While vacationing in Central Wisconsin I found a baby bird floating in the lake, about 100 yards from shore. It is NOT a water bird. I picked it up and brought it inside, wrapped it in towels and dried it off. I didn't think it'd make it, but it's doing okay. It has all of its feathers but still cannot fly. I'm feeding it a combination of wet dog food, sow bugs, moths, crickets, maggots. The thing eats anything. My question is what kind of bird is it? I'm a seasoned bird watcher but this one has confounded me. It's about 4 inches, no tail feathers, charcoal grey back, grey belly. Beak is like a starling (not yellow though, just the shape). It constantly squawks. Non-stop, only at night when he puts his head under his wing to sleep does it stop squawking. Any ornithologists out there who can help me figure out what the heck this thing is?
2006-06-25 05:37:39 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
These sites explain all about what to do for orphan baby birds -
http://www.crowsystems.com/rehab/babybird.html - this is an excellent article - be sure to read down the entire page!
http://www.stokesbirdsathome.com/q&a/archive/qa108.html
http://besgroup.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-happened-when-nestling-fell-out.html
http://www.projectwildlife.org/find-babysongbirds.htm
And this Yahoo Best Answer too -
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006050608886
I've got a lot of links to wildlife carers from a lot of countries on my site, at
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/links under "Wildlife Assistance" - just click on them all, click on your country and state, have a browse, 'phone them and ask their advice.
Very very best of luck.
2006-06-25 14:57:07 · answer #1 · answered by Lea 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used to have 2 finches and they were like that exactly with the squawking and everything. Um, but first off, even if you are a bird watcher and know plenty about birds, you shouldn't be holding that bird especially if it can't fly. Bring it to a human society let them take care of it, its not in your position to take care of mother nature like that.
2006-06-25 05:42:11 · answer #2 · answered by thehereyes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You hit it on the spot - you need an ornithologist. Juvenile birds are very tough to identify. Since you are a birdwatcher, I am sure you have tried your field guides.
2006-06-25 05:43:49 · answer #3 · answered by Jack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO offense, but you cannot keep wildlife without a license. If you don't know the species, how can you be sure on the diet??? Please most wild animals that I get are usually dehydrated, or in need of medical care.
Please contact a local veterinarian for referreal to a wildlife rehabilatator if they don't do it themselves.
-a dvm with a wildlife license
2006-06-25 06:43:42 · answer #4 · answered by rabbitwhisperer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe a Grackle or a crow or even a blackbird they can be grey colours at young ages.
2006-06-25 09:05:22 · answer #5 · answered by I Heart Pickles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cuckoo. :)
It adopted a strategy I never seen before though.
2006-06-25 05:41:13 · answer #6 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to a vet clinic. : )
2006-06-25 05:42:07 · answer #7 · answered by Laurie D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋