Helping Orphaned or Injured Wild Birds: Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-210 (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin)
Diane Scarazzini
Language: English
Pages: 32
ISBN: 1580172318
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
When faced with an injured bird or orphaned nestling, most people want to help but don’t know how – and also fear doing more harm than good. In fact, many wild birds that appear to be in trouble don’t need assistance at all. How do you know whether a bird needs help? How do you know what sort of help the bird needs? In Helping Orphaned or Injured Wild Birds, you’ll find all the information you need on when and how to assist all kinds of birds, from wrens to raptors. You’ll learn how to:
- Identify whether a bird needs rescuing
- Help a baby bird that’s fallen from its nest
- Identify the age and species of an injured of orphaned bird
- Prepare emergency rations for a baby bird
- Administer basic bird first-aid
- Locate a professional wildlife rehabilitator
idea to routinely save a few of them so that you’ll always have several on hand for emergencies. What makes them ideal, in addition to their size (similar to that of a nest), is that they allow air to circulate and moisture to drain, they won’t get soggy and fall apart like a small cardboard box, and they’re easy to attach to a tree because of their mesh sides. If a nest has been blown or knocked down, a substitute nest can be easily devised from a berry basket and dry leaves or grass. Gather
your local library). Or maybe you know someone who is familiar with birds. Note the bird’s characteristics, including size, shape, and color of the beak, feathers, legs, feet, or any markings. It’s difficult to distinguish among species when nestlings are very young, but the temporary emergency diet provided here — Emergency Baby-Bird Rations, below — is usually sufficient until you can transfer the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator and make a positive identification. Always read the directions
important. Keeping Chicks Warm Because precocial chicks don’t have full temperature control until about four weeks of age, they must be kept at a temperature of 85 to 90°F (29 to 32°C), usually by means of a supplemental heat source. (Their box must be big enough that they can get away from the heat source if they want.) Avoid heat lamps that claim to be shatterproof; these emit toxic fumes from their Teflon coating, which can be fatal to birds. To simulate the mother, put a clean dry mop
Weight increases rapidly, feathers develop along tracts, eyes open, starts to preen feathers, has some control of body temperature. Days 7 through 9: Has better motor coordination, fans his wings, flutters feathers, shakes and scratches head, begs for food. Days 9 and 10: Has control of body temperature, preens, starts to become independent of the nest, responds to parents. Days 10 through 15: Sleeps in adult position, pecks at food, catches insects, fully feathered, stays apart from siblings.
Sometimes you may not see an external injury, but the bird has probably sustained a puncture wound or other internal injuries. The bacteria from a cat bite are deadly to birds (and mammals). Death from a cat mauling is very common, just from the stress it causes. Until you can get the assistance of a rehabilitator, place the bird in a box lined with paper towels or tissues. Then put the box in a warm, darkened, quiet area for at least an hour. It’s recommended that even if the bird regains