VeggieBoards banner

Help! Found a blind purple finch in my yard - he's scared and won't fly

5K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  SallyK 
#1 ·
What should I do? I want to help him/her! His eyes are not open, but he looks full grown.
 
See less See more
1
#4 ·
I found something on finding baby birds, but it doesn't sound like the one you have is a baby, right? Here's the info anyway. If you can find your local wildlife rehabilitor it would be the best thing to do. Good luck and keep us posted.

"In the springtime, hastily built nests sometimes fail. Windstorms, predators, children, tree trimmers - all take their toll. Nestling babies (those without fully developed feathers) may end up on the ground. First priority is to locate the nest and return the baby. This may require a ladder and some ingenuity. Make sure the other babies in the nest look like the one you are replacing. Watch the nest from a distance to confirm that the parent bird returns. This could take several hours. Be patient. A common myth is that mother birds will reject babies handled by humans. This is not true. Birds have a poor sense of smell, and cannot tell if you have touched their chick. If the nest is on the ground with babies or eggs, tie it back to a nearby tree with string or wire as close to the original site as possible. Place the nest in a little box or margarine tub (with drainage holes) to make it easier to secure. Don't use a berry basket because bird legs may get caught in the mesh. Watch from a distance to make sure a parent returns.

Fledglings are young feathered birds with feather casings still present. They do not fly well, if at all, but mostly hop and can jump to low branches. This period of being on the ground is a normal and necessary part of a bird developing the ability to fly. Keep cats and dogs inside while the fledglings are learning to fly. Watch from a distance to make sure their parents are feeding them. If the parents don't return or the baby is injured, keep it warm and take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area as quickly as possible. Cat-caught birds will probably die if not medicated within 24 hours.

Unless the rehabilitator has told you otherwise, it is best not to feed orphaned or injured birds. However, if you can't get the bird to a rehabilitator within a few hours, this may become necessary. Follow the rehabilitator's instructions. Never give bread or milk to wild birds. Don't handle the baby - their tiny bodies can be easily damaged. Keep it away from household pets and wash your hands before touching your pet birds. As tempting as it is to try to raise a wild bird, please remember - rehabilitators are trained in the proper diets, techniques and medical issues, and Federal law prohibits un-permitted individuals from possessing native wildlife.

Be prepared for Baby Bird Season. Keep on hand a few shoeboxes, a heating pad, margarine tubs lined with unscented tissue for temporary nests, "Exact" handfeeding formula and popsicle or coffee stir sticks (only use if the rehabber tells you to), and the phone number of your closest rehabilitator."
 
#5 ·
Minnesota, South Central region, Hennepin County (Minneapolis)..... 612-822-8400

Amy Cooper, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release, Inc.

amycooper@worldnet.att.net

Wildlife Species: will accept any species for initial assessment and triage

Specialties/Knowledge: raccoon, woodchuck, waterfowl; Master level permit holder

Minnesota, South Central region, Hennepin County (Minneapolis)..... 612-939-0985

Kyle & Michelle Frazier, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release

The_Falconer@msn.com

Specialty: song birds, young birds needing specialized feeding

Minnesota, South Central region, Hennepin County (Minneapolis)..... 612-729-8937 or 612-673-4058

Elyn Kirchner, Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, Inc.

kirchel@gw.startribune.com

Wildlife Species: squirrels

Comments: Leave urgent messages on both phones please. E-mail

opened only M-F, not on weekends.

Minnesota, South Central region (Minnetonka)..... 612-933-4772

Kasi Larsen, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release

BigFozzie@aol.com

Wildlife Species: raccoons

Minnesota, South Central region, Ramsey County (Roseville)..... 651-486-9453

Philip Jenni (executive director), Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota

Wildlife Species: all wild animal except raptors

Comments: In 2002 we admitted 7,302 animals making us one of the largest

wildlife rehabilitators in the country. This year we moved into a new 13,000

sq ft state-of-the-art wildlife hospital.

http://birding.about.com/gi/dynamic/...%2Fcontact.htm
 
#9 ·
Could be conjunctivitis, I found a house finch in similar condition, and my mom brought it to the Wisconsin Humane Society because they have a wildlife rehab center. We got a nice letter about 2 weeks later saying how the bird was treated for conjunctivitis and released back where it was found.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top