Meadow Pipit (?) in distress - Please help

[tigger]

I found this little bird in distress today while out walking - it didn't/couldn't fly away. It even allowed me to pick it up. Seemed to get a bit chirpier when I held it for a while - wondered if after our -7 temps last night it was just exhausted and freezing cold.

Any ideas what it is? Meadow Pipit? I've brought it home to try and revive it a bit and will return it to where I found it if it perks up. Managed to get a bit of water into it using a pipet. What would it eat? seed? fruit? insects (not many of them about!)

[jaykay]

I would also think the cold could have been something to do with this little chap/chapess's downfall, can't help with rehabilitation though sorry, there are one or two that know heaps about rescuing birds and I'm sure they'll be along shortly to assist. Good luck and let us know if he/she survives

[johnwray205]

Hi Tigger
It is a Skylark, can't help with the rehab but good luck,hope it survives.
John.

[Picidae]

Hi Tigger

It's a Skylark and may be overcome by cold or hunger or even dehydration. It will eat wildbird seed mix but don't try and force feed it with either water or food or overheat it. It may possibly have injuries from a predator that you can not see too. Keep it in a quiet and darkish place - preferably a box with a cover on it (obviously make sure it's got air) with the seed and a very shallow saucer of water. If it's allowed you to pick it up so easily, it may well be too late to help it but if you say it's perked up with a little warmth, that may be all it needs alternatively the ''chirpiness' could easily have been the stress of being handled. Call the nearest wildlife rescue to you anyway for advice. Try not to handle it too much as this will greatly increase the birds distress.

[tigger]

Thanks. I hadn't thought Skylark as I couldn't see a crest at all - which is why I thought Pipit.

It seems settled at the moment. I think it has even eaten some of the crushed sunflower hearts I've given it.

I think I'll keep it overnight and see how it is tomorrow - when I'll be able to phone the wild bird sanctuary (can't get a reply at the mo).

[RKB]

As said, it's a Skylark.

It could be starving. If you feel along its breastbone, see if it feels like a sharp ridge or has 'meat' either side (same principle as a chicken before and after carving!). If the breastbone is very prominent, it is starving. This might be due to lack of food, or an underlying problem.

Try feeding it with mashed potato or mashed up boiled egg, or any bird seed you have. Also provide it with water.

You can keep it in a box (1ft square will do) with one half of the lid covered with mesh or, as a last resort, net curtain/small netting. Just tape it round. You can cut a little flap hatch in the side of the box to allow you to put your hand in to change food/water. Then leave it somewhere quiet and warm, and try and arrange to get it to a rehab place. Place newspaper on the floor of the box.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by tigger

Thanks. I hadn't thought Skylark as I couldn't see a crest at all - which is why I thought Pipit.

It seems settled at the moment. I think it has even eaten some of the crushed sunflower hearts I've given it.

I think I'll keep it overnight and see how it is tomorrow - when I'll be able to phone the wild bird sanctuary (can't get a reply at the mo).

That sounds fine to me tigger. Try not to disturb it and make sure it has a shallow dish of water. Hopefully it will be ok to release tomorrow as long as it's eaten well.

[tigger]

Thanks I'll try the mashed potatoe as well, it seems to be pecking at the sunflower hearts. Seems to have perked up with the warmth.