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Birding/found a hurt mourning dove

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Expert: - 5/9/2010


Question
I found a mourning dove with a broken and bleeding wing.  It was broke right at the joint.  I have had her for over a week. the wing is healing well, the injured oiece has fallen off. she appears healthy and strong.  Will the wing grow back so she can be released back into the wild??

Answer
Simply, no. When a bird breaks a bone, the bone tends to shatter. If you mean a piece of the bone has fallen off - I guess the bone was sticking out of the skin?- then there is no chance of it ever healing naturally. The only chance the bird has is to be seen by a veterinarian to see if she/he can repair the wing. Call your local wildlife rehab center or wildlife official or vet for advice and help. And thanks for your concern.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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