Expert: Roger Lederer - 3/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: the bird may have been hit by a small hawk, I saw a sharp-shinned looking in my yard about a half hour after I found he dove. The dove hit the window, one eye totally destroyed, and had lesser injury on its back with scratches and a patch of feathers removed.  I kept in a small cage overnight, and tried to clean up the blood with water on a q-tip, it took some water this way too. The next morning the other eye looked like it had blood in it. But it survived the rest of its injuries well.

I'm pretty sure the dove is now totally blind. Since it took water from a q-tip, when it dipped it's head I put the water under it. I have not seen it eat seeds (same dove/quail mix I have in feeder outside), but I ground some in the cuisinart to a powder and mixed with water. The dove drank some of this as I switched it for the water after giving it a taste of water on the q-tip. But I doubt it is getting enough food this way.

Today it drank water from the bowl itself.  I think it is still not taking any seeds. The droppings are white with a green part...is that normal?

I have contacted a local rehab facility days ago. no response yet. I got a larger cage, and when it is warm during the day I put the cage out by the feeder and the other doves come up to it. The blind dove seems relaxed and interested, stretching its wings/legs, scratching itself.

If the dove is blind, will the rehab people let it live? It certainly will not be able to be released into the wild. Since mourning doves cannot be kept as pets how can I find a safe place for it, hopefully with a good dove breeder? Are there people licensed to raise these?


ANSWER: You have already taken the first suggestion I usually give- contact a wildlife rehab center. I am appalled that they have not responded - that is embarassing. Also call yur local wildlife official - fish and game or fish and wildlife for advice. Any dove breeder has to be licensed to keep birds. If this bird is blind, it is not likely to be a good prospect to be a breeder bird, in any case. SO continue to try to contact the bird rehab center and a wildlife person.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for such an incredibly prompt response!

If you think the bird would not be acceptable because blind, and it cannot be released into the wild, I am so worried for it.

I will contact my local rehab agency again tomorrow, also the fish and game. But truthfully, outside of it having survived most of it's injuries, what are this bird's chances of surviving the system?

Answer
I really can't say what the bird's chances are. A good bird rehab center will take care of it. You can't legally keep it, so its best to turn it over to people with experience and who have the proper permits. But if it is blind, it may have other injuries as well or an infection. But I can't suggest any better alternative.