just begin work as usual at first light. If I sat in a tree overnight I'd need the Fire Brigade and an ambulance. Possibly a hearse!
They'll bounce back.
I've been reading about this online, but that last photo tells a lot. Hope you all recover quickly and have fair skies for some time to come!
People tend to forget our wild friends when a storm such as this hits,so I'm happy to hear a happy ending!
Jane x
How is it that I missed hearing about the bad.
Hope everyone is safe.
I think you can tell the true character of someone who will help wildlife; the story brought tears to my eyes. We have an old tree, leaning toward the pond, that a beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker comes to, and I've so enjoyed watching her (I call it a "her") banging for insects. I can't imagine my life without the wonderment of wildlife. I hope your power is restored soon and the clean-up is not too devastating, XOXO
The storms we have are tiny compared to these - and they cause plenty of damage - I can only too well imagine the problems caused by these. It is heart warming to hear a tale of such kindness. I hope things are getting back on an even keel for all concerned.
Terrible things to happen, to the birds and animals.
Goodness - stay safe! I hope that the weather is calmer now. Jx
I am thrilled to hear about the parks worker who was willing to help out a nest of woodpeckers. Everyone is working so hard, such long hours, to clean up trees and restore power. It's great to hear a life-affirming story like this. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for your work at the rehab center.
Your country has has a bad year with a lot of destruction caused by storms and it's sad the little critters homes are damaged too.
Merle......
Wonderful. Care for each other, including the animals and the birds. What a neat round hole the woodpecker has made.
Oh my word so sad to see what mother nature has done in her fury and saddened about the losses for people and also all the birds and animals suffering too. Hope the baby birds do well.
It has indeed been a bad year of storms. I hope my now your wildlife is moving about and all the power has been restored.
A bad spring and early summer all around.
that's so sad, i hope that things can be cleared up soon.
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