Wheelbarrow warning

[Verinda]

I wasn't sure where to put this post.

Anyway, the other day I was in my garden and could hear a plopping sound. I peered into my wheelbarrow which had some rain water in it and saw that a robin was trapped, his feathers were waterlogged and he couldn't fly out. Naturally I immediately rescued him and he was fine thankfully.

It hadn't even occurred to me that this could happen. So this is just a warning to be aware of water in your wheelbarrow!

[binley100]

Mine always get stood on the end if not in use ....glad you were around to rescue him ....

[Verinda]

Yes it was so lucky, I'd have felt terrible if he'd drowned. My barrow will be kept on its side from now on.

[veggiechicken]

Poor robin Glad you found him Verinda.
I'm floating pieces of wood in the buckets that stand catching water as the bumble bees are also getting waterlogged when they go in for a drink .

[Verinda]

That's a good idea VC. I must put a piece of wood in our water barrel. I absolutely hate to see a drowned bumble bee or a drowned anything come to think of it!

[Two_Sheds]

I accidentally drowned a baby blackbird last year ~ he'd fledged, and dropped straight from his nest into the water butt

They all now have lids on

[Verinda]

I had a lid on my water barrel and one day discovered a drowned wren, I think it must have hopped through the gap between the drain pipe and the hole in the lid and couldn't get out I still feel bad about it.

[Glutton4...]

Everything that holds water gets a lid on it, here - there's enough Mozzies around without providing them with a ready-made breeding habitat!

[PyreneesPlot]

We get lizards falling down the downpipe into the water butt from the gutter - have to check them a couple of times a day as they can swim for a while. We have no idea how they get into the gutters as they are continuous around the house and they can't get in from underneath. They get out by jumping and have landed on my head or shoulders more than once.

As an aside, make sure your wheelbarrow is stored with the wheel out of the sun or the rubber tyre will perish.

[Verinda]

That's good advice about the wheel because my wheelbarrow wheel has just perished! When I get a new one I'll be sure to take a bit more care.

I think lizards are cute, there are some here but I've never seen one.