Disclaimer: I know it is illegal to handle wild birds. I know a licensed rehabber is the best and only legal choice for helping injured wildlife, especially songbirds. However, I am having to choose between letting a gorgeous little songbird die or handling it, and I need help if anyone can provide it.
The story: I found an American goldfinch (male) fluttering around the road near my house. It was not flying, and I assumed it had been stunned by passing traffic. I've helped birds in the past by giving them a safe place to recover after being stunned, so I brought it home and put it in a box with a blanket, a small dish of water, and placed it in a warm dark location.
Several hours later, the bird was much more active and had pooped a couple times, but on closer examination one eye is shut and one wing sticks up at a very slightly odd angle. The bird is very calm and wanted to sit on my hand while I gave it a closer look. However, it did not want me handling the wing and would flinch and move away whenever I touched it, so I'm assuming it's sore. It definitely can't fly--the few times it fluttered away from me, it went straight... down (but not far--I made sure to handle it only from a seated position on a carpeted surface).
I got online, of course, and looked for local wildlife rehabbers. There is exactly ONE in my area that handles wild songbirds (plenty for mammals, and an entire center devoted to raptors, but ONE for songbirds). And she is currently not accepting new birds due to a family health emergency. I reached her voice mail and that's as far as I got.
What would you do? I can't take the bird to a vet, because it's not legal for me (or the vet) to handle it, so most vets would simply have it put down. Animal control would just put it down. And if I release it, something--a cat, most likely, or a raccoon, or hawk--something would "put it down" the painful way.
Is there anyone here that can help somehow? What is my best course of action? Is there any chance it will recover on its own with rest and food? My husband is out right now getting wild bird seed and Niger thistle. I'm going to put my ducks to bed and feed the quail, and then I'm going to see what kind of enclosure I can provide that is restful and provides low, soft perches he can flutter onto from the ground. What else can I do? What else SHOULD I do?
Thanks SO much for any help.
The story: I found an American goldfinch (male) fluttering around the road near my house. It was not flying, and I assumed it had been stunned by passing traffic. I've helped birds in the past by giving them a safe place to recover after being stunned, so I brought it home and put it in a box with a blanket, a small dish of water, and placed it in a warm dark location.
Several hours later, the bird was much more active and had pooped a couple times, but on closer examination one eye is shut and one wing sticks up at a very slightly odd angle. The bird is very calm and wanted to sit on my hand while I gave it a closer look. However, it did not want me handling the wing and would flinch and move away whenever I touched it, so I'm assuming it's sore. It definitely can't fly--the few times it fluttered away from me, it went straight... down (but not far--I made sure to handle it only from a seated position on a carpeted surface).
I got online, of course, and looked for local wildlife rehabbers. There is exactly ONE in my area that handles wild songbirds (plenty for mammals, and an entire center devoted to raptors, but ONE for songbirds). And she is currently not accepting new birds due to a family health emergency. I reached her voice mail and that's as far as I got.
What would you do? I can't take the bird to a vet, because it's not legal for me (or the vet) to handle it, so most vets would simply have it put down. Animal control would just put it down. And if I release it, something--a cat, most likely, or a raccoon, or hawk--something would "put it down" the painful way.
Is there anyone here that can help somehow? What is my best course of action? Is there any chance it will recover on its own with rest and food? My husband is out right now getting wild bird seed and Niger thistle. I'm going to put my ducks to bed and feed the quail, and then I'm going to see what kind of enclosure I can provide that is restful and provides low, soft perches he can flutter onto from the ground. What else can I do? What else SHOULD I do?
Thanks SO much for any help.
