Mourning Bird found today. Some Guidelines would be helpful. Thanks.

[recygirl]

I found a Mourning Bird in the middle of a five-way intersection today in the Valley, Los Angeles (Lankershim and Crumpton). I looked for the parents and was advised to put the bird back in a safe place within 40 feet of the parents, but I could not even begin to think where the parents might be or risk putting it on the little green patch beside the road.

So, I brought it home with me. Wings are fine. Flies fine (low, but okay. I think it is still learning to fly) and ate fine: softened some organic texturized soy with vegan "butter" (Earth Balance) and water according to instructions on Wikipedia because they cannot tolerate dairy.

He ate well and I did give a few drops of water from a syringe, but could not tell if his throat is still full. I went to feed him a moment ago and he didn't seem as interested in eating.

For now, I have him out of his cage so that he can practice flying and get his wings stronger for his eventual departure, but all he seems interested in doing is sitting. I guess it has been a long, stressful day for him. Don't want to push things too much.

I'm guessing he's about 8-10 days old after reading another persons questions on this forum.

I don't think he's ready for seeds yet, but I will buy some tomorrow. What kinds of seeds should I buy? Should I soak all seeds?

Also, should I only release him when he is able to pick seeds up by himself with is beak... as well as drink water by himself?

There are no other doves in our area (only Blue Jays and other birds). How important is it that I release him where there are birds of his type?

How often should I be feeding him at this point?

Thanks!

 

[Pigeon Power]

If he has all his feathers and it flying he should be able to eat on his own for the most part and be way older then just 8 to 10 days...Just normal bird seed you can get to feed wild birds...corn sunflower millet ect The little guy will also need some grit...The small kind for chicks...The crop is on the breast of the bird right bellow and underneath the neck...you should be able to tell how full it is by feeling that...



This website seems good and has pics!


http://www.pigeonrescue.co.uk/howmuchtofeed.htm

 

[recygirl]

Thank you for your response. That website is great, too.

I will try to find the crop again. It's a little tough as he doesn't always want to stay with me - for obvious reasons - and tries to fly away. He can fly, but somehow always seems to come down to the floor unless he finds something to perch himself upon.

I am going to get seed today and will try to get hold of a bird cage. I thought of putting seed out in our garden (where all the birds know to come to get our crumbs etc.), put him in the cage beside all the wild birds so that he could learn from them how to pick up seed.

Should I still continue to practice putting his beak in water and help him to pick up seed?

When do you think I should release him?

He was out all of last night, but seemed to stay in the same spot.

And yes, he does have all of his feathers. I will try to post a pic later.

Thank you again!

 

[recygirl]

Here are some photos that I took of him this morning. Can anyone tell if his crop is full? I put him in a cage out in the garden so that he could learn from the other birds. I also put a shallow bowl of water in his cage for bathing, drinking...

 

[Pigeon Power]

I would take him in at night and just watch him when you put the seeds in the cage to see what he does....He should have no problem drinking on his own. Watch out for cats and raccoons if the bars of the cage are big enough they will reach in and pull pieces of him off and eat them....On older babies like this one they don't get the huge full crop like the young ones so it is going to be harder for you to tell...no it does not look full to me but that's ok. Just watch him to see if the little guy is drinking and eating on his own, he should be...He has no fuzz on him so he is pretty close to the age were he should be just fine on his own....sounds like and looks like he a bit of a late bloomer with the flying... I would watch let him practice flying and when he has got that down let him go...Should be no more then two weeks...I would take him to a park so something

 

[recygirl]

Thank you for your response. I watched him yesterday and he was picking up seeds by himself. This morning I took him outside to where some other doves where (they weren't there this morning yet) and he just flew really high up into the trees. I figured he was ready and he'll be fine. Put some seed out for him too. We live in a quiet neighborhood with lot of trees etc. so I'm comforted to think that he was the space to acclimatize to his surroundings without the stress of all the traffic. Thank you again!