Expert: Roger Lederer - 3/23/2010

Question
QUESTION: I was driving and a cardinal hit my car window very hard, he was almost dead when i picked him up, now he is jumping around the cage, what should i feed him since I only have cockatiels I dont know it this food will be okay, I will take him to a vet monday afternoon I need to know when and if I can release him back to  the wild

ANSWER: If he is jumping around his cage, let him go. He apparently was just stunned. You should release him into the wild right away. Thanks for your concern.

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

QUESTION: I now found out he is still a baby he cant fly so i guess i have to wait??? the closest vet that specialises in birds is 2 hours away from where i live, I guess im just very worried about this little baby and I want him to survive in the wild, I want his chances to be very good

Answer
If he hit your window while you were driving, he can't be a baby who can't fly. If it is a baby, it should have been released where you got it as the parents would be taking care of it until it can fly. But I seriously think it is not a baby. Have you released it outside to see if it can fly? If you want to increase his chances of surviving in the wild, let him go. Cage-raised birds do not do well after they are released.