Fly Free, Darling Stripes

It hadn’t been my intention to start the 2026 issues of Creature Thoughts in sorrow. However, fate often has other ideas.

On the 22nd of January, my sweet little Stripes laid down for an afternoon nap, and didn’t wake up. I’d been laughing at her earlier, as she was doing that “prying thing” Starlings do, hunting under papers for dried mealworms. Though she had numerous disabilities in later years, she was the happiest, silliest girl ever. She never complained about her problems, was an enthusiastic eater, and enjoyed the company of Whistle. After Stars’s death in 2018, she moved into his side of the cage, and they became quite the funny elderly couple.

I’ll be watching him carefully and doing what I can to enrich his life now that she’s gone. Jingle and Tidbit are right next door, but Whistle has his own geriatric issues, and it wouldn’t be wise to try to house him with two younger, far more fit, Starlings.

Stripes used to talk quite well, until her sister died. Although Stars was my amazing conversationalist, Stripey could hold her own. She was the one who would sit and complain, “Whistle’s stupid! Stupid Whistle,” always ending with a “pfft!” sound. Though I told her it wasn’t nice to call her brother names, I couldn’t help laughing. Little did she know he’d be her cage-mate in her later years. He never took offense, though.

On the My Animal Family page, you can find a couple of clips of Stripes chattering.

My little flock, once comprised of five Starlings, two English Sparrows, and a Cowbird (who was not really supposed to be here, but would not have survived in the wild, so he stayed), has dwindled to three. Whistle will be 16 in the spring, so he has also lived beyond the average lifespan for the species. I guess even Jingle and Tidbit, the “babies,” are probably considered senior citizens now; they will be 10 this year. Due to my health issues, I don’t actively rehab anymore, though am still busy helping out NY Wildlife Rescue Center with various technical issues. So, there will be no more birds to take the place of those who fly over the rainbow.

Where happy little Starlings, Sparrows and Cowbirds fly….

Farewell, sweetheart. Look down on my tears today; they shine their light for you.

A Memorial Kindness: All of my birds, including Stripes, came into my life thanks to New York Wildlife Rescue Center, here in Middleburgh, NY. Winters are so hard for any rescue organization, and I happen to know that NYWRC is facing challenges. If you would like to make a donation in Stripes’ memory, please visit their website. There is a PayPal donation link on every page.

News:

Health-wise, though I knock wood whenever I say it, I have been doing a bit better. I’ve had numerous people, whose pre-paid sessions have been used up, write and ask if I might be able to handle emergency readings. In recent weeks, I’ve said a tentative yes, and (knocking wood again) things have gone okay. If you are among this group, and have need of an old friend to chat with your little ones, don’t feel shy of reaching out. If I’m up to it, I’ll give it my best. If not, I know you’ll understand.

Like I say above, one never knows what fate will have in store.