Recent Feedback
i have been caring for five orphaned sparrow babies..keeping them warm and feeding them whenever they are hungry...they started flying today and i have them in a cage...what should i do? 5there are no local rehabilitators...i am scared they are too imprinted for release
Optional Information: Type of Animal: sparrow
-- If you're in the United States there's a rehabber in your area who will come and pick the birds up or give you directions as to how to get to them. --- I'm a little nervous about what you might have been feeding. It's not uncommon for well meaning folks to feed what they think is good and the birds even seem to be fine, right up to the day they're not. It's often found that the birds succumb to malnutrition. Keep in mind that they can look fat and happy and still be malnourished if they haven't been fed right--- Please check here for more instructions and details. Because I'm using Google Chrome the links won't appear automatic so please copy and paste them into your address bar--- http://www.ornithology.com/FAQs.htmlhttp://www.ornithology.com/rehab.html--- These links are must-sees for anyone who comes across a baby bird they feel is in need. --- Look for a rehabber in your area here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm --- Keep in mind, according to what you’ll find here (http://www.csub.edu/FACT/baby_bird_care.htm) : --- “Since it is illegal to capture a wild bird, injured or not, a special permit must be obtained from a state or federal game warden in order to keep a young bird. These permits are issued only on the condition that the bird will be properly released as soon as it is able.” --- You're right that you've probably got these birds way too accustomed to humans, but all hope isn't lost. Sparrows are often close to humans anyway, even when wild raised. It's not difficult to condition them to eating out of a hand and a rehabber should be able to 'fix' these little ones as long as you don't delay any longer. Just enough to give them a healthy (and life saving) 'caution' about being around humans and most importantly, our pets. That's the biggest and most dangerous threat. Finally, you should consider becoming a rehabber yourself. By volunteering for wildlife care in your area you can learn what you need to know in order to become a state approved rehabber and the best part of this is that all of the feeding materials are supplied, vet visits are provided free and you'll be doing the right thing, the right way. It's a very rewarding, fulfilling 'job'.