Found hurt bird on street

ShinyRedKnight

Hey guys, my brother was driving and saw a small bird in the middle of the street. It wasn't moving away, but it is still alive. Its legs seem hurt but he (she?) is actively looking around but not making any sound.

My brother felt bad leaving him in the street so we put him in a shoe box with a towel. I know that one isn't supposed to touch birds, but my brother did it as he felt it had no chance in the middle of a street in 100 degree weather.

My first worry what to feed it or how to give it water. My second is what to do next? I'm looking up rescue shelters and such, so hopefully I'll find someone who can treat him. Any advice would be really helpful.

ShinyRedKnight

Okay, an update. I have called several rehabilitation centers for wildlife. One will hopefully get back to me about picking the bird up. If not we'll take him to the center.

As well, I've been told to let him rest in the shoe box with a towel underneath and not to feed him or anything.

sacreandprofane

I'm very sorry to hear about the bird. : ' (

I came across a small, injured bird in the middle of the street last year. It was not moving. Its neck was cranked to the side but it was still alive and breathing, so I carefully picked it up in a towel and took it to the vet down the street. They said there was nothing they could do because the bird had taken too much damage to its spine. All they could do was "dispose" of it properly. I did ask them how they usually handle things like injured wild animals and they said there are certain vets and shelters in the county that do what they can to take care of these creatures; for example, they said there was a shelter two cities north that specialized in care for wild birds - we have an ecological preserve nearby.

To start, I would try calling your local vet and ask if he/she might help or if he knows a facility nearby that can help or at least instruct you in how to take care of the little guy. I hope things work out OK.

sacreandprofane

ShinyRedKnight wrote: »

Okay, an update. I have called several rehabilitation centers for wildlife. One will hopefully get back to me about picking the bird up. If not we'll take him to the center.

As well, I've been told to let him rest in the shoe box with a towel underneath and not to feed him or anything.

Just saw your update. Sounds like you're on the right track! Hopefully they call you back soon. : )

EggyToast

Often for small animals that aren't pets (and sometimes even for pet animals), unless you can identify the animal as something uncommon or endangered, rehab centers and animal control won't have the resources and will chalk it up to simply bad luck on behalf of the animal. There's numerous reasons why this bird could be there -- kicked out of the nest, injured during flight attempt, taken by predator but dropped, etc. In most cases they have little chance of a full recovery.

However, by taking it off the street and putting it in a cool soft place, at least it's as comfortable as plausible, even if nothing happens to it. There's rarely a "right thing" for these situations, but you did a good thing.

ShinyRedKnight

I called severally wildlife/ bird rescue organizations in the state and they recommended a center that specialized in birds and had vets on staff. They took the bird in and said they'll see what they can do. They specifically noted that they will do everything to heal/ rehabilitate the bird.

He/she was surprisingly calm for the most part, and they did notice that. They said they send postcards with updates to people who bring in animals, hopefully it works out.

Lucky Cynic

I have no advice but just wanted to say thanks for taking care of the critter. +Kudos.

Cabezone

EggyToast wrote: »

Often for small animals that aren't pets (and sometimes even for pet animals), unless you can identify the animal as something uncommon or endangered, rehab centers and animal control won't have the resources and will chalk it up to simply bad luck on behalf of the animal. There's numerous reasons why this bird could be there -- kicked out of the nest, injured during flight attempt, taken by predator but dropped, etc. In most cases they have little chance of a full recovery.

However, by taking it off the street and putting it in a cool soft place, at least it's as comfortable as plausible, even if nothing happens to it. There's rarely a "right thing" for these situations, but you did a good thing.

Errr....I dunno where the hell you live but in my area of Cali I can take any injured wild creature to a rehab center and they will try and fix it up, no matter how common. I used to volunteer at one as a teen and have brought by plenty of common animals that were able to be rehabilitated and released.

My sole job as a teen was feeding all the baby birds they had...all day.

Casually Hardcore

Honestly, songbirds are becoming a rarity.

DkKingly

That was really good of you to bring the bird in. Nice job.

LoveIsUnity

I don't have anything to add either, but I'm glad you took care of the bird.

Halibut

Last year around this time, I found two blue jay fledglings on the sidewalk in front of my house. They were still alive, but ants were starting to get to them, and they couldn't hop away.

So I took them inside and got all the ants off that I could. I called the wildlife rescue center and they told me to make a nest and put it near their old nest. So, they rested up for a bit in my house, and then I made a makeshift nest out of a tupperware container and some grass and nailed it to the tree where (presumably their old nest was).

Within an hour, the momma bird came by to check on them. That thing about mother birds rejecting their chicks if you touch them is bullshit. Probably just something you tell kids so they won't go around touching everything.

Anyway, I have a mixed emotional response when I look back on the story. One of the birds had a broken leg and died that night. The other one, I didn't see after a few days of feeding and encouragement from his mom, so presumably he learned to fly.

Also, blue jays are apparently vicious killers.