Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: We found a mourning dove with what appears to be a broken wing (we think he crashed into our picture window) sitting unmoving in the grass near the window.  His left wing looked dislocated at an odd angle and he was unable to use it. He wasn't difficult to to lift into a box and bring in the house to at least save it from predators and attempt to help his wing mend.  We have never tried to rehab a wild bird before.  We wrapped his wing and he is able to take water when we dip his beak.  But he is not eating the dove seed.  We are keeping him in a show box lined with paper toweling, and air holes, and just keeping him quiet for the time being.  He is shedding feathers in the affected area as well.  We would appreciate your advice on how we can help give him the best chance to recover.

Thank you,
Ren and Annette May

ANSWER: The best thing to do is call your local wildlife rehab center or wildlife official. If the wing is truly broken, the bird needs professional help; it will not recover on its own or even with a bit of help. It may need a vet. So call for expert help. Meanwhile, go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for advice

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response.  Further to my prior message, we found that the main bone (of affected wing) is not broken.   What is broken, and we can feel the tiny rough edge under the skin, is a smaller bone on top of the wing.   This is a relief to us and we are continuing treatment as the bird seem to be less stressed with the small bandage as per the website we found.   We did call the local bird sanctuary who looks after wounded birds but they will not do anything for us for the reason that they have not had much luck with smaller bird species.  They do nothing other then place the bird in a small cage and wait for it to heal.   This seems odd and as a paramedic myself, I felt we could do more no matter how time consuming.   I will check out the website you included in your response.   If you have further information based on the new findings I just mentioned, please let us know.  It is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Rene and Annette May

Answer
The bird sanctuary doesn't sound very experienced; but it does give an example of how hard it is to rehab a bird. A broken bone in a bird is very serious as they tend to shatter, not just break. If the bird is to ever fly again, it needs to go to a vet to get the bone set, but frankly, many vets are not experienced in this. Besides the website I gave you, here is another one - called "ask a bird vet". See what they say. http://www.justanswer.com/veterinary/bird?r=ppc|ga|1|Pets|Bird&JPKW=bird%20parro
(Sorry it's so long).
And thanks for your concern for the bird.