Stunned Goldfinch

Durrell · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2010, 06:33 PM

Thought i'd share this story in case it helps anyone in a similar position or if anyone can add some other tips that may have helped.

Yesterday evening i came home from work to find a Goldfinch stood on the patio. It made no attempt to move away whatsoever although when my dog passed by it there was a small movement of it's head. It had no obvious injuries and looked in good health so i presumed it had maybe struck a window and was a bit dazed.

I went inside (along with my dog) to give it some peace but kept watch through the window to make sure no predators came near it, unfortunately it didn't move at all for the next hour and looked to be shivering as it started to get dark. After reading other WAB threads i decided to risk picking it up and then placing in a box. I gave the box some air holes, lined it with toilet paper and added some niger seed and water, i covered the box with a black tea towel and placed on a shelf in the garage out of any wind/rain.

Got up early this morning and placed the box under a bush and removed the tea towel, it looked a little dishevelled but thankfully was still alive. Approx 30 seconds later it gained its bearings and flew off into a nearby tree with no obvious ill affects.

Cowgirl · #2 (**permalink**) 09-04-2010, 08:11 PM

Oh well done you Durrel! Glad to hear it was ok.

Pigeon feather · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2010, 08:36 PM

Well done, had you not taken it in for the night it would most certainly have been picked off by a predator as it would have been less likely to move once darkness had set in. I had a similar thing happen to me quite a few years ago now when I was in my local Tesco shopping, just reached the checkout loading my shopping into the bag when I saw something wizz past me and a heard a clunk on the window, a poor sparrow had somehow got in the shop and was making it's bid for freedom

it was out cold on the floor so I rushed over to it, picked it up, finished paying for my shopping after some strange looks from the cashier and walked out with it in my hand, to be honest I really thought it hadn't made it as it was so lifeless it's neck appeared broken, I decided to carry it back home 10 minutes walk away, halfway home it suddenly jolted, gave me a fright! and then started struggling, I was sure it had injured itself so didn't let it go, I kept it in a cage overnight with seed and water and checked in the morning and it was right as rain and raring to go so I released it, it flew away fine, towards Tesco!