I found a bird and need help

[birdfriend]

I found a little bird lying on it's back in the park in Australia, and I'm not sure whether it's injured or if it's a baby bird. I need some information so that I can continue to care for it at home or return it to the wild.

Does anyone know the species, and more importantly around how old it is, and what it eats, and does it appear injured judging by the attached picture? Thank you.

[pennyandrocky]

it's a welcome swallow they eat insects. i would take him to a vet that wing looks bad.

[friend2parrots]

i would take him to a vet that wing looks bad.

+1

just please make sure that it is an avian vet. a good avian vet will contact a local wildlife refuge and ask one of their professional staff for care instructions.
please do not attempt to care for this bird at home. it is extremely difficult to care for wild passerine birds, especially injured ones.

to locate an avian vet, go to this website, and enter your search criteria:

http://www.aav.org/search/

and ask the avian vet to contact a wildlife rehabilitator who can hopefully take over care of the bird and release it back into the wild when it is healed.

all the best

[birdfriend]

Thank you for the information. Do you think it's a baby, teenager or more likely an adult?

The wing is probably okay. It just appears in an akward position because the bird is resting it on the wooden stand, but at the moment, it has its wings tucked in a normal position.

I left it out of the cage and it flew a short distance close to the ground, but it can flap it's wing and doesn't appear to have any trouble, it just can't fly high.

[friend2parrots]

from the picture you posted, it looks like a full grown adult.

even if the bird is completely healthy, full of life, and uninjured, and can fly perfectly, you should still not attempt to care for it at home. please contact a local wildlife refuge so that they can guide you as to what to do, where to take the bird for release back into the wild, how to release it, etc. things have to be done just right to ensure the birds survival in the wild. chances are, they will take it back to the park where you found it, and release it there. that would be the best thing for the bird, because its family lives there. passerine birds live in families - its mate is probably searching for it everywhere in that park, and its local kin are probably wondering where it is. when you speak to the wildlife professional, make sure you tell them EXACTLY where you found the bird. it will make a world of difference for the birds recovery.

the longer you keep the bird in your house, the less chances for its successful rehabilitiation back into its habitat. so please do a google search and locate a wildlife professional, or an avian vet who can offer guidance as to how to find a wildlife professional.

the chances of the bird perishing under your care are very high, as small passerines like this bird have highly specialized insect diets and high caloric needs that you will not be able to provide in a safe fashion (they have tiny crops) and high metabolism.

so time is of the essence, to treat any injury he might have (there might be one that is imperceptible to you) and to release him back into the wild. an avian vet's and/or a wildlife professional's guidance is critical to ensure the birds survival and successful release.

good luck and all the best to you and the little bird

[birdfriend]

Thanks, I thought it was a baby.

I took the bird back to the park but it flew into a nearby drainage, and I had to rescue it otherwise it would've drowned. Which is why it is back home (3rd night at home) because it doesn't appear as though it can survive on its own and might down itself again.

I'm not planning on keeping it, just wanted to help with its recovery before releasing it. I will bring it to the avian vet tomorrow so they can treat any injury if any, and they can decide what to do next. Thank you for your help and advice.

[friend2parrots]

glad to help. its really kind of you to help this bird as you are doing.

let us know how everything goes

[birdfriend]

I took the bird to the vet and they said there was some bruising on the wing.

I left him or her there for them to care and rehabilitate, which they say will take about a week before release. They are lovely people and my responsibility is over.

[friend2parrots]

this is great news - I'm sure the bird will be fine now. its lucky you kept it safe from predators, the elements, etc until it received medical care for the wing.

Good work! you've saved a life. all the best

[birdfriend]

Well, there's no guarantee that the bird will be fine. Who knows what vets do to animals when they are in their possession. I hope the bird will have a chance to live and returned to the wild.

I heard they kill animals if nothing can be done to help them get better, or their condition doesn't improve after a certain period of time.