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"help! i've got a sick bird!"
by javajoePublished Jun. 2, 2009
Views: 168
One of the first things you should do if you suspect you've got a sick bird visiting your feeders is to take your feeders down and clean them with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. If you don't clean your feeders regularly, you risk infecting your local population of birds and encouraging the spread of disease.
You may also want to contact a local expert who can help identify the bird and potential disease. Some diseases can be spread to humans, so taking action immediately is the best option!
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE SEEN A SICK BIRD: (excerpt from "Bird Diseases" from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website)
- "Only veterinarians or federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators can legally treat wild birds. Therefore, if you find a diseased bird, it’s best to report it to your state or local wildlife agency. If you are advised to take the bird in for an examination, try to catch the bird by throwing a light towel over it and placing it in a box with airholes. If you find a dead bird, place it in a double plastic bag and into the garbage (wear gloves).
If a sick bird comes to your feeder, minimize the risk of infecting other birds by cleaning your feeder area thoroughly. If you see several diseased birds, take down all your feeders for at least a week to give the birds a chance to disperse. Keep the feeders down until you no longer see diseased individuals. And remember that prevention is the key to avoiding the spread of disease. Regularly clean your feeders even when there are no signs of disease and prevent overcrowding by adding more feeders or setting up different types of feeders that allow only a few birds to visit at one time.
To report sick birds and to learn more about these diseases contact the National Wildlife Health Center."
RESOURCES for BIRD DISEASES
- House Finch Disease
- Bird Diseases from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Piedmont Wildlife Center
Filed under: Outdoors
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I think the worst thing I've ever dealt with concerning my birds are the Purple Martin "drop outs". That's not fun either.
GOLO member since July 16, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:09 p.m.
GOLO member since October 26, 2007
June 2, 2009 2:11 p.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:12 p.m.
GOLO member since July 26, 2007
June 2, 2009 2:14 p.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:16 p.m.
or put it out of its misery
GOLO member since April 30, 2009
June 2, 2009 2:17 p.m.
GOLO member since April 15, 2009
June 2, 2009 2:19 p.m.
GOLO member since February 22, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:21 p.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:23 p.m.
I must say that I don't notice my other birds as much as I do my martins......
the dropouts, they don't die.....lest you leave em there.
They suggest putting them back in the gourd. Well, after several attempts, we found relocation to work much better. (They just kept jumping out!)
We "grew out" three drop outs from an old plow in the yard. It was just high enough for them to get off the ground out of danger. We supplied them with a source of water, and mom took care of the rest. They were still very close to the rest of the flock, which I think helped with that, too.
We were tickled they didn't die. We hated seeing them plunge outta the gourds like that.
GOLO member since July 16, 2008
June 2, 2009 2:23 p.m.
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