Found Bird - Need Help

[Jessika]

Driving home from the store tonight I thought I saw a baby animal of some sort on the side of the road, just sitting there and not moving. HJ stopped the car and got out to inspect. The size suggested baby duckling from what I could see from the car, but upon closer inspection it was a full grown... something. It was not moving at ALL, and we first thought it was injured. I went home to get a box so we could take it inside and look at it in light.

We got it home, HJ carried it home in his hat (he didn't want to wait for me to get back with a box.. lol). The bird appeared fine, but would NOT move. He's been here for maybe thirty minutes now, and we have him nestled in a box away from the animals, but he hasn't moved, hasn't made a sound. We checked his feet, legs, wings, everything seems fine. He just won't move!

I couldn't just leave him on the side of the road, either. There are cats that run wild and would have had their way with him really quick. Especially if something is wrong and he isn't moving!

Is he just scared? Should I feed it anything?

I have the number for the conservation department, but they are closed now and I will have to call tomorrow. But for overnight, what do you think I should do?

Oh, and what do you think he even is? I've lived here my whole life, and have never seen anything quite like him!!



Look at those claws! :eep:

[Karen]

He may be bruised in some way that you cannot see. If you have an Audubon Society near you, I'd take him there tomorrow. Put some water in with him in a wee dish, if you can, that's more important than food.

[Jessika]

We were planning on closing the bathroom off tonight and putting him in the tub with a small dish of water and the towel so he isn't crammed in a box (and so the animals won't try bothering him) but I'm just trying to figure out what he is now more than anything!

[Karen]

Try http://whatbird.com - you can choose various criteria, and it help you find your bird!

[Jessika]

Aw poo, it won't load for me. Oh well, whatever he is, he's still just sitting there in the box not moving an inch.

[Kater]

It looks like some kind of rail to me (Rallidae family). The feet/legs definitely look like those of a 'water bird'......
Maybe a Sora? Link: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/508/_/Sora.aspx

I'll keep looking...

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I don't know what he is. He's not a duck, doesn't have webbed feet. He does look like a water bird though. If he can move this morning I'd take him back to where you found him and release him back. If he's still not moving I'd call the conservation department.

If you didn't feed him anything last night or if you did and he didn't eat don't worry, it was late and birds don't eat at night (unless they're nocturnal, which he's not). This morning you could soak a little dog food in water until it's spongy. Just lay it the tub with him and leave the room. He may or may not eat it.

[Miss Z]

It looks like some kind of rail to me (Rallidae family). The feet/legs definitely look like those of a 'water bird'......
Maybe a Sora? Link: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/508/_/Sora.aspx

I'll keep looking...

I think Kater has identified the bird correctly . He/she is definitely some sort of rail at least, and rails are very shy and secretive creatures, so what he/she was doing near a road I don't know. Maybe he/she's sick or just wandered off and became scared and cold. It's probably no surprise that the bird's not moving as they are very wary of people. A vet would give him/her a check over and if the bird is OK might be able to tell you a good place to re-release it

[Jessika]

Oh yes, definitely looks like the little guy!!

I never said he WAS a duck, I definitely know now he is not, but at 11:00 at night in the dark when all you see is a black fluffy ball on the side of the road, first thought was duck hehe

Wow what a gorgeous bird! He's drank a little water.. is moving more!! He responds when we come into the bathroom now, he'll turn and look at us. He has been sleeping A LOT, though.

So, according to the map, he's in migration now and is not native to my area. Do you think he could have been left behind?

EDIT: nevermind it says he's native to southern Missouri, which is exactly where I am.

[Jessika]

Well I got ahold of the convservation department and they just referred me to another place or some zoo I've never heard of, lol

[carole]

Good on you for taking the time to care for the feathered friend,it sounds like something is not right for sure, getting the bird to the zoo or conservation place is your best bet, so hurry if you can,i have tried unsuccessfully to help baby bird and they always end up dying, so let the experts do their stuff, but sounds like you made the bird nice and comfortable in the mean time. Good luck, let us know the outcome if you can.

I mean't to add here in NZ you can take any wildlife to a vet and it won't cost you anything, i hope it is the same over in the big ole US of A, check it out, a lot of people don't even know this, i myself didn't till recently.

[Jessika]

Good on you for taking the time to care for the feathered friend,it sounds like something is not right for sure, getting the bird to the zoo or conservation place is your best bet, so hurry if you can,i have tried unsuccessfully to help baby bird and they always end up dying, so let the experts do their stuff, but sounds like you made the bird nice and comfortable in the mean time. Good luck, let us know the outcome if you can.

I mean't to add here in NZ you can take any wildlife to a vet and it won't cost you anything, i hope it is the same over in the big ole US of A, check it out, a lot of people don't even know this, i myself didn't till recently.

Huh really? I will have to look into that, it would make things a lot easier. I do know there is an animal control office down the highway from me, you just reminded me! Maybe they can help!

[carole]

Good Luck, check whether they will charge you or not, as that is the policy down under, so hopefully it will be the same over there, but could easily not be, keep us posted.

[Jessika]

To be honest, though, I would rather pay to have them take it in than risk it being malnourished and possibly face death because I couldn't care for it appropriately!

[carole]

That is one lucky lil birdie, that you came across it, of course i understand that, but if you don't have to pay then that would be all the better, just check out what the situation is, and then well if you end up having to pay, well thats the way it is eh? good luck.