on squeamishness

I'm not particularly squeamish.

I go camping, I've slept outside under the stars, I've eaten food (or drink) that's had a bug in or on it (after bug removal), we cloth diapered, I've picked up or cleaned up pretty much every bodily fluid from both child or dog, I had a planned and successful homebirth.

I don't like dead animals. Just saying.

But on our trips off and on the porch yesterday afternoon, I glanced down to notice a little sparrow nestled among the flower pots, on his side, stiff little legs out. After a small jolt of unease sped through my system, I call little g over (K was inside getting something from her room) and we examined the little bird.

I must admit, I poked him with a stick and turned him over, just to be sure the opposite side wasn't covered with bugs or slime or anything. Little g asked "I touch him? I touch him, momma?" and I let her feel his soft feathers.

When K came down, I kept myself from shuddering and let her pick him up and examine him.

Of course little g had to get in on the action, too.

They examined his thin little toes and spread his wings.

We talked about how he probably died - his neck was quite wobbly and more than likely broken. The window of the back door was right above him, and it was a sunny, reflective, day. We talked about how he probably died right away and didn't hurt, because he was lying right where he would have fallen.

We talked about how taxidermy works (thank you wiki), and how it is neither an option nor practicable by the untrained. And, no, we can't just stuff him with newspapers or ecostuffing from the fabric store (and discussion why not).

K talked about the little sparrow throughout the afternoon. She looked him up in her bird book to determine his exact breed.

She made him a resting place, in a shoe box, complete with sign.

(song sparrow)

And I made them wash their hands. Really Well. A Lot.

Today we may give him his final resting place and bury him among the flowers in the front yard. K wanted to make him a tombstone, I said she could paint on a rock and put it where we bury him.

Thank you, little sparrow, for inadvertantly donating your body to science!