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Birds--General/Injured House Martin?
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Question
Hi
)
This morning as my better half set off for work, a House Martin fell from the under side of her van. I noticed it seemed injured as it couldn't fly away. So to save it from cats etc I quickly scooped it up, and I have it sat in a cardboard box covered with a towel, with some food in the bottom (a couple of small live moths, and some chopped up worm) which it hasn't bothered with. It can't have eaten recently as it hasn't "messed" in the box in the 8 hours it has been in there. But what concerns/puzzles me the most are it "injuries". It appears as though it's wing tips have been glued together so instead of being able to flap its wings, it appears more like it is trying to "skip rope". It really puzzles me as to what has happened, and I'm also not sure as to the best way to clean the Martins wings. Also out of interest, how do I distinguish the sex of the bird? It does appear to be a juvenile, just based on its small appearance but I really do not know anything about birds other than what some tend to eat and their preferred habitat etc.
Thank you for reading
Regards, Steve
Barlow, North Yorkshire, England
Sorry I'm tardy; internet went down on me.
Best thing to do is contact a local wildlife rehab center for help and advice. I can't diagnose the bird without seeing it. The wing tips being glued together is very strange. Something must be on the wings or perhaps they were burned when it was under the van. You can't tell the sex of an immature Martin. TO feed it you need a syringe and moist high-protein food - maybe pet shop has appropriate food. Don't feed water.
Meanwhile, go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for links to taking care of injured birds. Thanks for your concern.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you The next morning, we used some tepid water and cotton wool to clean the Martin's wing tips and gradually loosened the glue using our finger nails very gently. Once it was all removed the Martin sat happily on the edge of our bed for some time until it then tried to fly again. At first it just fell to the floor, so we scooped it back up to rest for a little and then it made a flight across the length of the room. So we then took the martin in to the garden and sat him/her on the table, where after a few seconds it took off, and flew a few gardens across to join it's fellow martins who were playing and chasing each other around the trees. Just thought you would like to know it was a happy ending for the House Martin. However the origin of the glue is still a mystery!! Regards, Steve | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Roger Lederer
Expertise
Any and all questions about WILD birds - not caged, domestic or poultry. Can answer questions about identification, taxonomy, behavior, courtship, plumage, flight, or anything else.
Experience
Taught ornithology (the study of birds) at the university level for 30 years. Have written five books on birds, published 30 scientific articles, write a blog on birds, have the website www.ornithology.com, lectured to hundreds of groups on birds,and have traveled to 90 countries studying birds.
Organizations
A variety of ornithological and conservation organizations.
Publications
Real Simple Magazine, Enterprise-Record, and several ornithological and ecological journals.
Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology with emphasis in ornithology.
Awards and Honors
Professional Achievement Award, Jack Rawlins Chair of Environmental Literach.
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