Hi all,
Found a fledgling next to a busy dual-carriageway. No trees, undergrowth or bushes in sight. Pouring with rain and freezing cold so rescued it (only kind thing to do in the circumstance). It was not difficult to pick up although it hopped around a little bit.
Due to being found on Saturday morning, we've been unable to reach any rescue centers and the ones we've managed to get in touch with today, either aren't too interested or are too far away to collect. (Sadly we have no means to travel to one as no car).
We've followed general advice read online and in this forum, we got it back, warmed it up and it perked up - a lot. It;s been a happy little chappy, drinking and eating (pecking up food for itself) but this afternoon has become very lethargic and tends to just sleep/sit. We've been keeping it warm without trying to cook it but it's not really doing much now. We really don't want it to die, it's a lovely friendly little thing and deserves a chance. It doesn't do much chirping atall either.
Initially it tried to do some flying but wobbles over when it does. It now seems to have given up on that idea and prefers to trot around the house or sit. It doesn't wobble around when walking, only when it tried to fly, it doesn't seem to either have the hang of it yet or we're worried there is something wrong with it. It does not appear to have any injuries. We've bought it some bird feed which has seeds etc, we've tried it on some small bread lumps.
We live in a mostly built-up area with barely any outside space and lots of neighbouring cats. We don't want to leave it outside as the neighbour cat has been seen several times savaging birds.
We would really appreciate some help, ie - How long until it can fly, and therefore be released. How much it should eat/drink. Should we be thinking about force-feeding it/forcing fluids into it.
We've read somewhere that some green-looking droppings means it's starving, however they seem to come and go. Please see the pics and any advice would be amazing!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Kind regards, Ann
Thanks all, my only comfort is knowing that Lee saved it from the cold and wet carriageway and that it passed away in a caring warm environment. As if that wasn't enough, half an hour ago we found a dead bird on our courtyard wall, an odd place really so I'll have to see if one of the estate staff found the bird on the ground and not knowing what kind of bird it was, placed it on our wall knowing I have an interest in birds. It was very easy to recognise as a Redwing but obviously way beyond help so not sure if it was knocked out mid-air as there are sparrowhawks in the area (these birds and others are also released after rehabilitation at the hospital next door). I will try to see if anyone found the bird prior to placing it on our wall as it seems unlikely it could have landed there naturally unless a corvid brought it in or a Sprawk and then left it after being disturbed but there are no clear visible marks on the Redwing (possible there is a slight but very tiny point of strike on top of its head but not convincing enough to be an area of wound) and it was belly side down rather than face up, once again looking like it had been placed there. It may remain a mystery and a very sad start to the day :(
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Regards, Hazel
Oh dear Hazel, it it always sad to find a dead bird, or anything really. A bit of a mystery, as you say to be belly down on the wall and not a nice start to the day.