"I Found A Chickadee",
excerpts from Rec.Birds

Click Here for close-up of the Chickadee

PLEASE READ: This is an original photo given to me to place on my homepage. It does not appear anywhere else on the Internet unless someone grabbed it from my Chickadee pages. Please do not link to this photo or use it for any other purpose without the written permission of the photographer. If you would like to copy or use it for any reason, I have provided a mailto link to reach the owner of the photo to obtain permission to do so. The photographer and I, thank you for your cooperation.

A couple of days ago I found a chickadee that had hit a window resulting in a swollen shut right eye. Its beak looked damaged and I didn't think it would live, but I brought it inside away from the local predators. I nursed it back to heath, over the last couple of days hand feeding it seed bits, suet and water. My goal is to put it back outside with the rest of the flock, but when I've tried, it just stays on the ground, feeding and hopping around, and general staying an easy target for cats. It can fly, but only short distances. I'm also concerned that it has bonded to me and the good life inside, and that perhaps the flock won't take it in again. It's wings don't seem to be damaged, but I have noticed that it moves slower than the chickadees outside, and tends to sleep a lot (maybe because of all the houseflies I'm feeding it). It's completely tame, and seems to enjoy my company. It loves to be hand fed, especially houseflies, which it rips into while sitting on my finger. Kinda gross but amazing. It also loves to ride around on my head. This bird's eyes light up whenever it spots a fly. I live in an old farmhouse, so I've got flies to spare. I'm hoping to get this little guy out over the next few days. I've had him outside a few times, but he just feeds on the ground, never rejoining his flock.

{2 weeks later} The bird spent a total of two weeks inside, everyday getting a little more alert, happily feeding off houseflies, sunflower seeds, or on pet store grubs. Most of the time it would sit beside me on a little perch I made it, watching me work at the computer, occasionally hopping around the house looking for something to eat. Near the end of its stay, I put it outside for an hour or so a day, watching how it was making out, but bringing it inside again for the night.

On its last day as my houseguest, I could tell that it was restless. I caught it staring out the window at its chickadee friends with the saddest little face on. It was also flying better, and was functioning at "chickadee speed" again. The weather was mild for a change, so I let it out for good.

I'm happy to report that it has re-joined its flock and seems to be doing well, spending its days flying about with the rest of the birds. Lucky for me,it remains quite tame, and will often fly over and sit on my finger while I feed it a housefly or two.

This whole exercise has been, and continues to be, a wonderful experience.

He's back! Here's a shot of the bird taken in Dec. 1997

Note:
Bruce's story caused quite a controversy in rec.birds as to the legal and moral issues of helping a wounded bird. I neither condemn nor endorse the actions taken. I place this story here as a nice human interest story about chickadees that as you can see by the photo above, had a happy ending. For the benefit of visitors to this page, I have also included the section of the rec.birds FAQ's with the recommended procedure for what to do if you find an injured bird and a link to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory

Rec.Birds FAQ

1.4. I found an injured bird; what can I do?

Most people's encounters with injured wild birds happen around plate-glass windows. Birds strike glass windows and doors frequently, apparently because of the reflections of sky they create. In most cases, the bird is simply stunned. The best way to save the bird's life is to shoo potential predators from it until it recovers and flies off.

Some people contend that taping hawk silhouettes to windows makes bird strikes less frequent. Others contend that this technique has little effect, and still others suggest that any window marking works as well. Putting up hawk silhouettes does have the positive effect of making passing humans think about birds.

If you find a large bird, such as an owl, a hawk, or a vulture, that has been wounded, you may wish to contact a rehabilitation center, such as the Carolina Raptor Center (+1 704 875 6521) or the Vermont Raptor Center (+1 802 457 2779), for assistance. Some rehabilitation centers also accept smaller birds or other wildlife, such as the California Center : for Wildlife (+1 415 456 7283).

Be aware that touching large wild birds can be dangerous.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory Homepage -Go here FIRST!
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory -How to locate a wildlife rehabilitator
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory -What To Do When You Find a Baby Bird
Wildlands Conservancy's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center- Lehigh County, PA.  (I'm a volunteer rehabber at the center)

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