I fucking cried my eyes out watching this, it's awesome. I totally get how you feel about them. I raised a Redwing Starling from a hatchling and she lived with my partner and I but was free to go as she pleased. She would spend most of her day out and about and one day she decided she was a wild bird.
My partner fell into such a bad depression about it but he didn't understand it the way you & I do. If they can be wild and free, that is the best life for them and if we can share their companionship for a while during the process, them we can feel really honoured.
She came back to show me her babies just so happened to be Mother's Day and that made me feel so good, that I had raised her well and she was now a wild bird set out to make her own way in life.
Thank you for being an ambassador to these misunderstood creatures, they need it.
Shame Cornelia's distress broke my heart as I'm sure it did yours. Bird hugs to you 💖
Starlings are so crazy smart and clever! I can only imagine how heartbreaking it would be to get to know one and then have to let them go. But she brought her babies to see you!! So amazing. "See, I'm ok, and can you please help me feed all these kids because omg parenting is hard work!"
Thank you for crying!! That's a weird thing to say but I think you know what I mean.