Blackbird casualty of weather

redcargal · #1 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 04:22 PM

I have a blackbird which was just sitting up against a wall and not moving. I think it is exhausted from the cold weather as it has been as low as minus 12 here. Worried in case the cats got it so have put it in a large box with plenty of holes. Put in a dish of water and some seed peanuts bread and soaked sultanas. Can anyone advise what the best thing is to do please.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 04:27 PM

Afternoon RC, and welcome to WAB!

Which part of the UK are you in? You should have a local/-ish Wildlife Rescue Centre - if you tell us where, we should be able to get a number for you to call for advice. Is there any chance he was just 'stunned' from a window-strike, or an escape from a predator - any feathers or anything nearby?

In the mean-time keep the box somewhere fairly dark so as to relax the bird. Maybe after a good meal he'll be OK.

We have a number of wildlife-rehabilitators on here, who'll be able to help more than I!

Take care,

Jason

redcargal · #3 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 04:55 PM

Thank you Jason for you quick response. I live in Stockton on Tees Durham and can not find anything local so any help would be great. I can not see anything to say it was cat attack. It may of been window strike but I have had one bird who was being chased about by other blackbirds and think this may be the one.
He has been in the kitchen now for about four hours and is still just sitting but at least he is still alive.
Do I try give hem water. Or food?.
Thank you

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 05:06 PM

Try this site: http://www.helpwildlife.co.uk/NorthEast.php

...and this past forum thread: Wildlife Rescue Centres, in particular post #27.

redcargal · #5 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 05:29 PM

Jason,
I can not thank you enough. I rang the post 27 as suggested and have been given some very good advice from the gentleman there. He tells me to keep the bird warm and how to try and give him a drink and what food to give him. Cat or dog food. I am off to the shop now to get a tin. Also if I have any other queries I can ring him back. I will also look at the other sites when I return.
Thank you again.
Denise

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 05:48 PM

My pleasure, Denise! Well done on helping the little thing

willing to learn · #7 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 06:11 PM

Had several birds handed in that are suffering from the cold, and found weak and dying and Dead birds at feeding stations. This prelonged cold snap seems to be hitting them hard

Regards
Colin

redcargal · #8 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 01:03 PM

Hello,
I do not think this bird would of survived either if I had left him. I have quite a few birds coming for food that I am putting out and my berry bushes are almost bare. It is a worrying time. Fortunately the blackbird survived the night but is not OK to let him go yet. There does not seem to be anyway locally that I could take him too so I am having to do what I can.
Regards
Denise

RKB · #9 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Had several birds handed in that are suffering from the cold, and found weak and dying and Dead birds at feeding stations.

Are you sure this is from the cold, and not trichomoniasis or salmonellosis (both of which are at the epidemic stage)? You don't generally find starving birds at feeidng stations, as there is lots of food there for them. But you do often get diseased birds due to poor hygiene. Symptons can look the same (starving), but check to see if they have a wet vent (salmonella) or muck around the bill (trichomoniasis). If so, it's serious and you need to take action...

RKB · #10 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcargal

Hello,
I do not think this bird would of survived either if I had left him. I have quite a few birds coming for food that I am putting out and my berry bushes are almost bare. It is a worrying time. Fortunately the blackbird survived the night but is not OK to let him go yet. There does not seem to be anyway locally that I could take him too so I am having to do what I can.
Regards
Denise

You can make a temporary cage and feed it up for a few days.

Get a carboard box, about 2-3 times longer than the bird. Sit it upright (top open) and get a sheet of 1/2" twilweld mesh from B&Q (about a fiver). You cut this to size and use cable ties or wire to attach it to the box as the roof. You have the mesh as the roof so that the bird cannot see much outside and continually try to escape. Put in a few big sprigs of conifer in the corners or hanging from the roof so it can hide. Line the bottom with newspaper. Cut a small flap in the side (cut three sides, leaving the other one attached for a hinge), just big enough to get your hand in. Secure it with another bit of wire poked through. You can use this to change food/water in small pots (cut down some plastic pots, weighted with a stone if necessary). Dog/cat food is good, and water.

You can maybe keep it for about 3 days, to let it feed up, but then you need to let it take its chances before captivity causes worse problems. Unfortunately, millions of Blackbirds will e dying over winter, which is perfectly natural, and you can't do too much about it.

It needs to be somewhere quiet with some light. Don't worry too much about temperature, as so long as it has food then it can cope down to minus 20. Quietness is more important than keeping warm once is has fed up for a day.