Urgent- Bird advice needed

gothicangel69

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I picked up a bird at my parents house today. It was just sitting on the ground eating, and had a wicked twitch in one of its legs. It let me walk right up to it and pick it up, so there is obviously something wrong with it.
I'm not sure what type of bird it is, maybe a thrush?? I have it in a cage right now, and its eating some meal worms.
If anyone out there has some expeience with birds, I could really use some help. The person who usually takes in injured native birds will be away for the next few days, and I dont know what to do until she gets back. (is there some sort of insect bird food I can buy?)
Any advice would be appreciated.
Here is a picture.
 

arlyn

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The fact that he isn't freaking out in the cage suggests he's been caged before.
Not 100%, but he looks like a Swainson's Thrush, they should be nesting in Canada and the northern states around this time, well, nest building and courting at least.

He may just be weak after his migration.

There are several brands of prepared insectivore bird diets, you should be able to find one fairly easily.
 
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gothicangel69

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Thank you for the reply. He doesn't seem very sick, hes eating a ton and drinking lots, except for that awful tremor in his leg. He lets you reach your hand into the cage without getting nervous, and will even take food out of your hand.
As the stores are closed tomorrow, I'll have to rummage around outside for some small insects until they open up.
 

arlyn

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If you have any berries on hand, or even other fruits you could chop I'm sure he'd enjoy those too.
 
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gothicangel69

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Unfortunately no, I just gave the last of the fruit to my kakarikis last night. I plan to go outside today and get some worms, ants, ect for him to eat as he's already eaten 3/4 of my tub of mealworms!! He seems perfectly fine except for that twitch, and the fact that he's not nervous around me, which is not good for a wild bird.
 

strange_wings

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I wonder if it's lack of fear is just similar to how the morning doves and robins are around here? The ones that live in/around my yard will come right up behind me to the point of coming a couple feet from me. The robins will take insects from me..
So maybe this bird was just way too familiarized with people?

I don't know if it's thawed enough up there, but are people spraying their yards, yet? I wonder if the poor bird didn't eat some poisoned insects. Some fertilizers and pesticides will kill smaller birds and just affect the nervous system a bit on larger birds.
 
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gothicangel69

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We're not supposed to use insectisides around here, but I know quite a few people do anyway. I guess thats a very real possibility.
I have seen birds who will eat out of your hand, but this one seems different. He'll climb all over you- not one bit nevous.
 

strange_wings

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^What do they do to treat for termites, then? What about food crops? People have to be spraying for that. ($$ is more important than not poisoning wildlife, after all) Note: the flea topicals you use on cats and dogs were first developed for use on crops and are still very much used for that. They're supposed to have minimal effect on animals and be considered safe, but it's well known that they affect small birds.

I wonder if whatever is causing the leg twitch could also be affecting the bird mentally? I'd hate to turn a bird like that over to a wild life rehabber around here, they don't typically keep song birds that are tamed beyond being releasable. But then few have the funds for it.
Maybe call around and talk to them tomorrow and ask them what will happen since this bird seems to lack fear of humans?
 
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gothicangel69

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The rehab is comming to pick him up shortly (apparently she has someone answering her messages while shes away). He's actually in his cage right now singing his heart out. Seems completely contempt.
I will certainly ask what they plan to do with him as he seems to be so tame, but as it is illegal to keep wildlife, I have no choice but to turn him over to them.
 
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gothicangel69

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I just called the rehab center to see how hes doing. They said its just a young bird, and they think it was hand raised, which is why its so tame. They did say though that they would put it in with a few adults, and theres a good chance they will be able to release it since it should learn to fear humans from the adults.
 

arlyn

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Just curious, was my ID accurate?

Glad to know that they will try and let him have a normal birdie life and not just end it.
 
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gothicangel69

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They said it was a hermit thrush. I plan to call them back in a few days to see how its doing. I really hope they can rehabilitate him, but if not,their outdoor avaries are HUGE, so he would still have a great life.
I love this rehab as they never put down an animal just because it cannot be rehabilitated- they either keep it, find it a sancuary, and adopt it out to someone and show them how to get a permit for it.
They have a tame, three-legged fox who runs around their office- its cute.
 
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