Help!!! Does anyone know anything about taking care of birds?
So I seem to have adopted a baby bird. I found it hopping along in the middle of the street looking lost, and I was worried that it would get hit by a car so I tried to move it to the sidewalk...then I realised that it's a baby that must have fallen out of it's nest and it was hopping because it can't fly yet. It even still has down. I tried to find it's nest but no luck, and I tried putting it in a tree to at least get it away from cats but it just sat there looking helpless. Then every time I went back to check on it it hopped into my hands and begged for food. So, because I'm a huge sap and I was pretty sure it would die if I left it there overnight, there is now a baby bird living in a shoe box on top of my stereo. Watch as any trace of bad-ass reputation I may have ever had goes up in flames...
The problem is, I know nothing about birds and have no idea how to take care of it. I'm a city girl, I've never even held a baby bird before. I made a sort of sugar water and fed it some with a dropper, and I think it's warm enough, but I have no idea how much or how often to feed it. It seems to be sleeping now. Should I wake it up again later to feed it? Is it worth taking it to the pet store and seeing if they have any idea what to do with it? To reiterate - this bird is TINY. You could probably fit three of it in my hand, and I have small hands. Putting it back outside in the morning isn't an option - it can't fly, and it can't hunt. So what do I do now?
Because whoever said that women don't have "the gaze" was smoking crack
About Me
- Cassandra Says
- I'm a progressive, left-wing Brit living in California. I used to be a high-tech sales guru, but got tired of that and am now thinking about going back to school to get a Masters in Journalism. My undergrad is in Psychology, but I have never used this in any constructive way. This is typical for me. I grew up mostly in the Middle East, was educated at a very fancy Scottish boarding school, moved to London at 18, and have lived in the Bay Area for the past 8 years. I am now suffering from a serious case of itchy feet, and am feeling that 8 years is quite long enough to stay in one place. Again, this is typical. If anyone really wants to figure me out they should Google "third culture" - I fit the prototype pretty closely. If any other Third Culture kids happen to stumble across this blog, write to me. There aren't very many of us.
6 comments:
is there an animal control near where you live? they can probably help, a pet shop won't.
There is but they don't seem to care about birds. I'm going to start making calls tomorrow.
Call the nearest zoo. They're likely to have someone on staff who can help you, or point you to the person who can. Or, call your local wildlife agency. Either of those places should be able to help you, plus they probably have birds who will adopt the wee one and raise it as one of their own, so it will not die and will live a longlong birdy life.
Aw! Sweet! What a cute story! I know nothing about birds, but I hope everything works out!
any idea what kind of bird?
I second AP. The type of bird is a most important detail. My daughter's a bird nut. I'd say, instead of sugar-water, go on-line to figure out what it is, then feed it the mashed up version of whatever it is the adults of the species eat. And do it every 2 hours or so all day and night.
I found a 3-week-old kitten once, and it was more work than a newborn. I warned the kids that it probably wouldn't live, but it did (because of my nightly feedings for weeks no doubt), but, once weaned from me, he promptly made himself home in a neighbour's house. Bitch.
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