Avian Adrienne
Moving in
- Joined
- 3/9/15
- Messages
- 14
Hi all. Below are some pictures of a common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) that I am currently rehabbing.
I live in central Kentucky, USA. Last week we had six inches of ice and snow on the ground, and a hailstorm was coming down. Some of the hail balls were dime-sized but I had a strong umbrella (thank God)!
I crossed the street and saw what I thought was a starling curled up in a snow bank on the sidewalk. It was bleeding, but because it was soaking wet I couldn't tell from where. I picked it up, cupped it to my chest, and walked it home. After I got it home, another foot of snow came down and we were under a state of emergency for several days. We're STILL at risk of severe flooding as all the snow and ice melts. It's miserable!
I called several rehabbers and vet clinics but none were open or able to come get the bird due to the extreme weather and state of emergency. I do not have a car. In the meantime, I did the best I could.
I realized the bird was bleeding from its mouth. Not a good sign, probably internal organ damage. I force fed it some soaked cat food and some lukewarm water (just a bit) and put it in a warm, covered, finch cage and hoped for the best.
The next morning, it was barely hanging on, but still alive. To be honest I expected at least one or two rehabbers to call me back. None did.
The next day the bird seemed to be different, more aware, "better." But still silent and unable to fly. I was more aggressive on the phone. I started a third round of emails and calls, and I got the following information:
This coming Friday (two weeks after finding it soaked and dying) I have plans to take the bird to another vet and see if they can help or tell me anything about it.
Here are pics:
I have limited experience with birds (all my supplies are from finches I had a few years ago) but NONE with rehabbing or grackles in particular.
I'll appreciate any feedback about keeping illegal-but-unwanted birds, grackle behavior, diet, or anything relating to symptomology. If anybody is in central Kentucky or southern Indiana and has ideas for rehabs that for sure take grackles, please also tell me! I'm doing the best I can to find this little gal (whom I've named Avian Adrienne) the proper help she needs!
Thank you!
I live in central Kentucky, USA. Last week we had six inches of ice and snow on the ground, and a hailstorm was coming down. Some of the hail balls were dime-sized but I had a strong umbrella (thank God)!
I crossed the street and saw what I thought was a starling curled up in a snow bank on the sidewalk. It was bleeding, but because it was soaking wet I couldn't tell from where. I picked it up, cupped it to my chest, and walked it home. After I got it home, another foot of snow came down and we were under a state of emergency for several days. We're STILL at risk of severe flooding as all the snow and ice melts. It's miserable!
I called several rehabbers and vet clinics but none were open or able to come get the bird due to the extreme weather and state of emergency. I do not have a car. In the meantime, I did the best I could.
I realized the bird was bleeding from its mouth. Not a good sign, probably internal organ damage. I force fed it some soaked cat food and some lukewarm water (just a bit) and put it in a warm, covered, finch cage and hoped for the best.
The next morning, it was barely hanging on, but still alive. To be honest I expected at least one or two rehabbers to call me back. None did.
The next day the bird seemed to be different, more aware, "better." But still silent and unable to fly. I was more aggressive on the phone. I started a third round of emails and calls, and I got the following information:
- Grackles are a native bird and are theoretically protected under the law, BUT in agricultural areas such as Kentucky, they are a pest species and are commonly shot and killed or poisoned on sight because they eat crops. One rehabber even told me how to kill the bird.
- Several people said grackles are "low priority" and that they're "so common" that it is not economical or ethical to care for them when owls, hawks, and stuff are also needing resources.
- Two people referred me to a hawk rehab center. I contacted them and they could not give me clear answers about what happens to non-hawks. A third rehabber who doesn't take grackles nonetheless told me that the hawk center FEEDS grackles (and starlings and pigeons and sparrows) to the hawks when re-training them to hunt. I understand that hawks have to eat, but no.
- One lady said she'd take the bird and asked me to send her $200 but refused (or couldn't) to show me her license. She gave me bad vibes.
- Exactly one vet clinic said they could evaluate the bird and possibly refer it to a rehab center. Then I got a call back and they said the rehab center actually doesn't take grackles. They asked if I was 100% sure it wasn't a blackbird (I wasn't) so I sent pics and the lady said it was indeed a grackle (little or no protection).
- The Fish and Wildlife Service referred me to several rehabbers whom I'd already contacted (a circle jerk, basically). They also said they could take the bird but it would likely be euthanized because they're a pest species.
This coming Friday (two weeks after finding it soaked and dying) I have plans to take the bird to another vet and see if they can help or tell me anything about it.
Here are pics:
I have limited experience with birds (all my supplies are from finches I had a few years ago) but NONE with rehabbing or grackles in particular.
I'll appreciate any feedback about keeping illegal-but-unwanted birds, grackle behavior, diet, or anything relating to symptomology. If anybody is in central Kentucky or southern Indiana and has ideas for rehabs that for sure take grackles, please also tell me! I'm doing the best I can to find this little gal (whom I've named Avian Adrienne) the proper help she needs!
Thank you!