The Bird is the Word

[nekosensei]

My next-door neighbor's kids found an injured sparrow late this afternoon. They can't keep it because of their dog, so now I have it. (doomsey volunteered me because I'm the animal person). Oy! Anyhow, I explained to them that wild birds taken into captivity often die of shock, so don't be sad if he doesn't make it. Harsh, but better to be upfront. If somebody had told me that before I took in a certain fledgling back when I was a kid, I think it would have saved me a little heart-ache.

So...now Mr. Bird is resting comfortably in a box out in my garage. (I'm not bringing it inside in case it's sick. I don't want to expose myself, my husband, or the cats to anything). Mr. Bird also has some food and water. The little guy looks hungry because he started chowing down as soon as I gave him the food. I watched him for about five minutes while he was eating and then picked him up and took a closer look at his legs and wings. It doesn't look like anything is broken, so honestly, I think either he ran into something and stunned himself or he's sick.

I tried calling Willowbrook Wildlife Center, but they closed at five. I think, what I'm going to do his hold him over night and, if he makes it until morning, hand him over to the specialists at Willowbrook when they open at nine.

Comments

[lark_ascends]

*wishes the little birdie all the best*

[likapo.livejournal.com]

*Sends good vibes to the bird*
It's a lovely thing to do :3

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

I'd need a side view to be sure, but that doesn't look like a sparrow.

Birds can get things like concussions from running into things, just like us, so could be that. Glad to hear the bird is going for the water and food.

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

No, it's just a different kind of sparrow than you're familiar with- there's about fifty bazillion different kinds. ;)

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's a female house sparrow (http://buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/blog/2008/03/16/the-insidious-invaders-house-sparrows-starlings/). I see them flying around all the time. The females are usually brown and the males have a pattern.

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

I'd have to see a side view. The photo above doesn't show the barring on the back and wings. Even the hens have that.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Sorry I couldn't get a better picture of it. I didn't want to disturb it too much. :(

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

No, you're right, better to let the birdie be as much as possible. Glad to hear she's drinking and showing interest in food, that may mean the bird is much better by morning.

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

If he-actually, from the neutral coloring, probably she-is eating, she'll probably be okay.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's always a good indication. When I was a kid, I found a baby robin. At least I think it was a baby robin, the details are hazy. My sister and I fed it, and it ate fine the first day. When we checked on it in the morning, it was dead. We were devastated because, other than being young, it was doing fine.

The same thing happened when I picked up a starling with two broken legs. It ate when it thought I wasn't looking, but it still died anyway. And the most frustrating thing about that last bit was that I couldn't get any wildlife places to take him. They told me that it was just a starling and that I could take care of it myself. Yeah...um...no. (Not to mention that I didn't have the faintest idea of what I should be doing to fix its legs).

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

Aw, man.
I understand the shelter, at least a little: Starlings are an Invasive. And they're bullies. But still...

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Also, I watched him for a bit to determine what was wrong with him. He seems to be a little unsteady on his feet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he makes it until tomorrow.

[quietdarkness.livejournal.com]

I think you are doing the best you can for the bird. Keep it warm too, if you can. If it makes it through the night, it does need to go to the rehabbers. Thanks for doing what you can for it.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did that. I did some reading last night, and the wisdom of the internet said that I should build him a little nest out of tissue. So, I went out there at about nine o'clock, checked on him, and set the tissues down.

He also ate a bit more so. I'm crossing my fingers that he'll still be with us when I go out there in a few minutes. I won't be too disappointed if he's not though. Wild birds have always struck me as being very delicate animals. Usually, I leave them alone, but this time, I took her in because the neighbor's kids found her and seemed intent on saving her.

[gipsy-dreamer.livejournal.com]

Sparrows are pretty tough little birds; if he's eating and moving about the chances are that he's stunned himself and will be well enough to fly again pretty soon :)

[nick-101.livejournal.com]

Hope the bird gets better. Poor thing.

[bonobochick.livejournal.com]

Lordy, now I have that song stuck in my head.