The real care begins once an egg hatches

Dear Readers: Recently, my husband, David, found a little bird's nest with three eggs in it, sitting on top of the boat motor. David placed the nest in a nearby tree, hoping the mother would find it, but sadly she didn't, and the eggs disappeared.
Dr. Tom Vice, who is an avian specialist and dear friend, said that if we had successfully taken care of the eggs (and they had hatched using an incubator), then the real care would have begun.
The baby birds would have had to be fed a special diet every few hours. Even with lots of love and care, very few make it. If they do, they will bond with the person feeding them and probably have to live their lives in a cage, since they might not be able to survive in the wild.
If anyone has had the same experience, maybe with a happy ending, please write to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279, or send an e-mail to: Heloise@Hel-oise.com -- we would love to hear from you. Heloise
Dear Readers: Marsha and Pat Cooper of Lynchburg, Va., have a "very" chubby cat named Claire. The photo they sent shows her sleeping on her back in a chair, one of her favorite positions. Claire thinks she is a person, so they don't tell her differently -- it would break her heart! Visit my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on This Week's Pet. Heloise
Dear Readers: Any child wanting a pet for the first time would be delighted with a cuddly guinea pig. They are wonderful with children -- they don't claw or scratch, and seldom bite. There are several types and different colors, one being the Peruvian guinea pig. They have very long hair and are just adorable, but they do require daily grooming.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends actually getting more than one guinea pig, since they are very social animals. Two females would be ideal. A large cage -- at least a couple of feet for each pig -- is a must, and they also need to exercise outside the cage daily.
You can find out more information about guinea pigs and other animals on the ASPCA Web site, www.ASPCA.com. Just click on Ani-Med on the left side and scroll down. Heloise
Elephants are fascinating mammals, and here are some interesting facts that I didn't know:
According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, one elephant can consume up to 660 pounds of food and 50 gallons of water daily! The Asian and African elephants differ in height and weight, with the African one weighing more and being taller.
Also, the tip of an elephant's trunk has a projection that acts like two fingers, which can pick up an object as small as a tiny twig. Maybe that's good if they are on a diet! Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate