11/15/2011
Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center
Leah Stallings Sabrina Garvin Connie Sale Amber Dedrick
Rehabilitation of Must Have Supplies: Song Bird Nestlings
Recipe for Success Clean, Clean, Clean Robyn’s Songbird diet 2 Cups water (16 oz) 1 HB egg w/out shell 1 jar Gerber Chicken (71 g) …only use “Gerber” brand 1/2 tsp Avian vitamins 1 tsp LA200 from Fox Valley Nutrition 2.5 tabs of 600 mg calcium, crushed (or 3.75 g Calcium powder) 1 tablet B-complex w/ vitamin c, crushed Blend well then add 2/3 cup Eukanuba Kitten dry 1/3 cup Feline Science Dry Light dry Blend 3-5 min Feed hatchlings and nestlings every 15-30 minutes. Feed fledglings every hour then every 2 hours until they are self feeding Supplement with insects at every feeding for insectivores.
*See Handout
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Steps to Freedom
Incubators Indoor Enclosures Outdoor Enclosures Coming and Going…
The Reference Book we cannot live without!
BIO
In 1994 began volunteering Joined Wildlife Care Alliance in 2000, Retrained by Allyson Lee and Gwenn Johnston in 2000 (I am still in training) Federal Permit since 2000 Education Permittee since 2004 Pres., Second Chance for Wildlife Specialize in songbirds, birds of prey, small mammals and woodchucks. 730 cases YTD in 2011 Over 54 species of native birds triaged Exhausted 24/7 Wildlife Center's biggest pain in the #**@!!!
HATCHLING AND NESTLINGS ID species ( passerine, columbid, water bird or raptor. ) Age ( hatching, nestling, fledgling or • SMALL BOWLS LINED WITH MULTIPLE adult). TISSUES SHAPED TO APPROPRIATE SIZED NEST. KEEP BIRD'S NEST TIGHT SO THEIR Ii it a Hypo/ hyperthermiccase, Wet or LEGS DON'T SPLAY. PLACE ON HEATING bloody, Do you feel crepitus? Do you smell PAD. HEAT LAMPS ARE NOT IDEAL. THEY and abscess, notice diarrhea or a growth? GET TOO HOT. BOWL OR NEST EDGES NEED TO BE SMOOTH. IF NOT IT DAMAGES Triage: Our intake is a crash cart setup for the physical, weight and parasite inspection. We THEIR WINGS. HATCHLING BIRDS REQUIRE have a scale, light with magnification, heating MOISTURE. A LIGHTLY MOISTENED Pad, 1 cc syringe LRS and Dextrose, Adams WASHCLOTH CAN BE PLACED OVER THEM, spray, cotton balls and gloves. Each bird gets OR THEY CAN BE PLACED IN A CLOSED an index card (intake weight, reason for CONTAINER WITH VENTILATION AND A intake and medicine prescribed) and leg band WET PAPER TOWEL INSIDE FOR HUMIDITY. or color mark ID if old enough. Oxygen is • HYDRATE ALL BIRDS UNTIL THEY used for stressed birds. DEFECATE. THEN START FEEDING!
Move to Isolation shelf for secondary • MONITOR THE LITTLE ONES! YOU MUST inspection: ex: for mite recheck, splinting or TOUCH THE BABIES! ARE THEY TOO HOT, suspected carriers of disease, stress. DRY OR COOL? Continually monitor at this stage. • FEED FROM A 1 cc SLIP TIP O-RING Nursery shelf for hatchlings and nestlings SYRINGE. WIPE BEFORE INSERTING INTO THE BIRDS MOUTH! KEEP BIRDS CLEAN. Shelf for fledgling and injured adults ITS IMPORTANT!
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• HARRISON'S: RECOVERY DIET (ADD 6 JARS OF CHICKEN BABY FOOD AND DIETS VITAMINS) CAN BE FROZEN INTO CAGING SETUP CUBES, BUT TEXTURE CHANGES. THEY SHOULD PRODUCE NICE FECAL SACS! KNOW YOUR POOP!!!! • SMALL TUPPERWARE CONTAINERS ARE PREFERRED FOR HATCHLING AND HARRISON'S CHICKEN PASSERINE 1 NESTLINGS. THE BIRDS ARE THEN MOVED IS GREAT FOR CHIMNEY SWIFTS BUT TO REPTARIUMS UNTIL THEY ARE EATING REQUIRES MIXING WITH 6 JARS ON THEIR OWN AND READY TO GO CHICKEN BABY FOOD. OUTSIDE. • ALWAYS SERVE FOOD AT ROOM • REPTARIUMS BOTTOMS ARE LINED WITH TEMPERATURE. KEEP BABIES CLEAN. RUBBER DRAWER LINERS. (THE CAGE USE MOISTENED COTTON SWAB TO COVER AND LINERS CAN BE WASHED IN CLEAN OR WARM BATH. THE MACHINE) NEWSPAPER IS PLACED UNDER THE RUBBER LINERS. SMALL • LRS, DEXTROSE, H2O AND BIRD DIAMETER HOSES ARE USED FOR BENE BAC GEL ARE KEPT IN 1 CC BRANCHES (EASILY CLEANED) AND STORE SYRINGE AT FEEDING STATION BOUGHT BIRD BRANCHES. THEY ARE HUNG WITH CHAINS SO THEY WILL • MAZURI NESTLING HANDFEEDING MOVE. BARK OR WOOD WITH PRE- FORMULA USED (NOT ON HATCH.) DRILLED HOLES IS HUNG & FILLED WITH SUET OR NUTS AND BUGS. PLANTS ARE MEALWORMSSOAKED OVERNIGHT IN USED FOR COVER. SMALL TWIGS ARE VITAMIN WATER (CHOP & SERVE) USED TO STICK BERRIES ON. DIRT PANS SOAKED ZUPREEM PIECES AND WITH SIDES ARE USED FOR WORMS. LIVE CRICKETS ARE PLACES IN EACH CAGE. SCIENCE DIET KITTEN CHOW FAKE LARGE LEAVES ARE USED AND CAN • KEEP SEPERATE FEEDING SUPPLIES BE WASHED. FOR SICK BIRDS (EX:GAPE WORM)
FLEDGLING • HARRISON'S DIET • LIVE CRICKETS. FLY LARVAE, WAXWORMS, MEALWORMS (ALL THREE STAGES), TREE LICE • TO ATTRACT ANTS IN THE WOODPECKER CAGES. ( SET A SMALL CAP OF SYRUP OUTSIDE) • ALL CAGES HAVE DIRT PANS FOR BUGS AND WORMS. SHALLOW WATER DISH WITH A SMALL ROCK • ASSORTED FRUIT PLATE WITH CHOPPED KALE & GRATED CARROT • SHELLED AND UNSHELLED SUNFLOWER SEEDS (BLACK & STRIPED), PEANUT PIECES, CRACKED CORN, WOODPECKER MIX, SAFFLOWER, PEANUTS FOR JAYS, PEANUT BUTTER MIX AND SUET. • BERRIES ON TWIG, HANG GRAPES, NATIVE FOODS: POKEBERRIES
AVIARY • FLY LARVAE,EARTHWORMS, HANGING BIRD FEEDERS, ANTS EXTRA IDEAS • IF ANTS OVER TAKE THE FRUIT AMAZING INSECT MIRACLE MEAL, HIGH ENERGY SUET PELLETS( 2 TYPES), PLATE; PLACE THE PLATE IN A AMAZING WOODPECKER MIRACLE MEAL MOAT OR PUT A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER THE LIP OF THE THE WILD BIRD STORE-NUTS & BUGS (SUET, NUTS AND FLYS) PLATE TO KEEP ANTS OUT. BIRD BENE- BAC GEL • BUSHES AND SM. TREES ARE PLACED IN CAGING. CUT TREE GOLDENFEAST-AUSTRALIAN BLEND (FINCHES) LIMBS WITH BUDS ARE GREAT. GOLDENFEAST FRUIT AND NUTS PLUS (WOODPECKERS) BERRIES ON THE BUSHES GOLDENFEAST GARDENFLORA BLEND ENCOURAGE FORAGING. ROTTING LOGS, BIRD BATH WITH RUNNING WATER. AVI-ERA, CALCIUM, BREWER'S YEAST ARE LIGHTLY SPRINKLED ON ALL SEEDS AND MEALWORMS • LG. DIRT PANS WITH LIVE INSECTS. MEALWORMS ARE PUMPED WITH BREWERS YEAST AND AVI-ERA VITAMINS, CARROTS AND SWEET I USE THE BOTTOM OF RABBIT POTATOES (APPLE SLICES A FEW DAYS BEFORE USING) CAGES. PUT CARDBOARD PAPER TOWEL TUBES IN WITH CRICKETS FOR EASY SERVING • MIST THE BIRDS A FEW TIMES EACH DAY CHINCHILLA DUST BATH (FOR WRENS) • OPEN FACED BOXES FOR COVER. • RIPENED FRUIT IS HUNG TO ADD GRIT TO MOURNING DOVES SEED ATTRACT KNATS OR WHITE SHEETS SOAKED IN SUGAR WATER
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Juvenile Cardinal, Carolina Wren, and Robin Category II VA State and USFWS licensed rehabber Specialty: Hummingbirds and songbirds Average of about 225 songbirds annually. Rehabbing continuously since 1998 Home-based, independent Member: Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge (VA Beach) Member: Wildlife Response, Inc. (Chesapeake, VA) Member: NWRA, IWRC Email: [email protected]
Thrushes American Robins Hermit Thrush
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Thrushes Mimidae Brown Thrasher Wood Thrush Eastern Bluebird Brown Thrasher Adult Pre-Fledgies
Mimidae Cardinals Mockingbird Grey Catbird Nestling Cardinal Adult female cardinal
Jays Doves Blue Jay Nestlings Adult Blue Jay Nestling Mourning Dove Mourning Dove 1 week later
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Finches Finches
American Goldfinch Nestlings HY Male American Goldfinch House Finch Hatchlings House Finch
Wood Warblers and Vireos Wood Warblers and Vireos
Yellow -Rumped Warbler Magnolia Warbler Ovenbird Red-Eyed Vireo
Titmice, Chickadees & Nuthatches Titmice, Chickadees & Nuthatches Brown Headed Nuthatch Juvenile Titmouse Carolina Chickadee
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Flycatchers Flycatchers
Eastern Kingbird Hatchling Eastern Kingbird 26 days later Great-Crested Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe
Sparrows Swallows
Song Sparrow Hatchling Song Sparrow 10 days later Barn Swallow Nestlings Barn Swallows grown up
Swallows Purple Martins Rough Winged and Barn Rough-Winged Swallow Swallow comparison Purple Martin Fledgies Purple Martins feeding time
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Cuckoos Yellow-billed cuckoo Tanagers & Orioles Scarlet Tanager Male Summer Tanager
Tanagers & Orioles Waxwings
Juvie Baltimore Oriole Baltimore Oriole Adult Male Cedar waxwing Cedar Waxwing in Wing Wrap
Wrens Wrens
Carolina Wren Hatchlings Carolina wrens growing Carolina Wrens House Wrens
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Woodpeckers Woodpeckers Downy Woodpecker 16 days Downy Woodpecker Hatchling later Red Bellied Woodpecker Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Woodpeckers Woodpeckers
Yellow-shafted Flickers Flickers Release Day Pileated Woodpecker - Male Pileated Woodpecker - Female
Precocial Diets – Hatchlings & Nestlings Mazuri Songbird Nestling Mazuri Robin Poop Bob White chick Bob White chicks
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Special Diets Diets –Pre-Fledgies/Fledgies/Adults
Exact Hand Feeding Formula Nektar Plus for Sapsuckers Insectivores Omnivores/Fructivores for Hatchling/Nestling Doves Waxworms All the Insectivores items Mealworms Seeds, Nuts Crickets Fruits – Berries, Cherries Peanut butter suet - aka “Marvel Meal” Quiko Goldy for Insectivores
Where do I get my Stuff? Housing Foods Medical and Other Supplies Mazuri Songbird Formula: Syringes, cannulas, vet wrap, Triage & Treatment Room Triage & Treament Room Chris’s Squirrels and More and some meds: Chris’s Insects: Grubco Squirrels & More Quiko Goldy: Pet Food Direct Rx meds from vet Nektar Plus: Guenter Enderle WCV conference freebie Berry bearing plants – room planted in my yard! BEG for donations of supplies!
Housing Housing 12’ x 24’ Porch Aviary Porch Aviary Aviary Interior - Southside Aviary Interior - Northside
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Housing Housing Cat Pen Cages Cat Pen with vertical log Lots of Natural Branches Bathing features
Housing Easy to clean, super easy Housing Non-adhesive Flooring to install Fake Ivy Garlands Fake Ivy Garlands
Housing Flicker in Hollow Log Pileated in Hollow Log
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My HUBBY, CAT IV’s, and VOLUNTEERS!
Digital Voice Recorder for recording and playing the songs and calls of the birds in rehab Metacam and broad-spectrum antibiotics Fluids for rehydration and irrigation STR for glue/tar removal
Rechargeable hand warmers to warm up baby birds And last, but not least…..
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My Transporters And, of course…My wonderful
Peter Fisher, DVM Herbert Hulls, DVM Tony Poutous, VMD, DVM
Wildlife Center of Virginia Amber Dedrick Wildlife Rehabilitator Wildlife Center of Virginia
Quick facts Disclaimer •Arrive around March from South America, and return around November Intense study of their natural history will help you to •Late Breeder: May- August. I typically raise these birds. see babies arrive in July
•Overall population is decreasing due to If you cannot devote every 20-30 minutes to feeding fewer suitable nesting spots, the them, 12-14 hours a day the whole time they are in popularity of capping chimneys, and newer chimney designs. captivity, these birds are not for you •Historically nested in hollow trees
•They are not perching birds. They spend all day flying, and will eat and drink on the wing
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When to help Hatchling In most bird species, putting baby back is the ideal solution. Chimney Swift nest in inaccessible places so its very difficult to reunite, though it is not impossible
Eyes closed babies that fall from nests almost always will need some help-can’t yet cling
Because of the time of year, they can get dehydrated very easily. If exposed for long periods, better to bring 2-3 days old into rehab.
Nestling Feathering out
7-8 days old. About 15 grams 12-14 days old
Almost ready! Crossed wings
Fledgling. Weight around 24 grams
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Growth Rate for Chimney Swifts Anatomical considerations Toes Nares Feathers-wings and tail No true crop-very frequent feeding Gape over the side of the nest, though they will learn to gape upwards with time
Upon admit Feeding methods First warm, then hydrate hydrate hydrate! Syringe feeding diet- some people use this to start off with. FoNS. Negative…feeding more than one bird with a syringe = Use warm LRS with Nutrical for calories 10:1 possibility of bacterial infection. Also, potential for messy feathers Condition of the feces…what does it look like? Continue hydrating until feces look normal All insect diet (with supplementation) Give one drop orally at a time, 3-4 drops/feeding If an older juvenile wont eat try simulating the wind of parents wings, put with begging swifts
Feed them as much as they will eat at each feeding
I like to feed every 30 minutes while they are in my care
FoNS for 2008 Housing 1 cup (136g) Evo cat/kitten food Chimney swifts cannot perch 1.3 c (315cc) water 3 Tbsp(18g) dried egg white 0.5 g(1/8 tsp) LafeberAvi-era bird vitamins 5g(1/2 tsp) active culture plain yogurt Presoak kibble until completely soaked. Do not drain excess water. Mix all ingredients well in a food processor
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Flight cage Artificial chimney
Common problems Common problems Keep the face clean! A dirty face can cause feathers to Older juveniles usually have to be force fed-be gentle! be damaged or cause a bacterial infection Don’t damage beaks Damaged feathers- if flight feathers are very damaged release is unlikely Injuries-leg breaks and wing breaks end up almost always in euthanasia.
Poor feather condition may end up in euthanasia as well…they have to be perfect to make it to South America and back.
Criteria for release Sources Wings crossed by one inch www.chimneyswifts.org Good weight/body condition Fly tirelessly Shirley Needham “Chimney Swifts?Relax!” Waterproofing http://ncwildliferehab.org/newsletter/Publication33.pdf Finding an existing group of swifts http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/chimney_swift/id Release close to dusk where resident swifts will be roosting- up near the roost if possible “Chimney Swift Rehabilitation; The Challenges and the Rewards” By Jayne Amico. Mount Vernon Songbird Sanctuary Older juveniles-need room to practice flying! www.mvssanctuary.org
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