Ridiculous pathetic Q: there's a bird dying outside my house, should I kill it?

[Myrddraal]

Well I did what you said. I got a spade and slammed it down as hard as I could, edge down. It didn't see me coming, but the bird still didn't die with the first blow, so I just hit it again and again until there was no way it could be alive. The problem isn't over though. This chick wasn't alone. There's another chick on the floor out there. This one is sitting up, and moving its head. It still doesn't stand a chance in the long run, but I honestly think the best thing to do is to let it live. Nature will take its course eventually, but for now it's still alive.

[Myrddraal]

The rub is, this type of activity happens every minute throughout the world in nature and we never see it. We as human beings do not like to see pain or suffering, when it is a natural part of the cycle of living and being.

I remember a program about feral children I watched. There was some doctor in the 19 c. (I think) who was trying to distinguish what set humans apart from animals. I can't remember what all of his criteria were, but two of them were language and empathy. He was studying feral children because he was convinced that they could be taught to speak. They never did, but they did show empathy.

The pigeon clearly wasn't bothered in the slightest.

[Fragony]

If the the other one is healthy isn't there some bird shelter? If I find abandoned chicks I take them there.

[Myrddraal]

I must admit that didn't even occur to me. Where the do you find such a place? I've been trawling the net, google maps hasn't helped, even the RSPCB website hasn't helped... I found a website for a place, but it's over an hour's drive away. I tried ringing them and all you get is a recorded message.

The bird is still there. It hasn't moved from the spot where it was sat earlier. It's not really moving, only occasionally.

[Myrddraal]

I found this website:
http://www.rspca.org.uk/inyourarea?p..._p_col_count=2

But even if I put "up to 50 miles" nothing comes up in my area for emergency wildlife care

[Whacker]

As was said, you need to decide what you are comfortable with. My personal opinion is I would have done the same you did in the first instance, and put a suffering animal out of it's misery. If the other animal isn't wounded, then it's arguably not suffering. However, the odds of it surviving are essentially zero. Some predator like a cat will most likely get it. If that happens, then again my opinion is... so be it. Cats need food, and the chick wasn't going to survive outside of the next as less than a fledgling anyway. The bird that you euthanized will become food for other creatures, such as ants and other "recyclers". And with that the circle starts all over again.

[Myrddraal]

Well I can't say the moment I realised the bird wasn't dead after the first blow was the nicest feeling ever, but I think that ultimately it was a mercy. With this second bird I don't think so. I'm inclined to agree with you though, nature will take its course and a cat probably will get the chick, but for now I think the best I can do is leave it be.