Update on how Pod is doing now

Yesterday I made the decision to take Pod to Detta's. Her parents were flying around, looking at me as I removed their offspring from the bush. I could feel their anxiety ... and hers. Her small body was trembling.

At Detta's advice I placed her in a dark, quiet (cushioned/lined) box with holes punched in it and put her in the car. As I drove down the road I thought of her parents and wondered: "Am I doing the right thing by taking her from them?" Then I remembered this quote: Doubt whom you will, but never yourself (Christine Bovee). It felt like the right thing for me to do.

When we arrived at Detta's, Pod was immediately given a 'nest mate' - a baby green tanager. According to Detta, Pod is too young to be out of the nest.

She was eating pieces of mango and worms from the tweezers, but we noticed that at times she seemed to be ingesting her food with some difficulty. Possibly an intestinal problem. Also, apparently she had not been getting enough food from her parents and was a bit dehydrated - hence her weakened state.

At moments she would nod off, looking quite sickly.
When she had been in the bush at home, I'd observed that she had packed, dry stool in her bottom. Detta used a wet Q-tip to gently remove the dried plug.

Once the hard plug was removed, the softer bits came out. The plug had most likely been preventing her from passing out whatever food she was taking in.

Once the anal area was clean, Detta pointed out that her abdomen looked a little strange - somewhat swollen, with a large white spot on it. Maybe distended due to food that had been unable to pass out due to the hard plug of stool? Perhaps she had been injured during her fall?

She was given antibiotics (for possible infection).

Pod looking more alert while the other bird (see blurry yellow beak in background) sleeps in the nest.

Pod's 'room mate' sleeping after a meal of worms and mango.

"One day I'll be able to eat mangoes on my own."
Detta cleaning and preparing a healing cage for Pod and her room mate.
Pod gazes out at the garden while her room mate dozes in the nest.

UPDATE AS OF THIS MORNING:
Detta says that Pod is doing much better, looking stronger and perkier. Her little cries are louder. She is being given small doses of antibiotics and a special food for debilitated birds. In fact, this morning as Detta mixed the food, Pod started picking at it of her own accord.

When she is able to fly, she will be released in her birthplace (the garden at home). I will be out of the country, so won't be able to see her victory flight ... but I'm sure it will be a great moment.