Feeding Wild Birds

[R2elk]

 

[sourland]

'Boo Boo' revealed.

 

[Gill-b]

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I absolutely love this picture. I sometimes judge a photograph by whether or not I would want to make a puzzle from it. I think this "puzzle" would give me the challenge I like when doing a puzzle.

 

[Gill-b]

A bizarre thing happened to me this morning while I was out in the garden filling the birdbath with fresh water. A bird flew into me! ...and then landed on the grass a few feet away. It had given me such a start that I had let out a small yelp. When I turned to look at the bird, I saw that something was not right. Its head was turned on its side and its feet were folded in on themselves. I walked towards it and it tried to fly but it was clumsy and easy to catch.

I have brought the bird inside and have isolated it in the quarantine room (aka the bathroom). I would like to state that I do wash my hands very well after handling and take the necessary precautions for health and safety.

The bird is a Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) and appears to be a juvenile female. It was very dehydrated and hungry; and I managed to get it to eat some baby bird food from a teaspoon. This could be all that is wrong with it, as we have had a few days of temperatures been between 30 to 36 degrees Celsius (86 to 96.8 Fahrenheit), [hence the reason why I fill the birdbath with fresh water every day during summer]. However, I would appreciate to consult with someone who knows about small birds outside of doves and pigeons. If you can help or know of anyone on BYC who fits the bill, please reply?

 

[Gill-b]

I sometimes wonder if there is not some sign, only known to birds, outside my house that says, "Bird lady lives here" because birds in need of help just seen to mystically show up here. They seem to know I can't turn them away. And now literally fly into me!

 

[R2elk]

A bizarre thing happened to me this morning while I was out in the garden filling the birdbath with fresh water. A bird flew into me! ...and then landed on the grass a few feet away. It had given me such a start that I had let out a small yelp. When I turned to look at the bird, I saw that something was not right. Its head was turned on its side and its feet were folded in on themselves. I walked towards it and it tried to fly but it was clumsy and easy to catch.

I have brought the bird inside and have isolated it in the quarantine room (aka the bathroom), away from the other two rescued birds I have here at the moment. I would like to state that I do wash my hands very well after handling any new rescue, and take the necessary precautions for health and safety.

The bird is a Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) and appears to be a juvenile female. It was very dehydrated and hungry; and I managed to get it to eat some baby bird food from a teaspoon. This could be all that is wrong with it, as we have had a few days of temperatures been between 30 to 36 degrees Celsius (86 to 96.8 Fahrenheit), [hence the reason why to fill the birdbath with fresh water every day during summer]. However, I would appreciate to consult with someone who knows about small birds outside of doves and pigeons. If you can help or know of anyone on BYC who fits the bill, please reply?

Here because of the Migratory Bird Treaty, it is illegal to take possession of most wild birds. There are two exceptions which are Starlings and House Sparrows which are considered invasive and are not protected.

Try a Google search. You might be able to find a rehabilitation group that can give you recommendations.

 

[Gill-b]

Its head was turned on its side and its feet were folded in on themselves.

The bird is a Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) and appears to be a juvenile female. It was very dehydrated and hungry

Good news. This morning the Sparrow appears remarkable improved. It is holding its head up straight, even twitching it from side-to-side; and its feet have unfolded, even pushing with its legs. My take is that yesterday it was dehydrated to the point of exhaustion. Today it is still hungry enough that its hunger outweighs its fear for me, as it ate with gusto from a spoon which I held up to its beak. If all goes well, I shall most likely release it later today.

A challenge for a lot of small birds here in Cape Town in summer is the combination of high temperatures and very strong winds (why wind-surfing and kite-surfing are very popular sports here). I once rescued a Tinktinkie, or Levaillant's cisticola (Cisticola tinniens), a tiny species of bird, which was literally tumbling, head over tail, in strong winds back-and-forth across a busy road like a tumbleweed. It was exhausted and feather ruffled. I gave it some water, let it rest over night and then, seeing that it was much revived the next day, released it back where it was found.

"Wind is an unavoidable fact of life in Cape Town and the south-western Cape; indeed, 20% of Cape Town’s November to April summer season records gale force wind and at Cape Point, it’s even more. With an annual average wind speed of 30kph (19mph), the ever-popular tip of the Cape Peninsula records an amazing 100 days of gale force wind each year, many of them during the blue-sky days of summer."
- Quoted from the website: https://thefynbosguy.com/cape-mountain-environment/cape-climate/

 

[ValerieJ]

Good news. This morning the Sparrow appears remarkable improved. It is holding its head up straight, even twitching it from side-to-side; and its feet have unfolded, even pushing with its legs. My take is that yesterday it was dehydrated to the point of exhaustion. Today it is still hungry enough that its hunger outweighs its fear for me, as it ate with gusto from a spoon which I held up to its beak. If all goes well, I shall most likely release it later today.

A challenge for a lot of small birds here in Cape Town in summer is the combination of high temperatures and very strong winds (why wind-surfing and kite-surfing are very popular sports here). I once rescued a Tinktinkie, or Levaillant's cisticola (Cisticola tinniens), a tiny species of bird, which was literally tumbling, head over tail, in strong winds back-and-forth across a busy road like a tumbleweed. It was exhausted and feather ruffled. I gave it some water, let it rest over night and then, seeing that it was much revived the next day, released it back where it was found.

"Wind is an unavoidable fact of life in Cape Town and the south-western Cape; indeed, 20% of Cape Town’s November to April summer season records gale force wind and at Cape Point, it’s even more. With an annual average wind speed of 30kph (19mph), the ever-popular tip of the Cape Peninsula records an amazing 100 days of gale force wind each year, many of them during the blue-sky days of summer."
- Quoted from the website: https://thefynbosguy.com/cape-mountain-environment/cape-climate/

So happy to hear of the successful rehabilitation of the little bird. That is one lucky bird. I think they all are if they can find their way to you!

 

[Gill-b]

Release of the Cape sparrow was successful. Little thing flew off well and strong.

 

[CapricornFarm]

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Beautiful!