Federally Protected Injured Baby Bird Rescued In Lubbock, Texas

Sirius Chavira and his girlfriend Veronica Rodriguez found an injured baby bird near their apartment in Lubbock, Texas. This little bird isn't one you'd normally come across in the Hub City, and they realized very quickly that it was actually a very long way from home.

Chavira told KFMX:

"It was outside my apartment and my dog almost ate the poor thing! He was limping and couldn’t get up on the curb so my girlfriend picked the birdie up, (she’s an animal whisperer), and we put him in a cat kennel and I took him with me to work until I could get in touch with someone and figure out if I could take him in."

"Come to find out the fletching was a Mississippi kite. They are federally protected and usually don’t fly to Lubbock, from what the sanctuary told me. I got the baby over to the bird sanctuary off of Indiana close to 98th and met a state trooper there to hand it over. They also came to my apartment and took the rest of the nest with them as well."

That's one lucky little bird!

Mississippi kites are typically found in Oklahoma, but this certainly isn't the first time they've been seen elsewhere. According to Wikipedia, the species has recently expanded its breeding territory and some have been found as far away as New Hampshire.

Here's hoping it has a second chance at life now that it's in the care of local wildlife professionals. Good find, guys! You all saved the day!

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