Three rescued baby Thrushes....wot next?

[dizzyrascal]

I have just rescued three baby (what I think are) thrushes from my cat and currently have them in a shoe box with a tea towel for comfort.......what do I do next? I can't see a nest close by and don't want to leave them at the fate of the big bad world

[wildliferescuer]

You need to get them to your nearest wildlife centre tomorrow morning. They will need to be given antibiotics if they have been caught by a cat. In the meantime, keep them warm & if they are young enough to be gaping for foor, mash up some cat food with water until it is quite a sloppy consistency and feed tiny bits of this when they gape. Keep feeding until they stop. They will need feeding about every 15 minutes during daylight hours. If you don't know your nearest centre, let me know where you are & I will try to find one for you.

[ron1863]

Try phoning the RSPB or an animal rescue centre for help.

[wildliferescuer]

The RSPB do not deal with bird casualties. We have a good list of rescue centres if we know the location.

[ron1863]

I find it strange that the RSPB do not deal with bird casualties

[wildliferescuer]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I find it strange that the RSPB do not deal with bird casualties

I know, ridiculous isn't it?

[ron1863]

It's a bit like hospitals not taking in injured humans

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I find it strange that the RSPB do not deal with bird casualties

would you expect the NSPCC to take in an injured child ? or would it be more appropriate for them to suggest you take it to a hospital ?

its the same thing - the rspb are a research, campaign , and species and habitat protection organisation (in the same way that the nspcc are) they dont deal with injured individuals - though they will generally point you in the right direction. (neither the BTO or the WWT take in casualties either - for that matter the wildlife trusts dont take in injured wildlife)

there is a big list of wildlife rescue centres on wab - much better to go straight to your local one of them.

[wildliferescuer]

Surely wildlife rehab is part of species protection?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by wildliferescuer

Surely wildlife rehab is part of species protection?

not unless the individual is from an extremly endangered species - one common bird more or less makes no real difference to the survival chances of its species.

I'm not saying that wildlife rehab isnt important , just that it isnt what the RSPB (and similar bodies) do , and there is no need to criticise them for it as they have their own role to play.

in exactly the same way that the NSPCC, childline etc exist to campaign for childrens rights etc but if you called them and said " ive found an injured child" they wouldnt say bring him in to us - they'd say call an ambulance or take him to a doctor.

you could argue that treating an individual child is part of child protection but it isnt the role of the nspcc - they focus their resource on awareness raising on child protection issues etc