By Cynthia Scott

A baby barn swallow that tumbled from its nest during the Chisago County Fair transformed the exhibit building into something of a birdie nursery and day care center on Friday night and Saturday.

The baby bird was at the center of a drama that began to unfold Friday afternoon when Jody Prettner and Cindy Baker, who were staffing the Folk Art One Stroke booth, were startled to find a tiny chick teetering toward the edge of their table. They snatched the chick off the table and deposited him/her for safe keeping in a bird bath that was among the booth's display items.

Mom and Dad Swallow, meanwhile, circled the area and kept a close eye on their surviving offspring.

A quick look around toldPrettner and Baker the rest of the story: three other babies lay dead on the floor, their nest high up on a ledge near the roof of the building and directly above the Folk Art booth.

Would they be able to nurse the survivor back to health? A night in the bird bath would be the first test.

Apparently, the bird bath was an entirely satisfactory overnight accommodation. When Shari Schommer arrived to staff the Folk Art booth on Saturday morning, Baby was doing fine.

Trouble was, Mom and Dad had decided to dive-bomb anyone who came near the bird bath.

Schommer decided that for the sake of the fair goers meandering through the building, the best course of action would be to move the baby outside.

So, she situated Baby in the bottom dish of a flower pot and sat it outside the door, where Mom and Dad could keep watch.

Mom and Dad had plenty of help. In addition to Schommer, exhibitors from Watkins, Rush City TV, Fernondaís and others took turns keeping an eye on Baby, who ñ cheeping loudly and looking slightly pitiful in its little blue dish ñ had begun to attract the attention of curious passersby.

Mom and Dad continued to swoop, landing and perching on the side of the dish whenever the humans dispersed. Prospects for Baby seemed favorable.

But alas, on Saturday afternoon one of the babysitters ñ er, birdsitters ñ who went to check on Baby found that he/she was gone.

ìI was so upset about it. Our baby, what happened to our baby?î Schommer said.

The valiant crew of birdsitters quickly morphed into a search and rescue party, making forays into the fairgrounds throughout Saturday afternoon. But, no luck. Baby had, so to speak, flown the coop ñ or, perhaps, something more sinister: a feline encounter, a curious child, a reckless walk to the edge of the ìnestî that went bad.

By Monday morning, Schommer was still smarting a little bit from losing Baby. She and the others had hopes of returning the chick to its nest once the fair was over. But it was not to be.

ìItís tough being a barn swallow,î she said.

Maybe, but probably not as tough as being a barn swallow's friend.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com