HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

When encountering and securing injured wildlife, the best thing to remember is “Warm, Dark and Quiet.” A plastic sided crate with blankets inside and around it is a quick option for small mammals. When they are in a warm and quiet place, they feel more secure and are less likely to further injure themselves before more help arrives.

Sometimes a rare bird has died, leaving behind a clutch of eggs or leaving behind young hatchlings. While I don’t advocate interfering with every baby bird you see, as often mother is close by watching, there are times when little ones are truly and verifiably abandoned when a mother is killed or dies naturally. Other times, a mother duck is severely injured and it keeps her babies safe while she is treated.

If you run a rescue for waterfowl or regular encountered orphans, having an incubating box or a brooder box. What is the difference? An incubating box keeps the eggs warm until hatching and a brooder box holds hatched chicks to keep them warm and safe. Hatcheries have them, but you certainly do not have to be in business selling chickens or birds to have one on hand.

A brooder box typically is trapezoidal in shape so chicks or ducklings cannot hop out, and the shape also holds the heat in better than a box with straight sides. The top stays open so that air can circulate. Feeders are placed inside and a heat lamp helps keeps the babies warm until they are a bit older. Just keep them indoors and away from predators, just like a hatchery would. Just take care to leave enough space so chicks or ducklings are not crowded or stressed.

Also keep in mind that some people want baby chicks to gift to their children at Easter. Please resist the temptation to buy one for that sole purpose or to give someone one. A chick is not a good pet for most people. Interest is lost as he/she grows older sometimes and many people don’t have the resources or the town ordinances to properly and legally care for them.

Friends of mine have a large parrot.  He sits and whistles and chatters with you once he gets to know you.  He is so friendly and nice that it sometimes causes others to want to get a bird, but they want to rescue one, not buy one.   Unlike finding someone who has a goldfish that they don’t take care of and ask you if they want, a bird requires more forethought.  You may be able to rescue a Molly or a goldfish and temporarily put them in a large bowl for a few hours while you run to the pet store.

For particular large birds, you want to look into Bird Cages, toys, and supplies, long before you bring a bird home. Rescue of these large friends are not spontaneous decisions. Yes, a bird may need immediate rescue, but I recommend thinking about the idea, and then being ready when the bird comes along.

Birds are naturally curious creatures and it would behoove you to have some Bird Toys on hand, especially since moving to a new home might be stressful. A bored or stressed bird can start pecking his/her feathers out, which can lead to physical disease. We have all seen balls with bells on them, but there are also toys that they can tear a part, like this leaf toy

Large Bird Cages are not something easily obtained at a big box store, and even many pet stores don’t have anything suitable. Birdcagedepot.com has a selection if you want to avoid driving from store to store. Also, keep in mind that not every cage is created equal even if they are large. Some birds prefer to perch, some prefer to have a lot of ground room to waddle around, and some like to climb. An interesting style I just found out about is an aviary or flight cage. It sits on the floor and is wide and tall enough for a tropical bird to fly up and down the length of it. They are not much more expensive than a traditional domed top cage.

Whatever you decide, please make the well thought out decision of adding a rescued bird into your life before looking around.  They are more sensitive to their environment than other pets are, but if you plan ahead, a lifelong partnership and friendship with a large bird is something that will enrich your life.

The area that our house is in is actually designated as a no hunting area and a bird sanctuary.  The set up we had was a birdbath, a corn holder for squirrels, and a little tray on a chain for bird feed.  One time, I left the seed on the back porch and the crafty squirrels saw it on the table and ripped through the screen.  Not a good move!

There are many species including jays, cardinal, woodpeckers, and tufted titmice.  A tufted titmouse is a cute little gray bird with an orange beak and a little triangular tuft of feathers on its head if you have not seen one.  A few people in the area have hummingbird feeders that are well populated, but I have yet seen a hummingbird. Once, I thought I did, but it turned out to be a hummingbird moth.

I think I just answered my question.  If I had a hummingbird feeder, I would probably see them show up.  I think the one at left is cute because it has the appearance of a regular bird feeder, and it would blend into a woodland setting and feeders for other species.  With the studies showing the fluctuations in bees, it is so important to support the other pollinators such as these birds.   There are many other beautiful feeders at Birdfeeders.com, and also a reference library of birds and their likes.   I found that there is more than one species of these tiny birds in my area that I am going to keep an eye out for now.  It might be a good idea to get to know who is in your neighborhood so you can lay out the right feast.