I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found baby birds on the ground.  This is a guaranteed panic attack for my eight year old daughter.  “Where is the Mommy?!”  The cat will get it!!  We have to save it!”  But honestly, nine times out of ten the bird will be fine.

Baby birds usually leave the next several days before they can fly.  These fledglings hop around on the ground, jumping onto low branches as they wander. During this time, the parents continue to feed the baby bird.  So if you see a fairly large baby bird on the ground, it is best to leave the bird alone.

If you find a bird that does not have parents feeding it, there may be a wildlife rehabilitation specialist in your area that can help.  Furthermore, a veterinarian may agree to either help or provide you with a phone number for a local bird specialist.

A baby bird that is obviously too small to be out of the nest is probably very near it’s nesting home.  Look up in the trees and in the bushes.  Walk away and see if you can spot a mother bird swooping down to protect the it’s baby.  This will give you an idea of the nest location.

Baby birds can be placed back in the nest, despite old wives tales that say otherwise.  Birds have a poor sense of smell and will not stop feeding babies because “they smell like humans.”  If you cannot find the nest, place the baby bird in a basket lined with leaves and hang the basket on a tree.  Watch to see if the mother begins feeding the bird in the nest.

If you have come to an end of bird care resources, it is possible to take on the challenge of feeding a baby bird.  Baby birds need protein.  For a good baby bird food, mix 1 teaspoon cottage cheese, ¼ cup wet dog food, ¼ of a hard boiled egg yolk, ¼ cup ground beef, 1 teaspoon turtle food and 1 teaspoon sand or grit.  You can freeze what you are not using within a day or two to keep it fresh.  When the baby bird gets older you can feed it cut up bugs and worms.

To feed the bird, make sure the food is at room temperature.  GENTLY lift the baby’s head up and tap the bill.  The baby should open his or her beak wide.  Feed small bits to the baby.  When the baby is full the mouth will not appear gaping anymore.  If you need to, you can gently place your hand over the back of the baby’s back and wings.

Keep the baby bird in a warm place, such as a small box with disposable soft paper such as paper towels.

Keep in mind, it is hard to hand feed a wild baby bird.  Baby birds eat every fifteen minutes or so – so be ready and have lots of time.  This is why it is best to call a rehabilitator or a veterinarian.  You might also look up local bird breeders, who might volunteer to take on this responsibility.

Pet Food Recall

Ten cats and dogs have died from eating the recalled food, while an unknown number of others have suffered from vomiting and kidney failure.

The manufacturer has posted a recall list at http://www.menufoods.com/recall and has two phone numbers consumers can call – 866-463-6738 and 866-895-2708. According to Menu Foods, the cause of these serious health problems is a rat poison found in the wet food.

Please visit the link supplied to determine if the dog or cat food you have is tainted. With over 48 brand names, you just might have a can, pouch or bag that is potentially life threatening to your pet.

To Clip or Not to Clip?

Fresh Water for Birds

Splish Splash I was Takin’ a Bath!

Be sure to offer your bird shallow dishes only. A bird may slip and drown in a bowl, especially if clipped. Do not place a towel in the bath, as claws can get hooked, causing discomfort or death.

Avian Vet Care

The following plants are non-toxic to animals:

Fruit Flies

Fruit flies breed on organic matter – anything moist, wet or decaying. If the flies are in your kitchen, they are most likely buzzing and breeding around fruit, tiny bits of food under appliances or even stuck to table legs. They will breed on decaying food in your drain, and sometimes breed on houseplants as well. The only true way to get rid of these little guys is to remove their breeding source. Take every bit of fruit out of your kitchen, dump the trash, wash your trashcan, clean your table legs, look under the toaster or any other place there may be organic matter. If the flies are in your drain, pour hot water and household cleaner down the drain, cover it with tape and leave it overnight. You may have to keep the tape on each night to prevent re-infestation of your drain.
If you have birds, you probably have old fruit and vegetable pieces on the floor, the wall and cage corners. Wash everything down as best you can using warm water and a rag. Remove all organic matter in the cage and stick to seed and pellets. When it is time for your bird to have fresh fruits and veggies, offer them for ½ an hour. After this time, remove the food bowl so there won’t be a source for the fruit flies to breed in. Be sure to take any dropped pieces out of the cage as well. Feel free to offer your bird fresh food as many times a day as you want, removing it after 15 to 30 minutes. If the fruit fly infestation is not resolved after a few days, you may wish to feed your bird dried fruits and veggies for two days to be sure there is no place for fruit flies to breed.

You can purchase fruit fly sprays and traps on the internet. Never use anything that can possibly be toxic to your pets. A home remedy that works well for fruit flies is a mixture of water, vinegar, grapes and sugar. Take a tall glass and add about ¼ cup of water. To the water, add a splash of vinegar, a few sliced grapes and a spoonful of sugar. Then take a piece of paper and fold it into a cone shape. Cut the point of the cone across so the hole in the bottom is a bit larger and less pointy. Place the cone into the glass so the hole is above the water mixture. Attach the cone to the cup with tape or a paperclip, and place the cup near your fruit flies. The fruit flies will go into the cone, down the hole and get trapped inside. When you are ready to remove the cup, walk to it slowly with a plastic grocery bag in hand. Quickly cover the cup with the bag and take it outside immediately. Any flies that may be sitting on the cup are removed in this manner as well as the flies trapped inside.

We discovered yet another type of fruit fly trap purely by accident – quite the unfortunate accident. After a special dinner there was about two inches of red wine left in a wine bottle. The bottle remained unopened on the table overnight. The next day it was corked. You can guess what happened next. Someone poured the wine into a glass, took a sip and found themselves with a mouthful of fruit flies. Apparently, the fruit flies flew into the bottle, were unable to get out and drowned. This was the most efficient fruit fly trap we’ve seen – and the fruit flies probably didn’t mind either!

Using one of these homemade fruit fly traps, along with removal of the fruit fly breeding source, should stop the fruit fly infestation within a few days.

Toxic Plants to Animals
Plant (Toxic Portion) – Symptom

Foods Dangerous to Birds:

Other Dangers to Birds

Bird Diet

Seeds or Pellets?

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

There are several foods to steer clear of, because they are dangerous to birds.