Window strike victim

[Rico_Tiel]

We found a white winged crossbill in the snow, near a window and he let me pick him up. Like, I just casually grabbed him and he was like “okie dokie then.”

So, we (my older brother and I) set up a hospitalization cage, put food and water in there, and took disease precautions (washing hands after touching the bird or anything it touched, changing clothes if it or we touched our clothing, etc). Any advice?

His cage is covered btw, not in my room, and in the calmest place in the house (which is ironically the living room).

I did a physical check on him, eyes are clear, nostrils look okay, vent is good, no broken bones from what I can see, is alert and active, plumage is vibrant, and seems okay physically.

Here’s the little guy:

Dw, that’s water on his chest

we don’t plan on keeping him overnight, and will probably release him by sunset, but is there anything else we can do? I do not want it to turn out like the flying squirrel we found two years ago, where it passed away before its release.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Blessings on you!!!!!!!

 

[Rico_Tiel]

Bro’s just chillin’. Certified Borb moment

 

[Jcas]

If he is indeed just stunned, he will recover quickly and be ok. I often pick up stunned birds ( our picture window seems to be a problem spot ). Usually I put them somewhere fairly dark for about an hour so that they can rest and then I release them near a tree with low branches so they can easily fly up into it. They always seem ready to go after that hour of recovery. Sounds like you’re doing everything right, but if possible, release him while there’s still plenty of light so he has time to orient himself .

 

[Rico_Tiel]

soo update.

Turns out he can’t fly. His wing isn’t broken, but he just won’t fly. So we are keeping him overnight and will see if he can be released in the morning.

We also moved him into a bigger cage and he’s chilling there now

He also accepted a seeb.

 

[onamom]

Oh no! Are there any wildlife rehabilitation places in your area? If he can’t fly I would take him to one. It usually doesn’t cost anything.

 

[Free as a bird]

A bird rescue...
Good luck
Sounds like you've done all you can do

 

[Jcas]

Strange. Be very careful with quarantine measures as a bird who seems uninjured but can’t fly could very well be sick. But I hope that’s not the case and he is feeling better in the morning! Looks like he’s got 5 star accommodations for the night, anyhow .

 

[Rico_Tiel]

Oh no! Are there any wildlife rehabilitation places in your area? If he can’t fly I would take him to one. It usually doesn’t cost anything.

I don’t think so, unfortunately. Looks like he’s got a sprained wing, as it’s just his right one. Aside from that, he’s perfectly fine.

 

[Rico_Tiel]

A bird rescue...
Good luck
Sounds like you've done all you can do

Thank you, I hope this little cutie is okay by tomorrow.

 

[Rico_Tiel]

Strange. Be very careful with quarantine measures as a bird who seems uninjured but can’t fly could very well be sick. But I hope that’s not the case and he is feeling better in the morning! Looks like he’s got 5 star accommodations for the night, anyhow .

I have found the cause. It looks like his right wing is sprained. I felt his wing and everything felt fine and normal, and he can use it, it’s just weak. But yes, I do believe that disease isn’t off the table and is very plausible. That’s why I wash my hands if I so much as touch his cage, so I don’t spread it to my chickens if he does have a disease or parasite.

Aha thank you lol he certainly isn’t too pleased about being caged. He’s probably gonna reside in my brother’s room for the night, or in the living room, in an area where our able-bodied cat can’t get to. Anyhow, he’s going to be warm and toasty for the night!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

We found a white winged crossbill in the snow, near a window and he let me pick him up. Like, I just casually grabbed him and he was like “okie dokie then.”

So, we (my older brother and I) set up a hospitalization cage, put food and water in there, and took disease precautions (washing hands after touching the bird or anything it touched, changing clothes if it or we touched our clothing, etc). Any advice?

His cage is covered btw, not in my room, and in the calmest place in the house (which is ironically the living room).

I did a physical check on him, eyes are clear, nostrils look okay, vent is good, no broken bones from what I can see, is alert and active, plumage is vibrant, and seems okay physically.

Here’s the little guy:
View attachment 56007Dw, that’s water on his chestView attachment 56008View attachment 56009View attachment 56010

we don’t plan on keeping him overnight, and will probably release him by sunset, but is there anything else we can do? I do not want it to turn out like the flying squirrel we found two years ago, where it passed away before its release.

I would release him in the morning when he has a full day to get his bearings back in the wild. He's a real cutie!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Strange. Be very careful with quarantine measures as a bird who seems uninjured but can’t fly could very well be sick. But I hope that’s not the case and he is feeling better in the morning! Looks like he’s got 5 star accommodations for the night, anyhow .

If he can't fly by morning you have a dilemma. Let him go to die from a predator attack or keep him caged and fed (seeds) until he can fly. Should be soon with a sprain. If no wildlife rehabber is available you don't have many options. I think it's strange that there are no wildlife rehabbers in Alaska near you with all the wildlife lovers up there. We have them in Maine. Have you called local vets for info? Vets won't treat wild birds but should know of local rehabbers.

 

[Rico_Tiel]

If he can't fly by morning you have a dilemma. Let him go to die from a predator attack or keep him caged and fed (seeds) until he can fly. Should be soon with a sprain. If no wildlife rehabber is available you don't have many options. I think it's strange that there are no wildlife rehabbers in Alaska near you with all the wildlife lovers up there. We have them in Maine. Have you called local vets for info? Vets won't treat wild birds but should know of local rehabbers.

I don’t want to let the little guy get eaten alive- as much as I know it’s nature, I just can’t bring myself to let that happen…

the nearest rehabber is over an hour away and my parents aren’t willing to drive that far for a wild animal, and my brother can’t afford to drive that far either, as filling up his gas tank is 70$.

Borealis will not return calls, and I doubt fish and game would do anything, considering it’s nothing like a raptor or raven or an endangered species.

And my parents are far from willing to get this bird to a vet since, again, it’s a wild animal.

As of now, I’ll probably just take care of the little guy with my brother until he can fly, or if the unfortunate happens…

 

[Rico_Tiel]

Also, I put this hut in there (I made sure there was no loose threads) and he’s settled in for the night. He went right in and went the sleep immediately, rather than shifting about on the perches. I remembered something about roosts and was like “well, I have one of those huts and never touched it! Maybe he’ll like that!” And viola, he loves it!

Pink bum!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I don’t want to let the little guy get eaten alive- as much as I know it’s nature, I just can’t bring myself to let that happen…

the nearest rehabber is over an hour away and my parents aren’t willing to drive that far for a wild animal, and my brother can’t afford to drive that far either, as filling up his gas tank is 70$.

Borealis will not return calls, and I doubt fish and game would do anything, considering it’s nothing like a raptor or raven or an endangered species.

And my parents are far from willing to get this bird to a vet since, again, it’s a wild animal.

As of now, I’ll probably just take care of the little guy with my brother until he can fly, or if the unfortunate happens…

A pet bird vet wouldn't treat a wild bird. I've tried under similar circumstances. Give him a nice big bowl of seeds and a bowl of water and hope he eats. Take care of him until he can fly which should t be very long. I agree with not letting him get eaten. Nature can be very cruel and I wont participate in it.

 

[Rico_Tiel]

A pet bird vet wouldn't treat a wild bird. I've tried under similar circumstances. Give him a nice big bowl of seeds and a bowl of water and hope he eats. Take care of him until he can fly which should t be very long. I agree with not letting him get eaten. Nature can be very cruel and I wont participate in it.

True, they really wouldn’t… Yeap, I’ve put some seeds and water in some bowls and I’ve left them for him to consume at his own will.

Yeah, I can’t wait for his release! He’ll be so free and I’ll get to watch him return home into the wild!

Yeah, I can hardly kill a bug without feeling bad… i know I certainly wouldn’t want to be eaten alive! It’d be an agonizing death and not something I’d want anything of any species to experience. I’ve seen them documentaries.

 

[texsize]

Don’t thies guys usually eat pine cone seeds?
I thought that was why their beaks are so strangely shaped, to pry open the pine cone’s.

 

[Rico_Tiel]

Don’t thies guys usually eat pine cone seeds?
I thought that was why their beaks are so strangely shaped, to pry open the pine cone’s.

Yes, you are correct, but there aren’t any pinecones that I can forage due to there being dangerous amounts of snow in the trees, and too much snow on the ground to get away quickly. Believe me, I tried. I researched their diet a little, and they can eat grass seeds, so I’m hoping he can eat what I put in his bowl.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Don’t thies guys usually eat pine cone seeds?
I thought that was why their beaks are so strangely shaped, to pry open the pine cone’s.

Right you are!