BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?

Subject: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: bbc
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 06:53 AM

When I arrived home from work last night, I went out to fill the birdfeeders on my deck. I was surprised to find a female American Goldfinch sitting at my feet on the deck. She didn't offer to fly, so I took photos of her for several minutes (My flickr page
). It was getting cold & we have neighborhood cats, so I caught her in a box & brought her into the lightly-heated sunroom. When I tried to release her an hour later, she still couldn't fly, so I kept her in for the night, w/ heat & food. This morning, she was lively & had eliminated, but still didn't fly away. Since we have a forecast of snow tonight, I'm keeping her in for now, but I don't know what to do in the longterm. Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 07:00 AM

Call your local Humane Society or ASPCA. They will put you in touch with the right people. It is probably against the law for an unlicensed person to keep and maintain songbirds.

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 07:01 AM

Here in the DC area, we have a group called Second Chance wildlife rescue, which does precisely what you ask. We took a young blue jay there who'd fallen out of his nest and was easy prey for cats-- last year. Complete recovery--then they let it go--out in the country where the rescue group is located. Do you have anything similar in your area? (We were referred to them by Audubon.)

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 07:35 AM

A few years ago I had a starling come down the chimney and get trapped behind the gas fire. I phoned the RSPB and they contacted British Gas who came out at no cost and removed the fire and bird and then replaced the fire. The bird was a bit stunned and wouldn't fly away at first so I spent ages keeping a watch out for cats. It did eventually go and I was so relieved.

Recently we had an injured pigeon in the garden with a cat about to pounce. We put it in a box and took it to the local vet. He checked it free of charge. If it had been injured they would have looked after it but apparently it wasn't so we had to bring it home much to my horror. Anyway one of my sons took it to the local wood where there is plenty of shelter and released it - we didn't know if that was the right thing to do but some days later a similar pigeon was back in the garden and able to fly so we've convinced ourselves it is the same one!

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 07:38 AM

I should have said that we thought it was injured because it wouldn't move.

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:43 AM

I don't know that this will help, but, are you SURE that's a goldfinch? The gold is darker than the males here, the wing and tail feathers have more black and less grey. That little critter is also downier than the finches I've seen, and has way too sardonic an expression for a finch. Of course, it may have been attacked by a cat or a hawk or something, which would make anyone sardonic and ruffled.

Looks more like a Pine Warbler than a female Goldfinch.

The ASPCA and Humane Society are good ideas, but I doubt they deal with songbirds. Try the local Co-operative Extension office. What happens when the bird tries to fly?

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: mrdux
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:29 PM

I'd give a call to your local or nearest Audubon society -- I know that at least out here (Portland, OR), they are the resource for injured wild birds.

And I agree with Jeri -- it does look more like a pine warbler.

michael

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:56 PM

Let Mother Nature take Her course?

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Bee
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 05:10 PM

Birds found sitting on my deck have usually knocked themselves senseless on a window. Recovery time varies, but of the four I remember (over 12 years), a few minutes, couple hours, and overnight.

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: bbc
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:52 PM

Hi, folks,

Thanks for your suggestions. And, yes, you're right! I'm embarrassed. She certainly does appear to be a pine warbler, rather than a goldfinch. I have a thistle feeder & I had assumed that the birds I saw were house, purple, & gold finches. I can see, now, that this one's beak is quite different, as well as the coloring.

The Audubon Society is a good suggestion. I also found a bird rehabilitator in my county, about a half hour's drive away. Fitting it into my schedule is another matter, though. For now, she is still with me. She was livelier when I got home today, hopping around, eating, drinking, pooping, but she still couldn't fly. As soon as I can, I'll get her to help.

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Injured Birds--How to Help?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 09:10 PM

Yes, you need a bird "rehabilitator" who is the only one who can legally turn the bird loose when it is ready... Yeah, I know this is rediculous but in most states once you take it in you can't **leagally** release it when it is healed...

Actually, you say it is a finch??? They make good house pet/birds so ya' might just wanta let her stay around... If you don't have cats, it will be very happy living in and outta a cage... I think it will learn to go in the cage at night... Finches are like paraketes.... Very friendly... Take to people well...

Ask yer "rehibilitator" about 'um...

B~