Peak District Bird Rescue Centre

[blancy]

Hi,

Whilst walking the dog I came across a baby bird in the middle of the road. I couldn't leave it to get squashed and there are walls on either side of the road, so I have brought it home.

It's half fluffy half small feathers. Its tail feathers are maybe 1.5 cm long on the end of bare quills.

I gave it a few small worms then read up on the internet that that is bad
I have since given it a bit of scrambled egg and found some advice on the net that says put it back somewhere within earshot of where it was found. I can't really see anywhere safe to put it.

We have a cat in the house, I have a shedload of work to do and also I'm struggling with the stress of being responsible for it

Can anyone offer any advice on keeping it going, and does anyone know of a rescue centre in the peak district I could take it to (if it makes it to tomorrow). I've searched the net for over an hour trying to find a rescue centre but can't find a thing. Also tried yell.com but that was awful for results.

Also, will I be able to leave it in its box overnight without tending to it? currently it is in a shoebox with some newspaper on the base and some grass in the corner. I thin it is going to the toilet on the grass as well as the newspaper so ideally I need to substitue the grass for something else. Any suggestions (ideally something taht might be around the house)

It's dark now so I could possibly sneak into a garden near where I found it and put it there but I'm worried that it would not be warm enough

Any advice gratefully received

[pat362]

Hi there.

Look through the bird forum for a poster called owlmomma. She'll give you all the advice you need.

Pat

[owlmomma]

Hiya,

It will be fine in the box overnight. I usually use a tea towel rolled up to make a nest and line with kitchen roll. It shouldn't need anything doing with it overnight. Make sure it is warm and out of draughts.

Can you tell whether it is a seed eater or insectiverous? This will make a difference on what is the best food for it.

If a seed eater, then hand rearing formula from the pet shop, mixed with warm water to make a runny paste works great given on the end of a cocktail stick, (sharp bit snipped off)

If insectiverous, then I use soggy go cat soaked in hot water till little sponges then break bits off and feed with tweezers. I also give cut up wax worms but take the bony bits out.

It is really hard to say what to feed without knowing what it is. I will pm you my number and you can call for a chat if you like, we may be able to suss out what it is.

You can ring up till midnight or in the morning.

[StuartDH]

zoom in on WAB's animal rescue centre map and you should hopefully be able to get the location of somewhere nearby:

Wildlife Rescue Centres | Wild About Britain

[blancy]

Thanks for the advice and resources folks

[blancy]

Bob started flying a couple of days ago and as today is the best weather for the next few days he and I figured it was the best time for him to be free. Bob has left the building. One high level circuit round the house and he was gone. There is a colony of housemartins very near and quite a few of them were darting about. Hopefully he will be able to join them.

Its a shame to see him go but its good that he didn't come back really. The less humanised he is the better his chances.

Some early and later pics:

Index of /bird

[Gill Catton]

wow fantastic!! You raised a house martin!! No mean feat, you should be proud of yourself