Three weeks ago one of my cats came in through the cat flap carrying a largish dark coloured bird in his mouth. When I shouted at him he dropped the poor thing in the hall and ran off upstairs. I could see then it was a female blackbird. I picked her up giving her a quick visual once over. She didn't seem in any way injured...no blood to be seen, no drooping wing(s) etc...understandably scared but not panicking either. In fact not doing anything really. No flapping of wings or resistance at all. Just sat there quite docile in my hands. Probably in shock I thought.
It was 5pm or thereabouts...can't be exactly sure of the time but it was dark outside. Unusual that it was caught in the dark and also unusual in that my cats rarely catch birds even in daylight, the two youngest...49-50 in cat years...usually catch rodents and even they are few and far between these days. I didn't want to release her in darkness only to be captured again so made a decision to put her in the greenhouse overnight and check how things were in the morning. I knew from experience that if she survived overnight she was in with a chance, but didn't really hold out much hope. To my surprise, she was very much alive the next morning but thoughts of instant release were driven from my mind when I realised she wasn't even attempting to use her wings. I thought I had done an awful thing in rescuing this poor bird if she couldn't fly. She was agitated when I went in and ran and hopped to and fro underneath the staging but not so much as a flick or a flutter of wings. On the positive side, there were still no signs of dragging or drooping and no misplaced or broken feathers. She just kept her wings tucked in close to her body, and there they stayed.
Anyway, I put out fresh water and a mixture of sunflower hearts, dried mealworms, porridge oats, chopped apple and a small amount of tinned cat food. Did all this as quickly as possible and left her in peace. I was able to observe her to a certain extent as my back door is half glazed and the greenhouse quite close to the house. The panels are not glass but polycarbonate and although not as clear as glass I could see the food and water quite clearly. Almost as soon as I had gone she was over to the water dish having a drink, then set to with the food. She was very selective but fortunately had a very good appetite. Surprisingly the Cotoneaster and Pyracantha berries I had put in the night before remained untouched, yet she attacked the new food with enthusiasm...especially the chopped apple and cat food (I found it very satisfying that she was enjoying eating the catfood...poetic justice)...
More later....
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A couple of days later, still eating and drinking well and having no problems defecating, as will be seen in the pic below. A positive indication that all was well internally, though she was still not attempting to fly. Well not that I saw any evidence of anyway. She ran and hopped from ground to tub, growbag to bucket to the bottom shelf of the staging and back again. This is the only picture I have of her as I wanted to cause as little distress as possible. Each time I went in she became so agitated that I only went in once a day to change water and food. All other observations were made from the house.
By now I had discussed Ms Blackbird with a few close friends, although didn't want to go too public. I thought somehow it might jinx her progress. You know, like not telling anyone you are going for a driving test in the next couple of weeks...just in case?
I had phoned my vet's surgery and obtained the number of the nearest Wildlife Rescue Centre, Lower Moss Wood, Knutsford, so knew I could call on them if I needed advice. Mind you, I was very reluctant to even try and capture her to take her there as I knew it would have put extra, perhaps intolerable, stress on an already stressed bird. I decided, in the absence of any obvious/visible obstacles to her eventual recovery, and in the knowledge that I was supplying adequate food, shelter etc. to let things take their course. I was also keen not to try and befriend her, but keep my distance. She was a wild creature and needed to stay that way for her own future safety.
To be continued...
Can't wait for the next instalment! As an ex-Lower Moss Wood volunteer, I know she was in the best hands!
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
How lovely of you to say so Maisie, thank you! It is indeed a small world! :)
Brilliant stuff!
Jimbob
chloeb where were you when i ran a bird rescue centre, every thing so far
is spot on( hope i dont sound condisending) but it is unbelivable the number
of people who find injured birds, and insist on force feeding, also with bread and milk
it is really warming my heart, bless you, the only thing a bird/animal needs is warmth
and quite, wait with baited breath. best regards mac
Any thoughts on the age of the blackbird?
ChloeB and Tiger's data site ? Link to the Important Loch Garten Links
Hi Chloe,
What a wonderful report and photo.
Please don't keep us in suspenders any longer! Next installment eagerly awaited!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi ChloeB
doing a great job good luck
It's possible the bird coudnt fly before the cat caught it
Regards Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Thank you all for your very kind comments Jimbob, mac, Sparrow and Ray. I really do appreciate your responses and glad you are enjoying the story.
Had a few jobs to do this morning but am now in the process of writing the next instalment :)
Tiger thanks for your query regarding age and will be interested in what expert members have to say on the subject. I take her to be an adult female...perhaps youngish...but other than that I have no idea.
ChloeB Three weeks ago one of my cats came in through the cat flap carrying a largish dark coloured bird in his mouth. When I shouted at him he dropped the poor thing in the hall and ran off upstairs. I could see then it was a female blackbird. I picked her up giving her a quick visual once over. She didn't seem in any way injured...no blood to be seen, no drooping wing(s) etc...understandably scared but not panicking either. In fact not doing anything really. No flapping of wings or resistance at all. Just sat there quite docile in my hands. Probably in shock I thought. It was 5pm or thereabouts...can't be exactly sure of the time but it was dark outside. Unusual that it was caught in the dark and also unusual in that my cats rarely catch birds even in daylight, the two youngest...49-50 in cat years...usually catch rodents and even they are few and far between these days. I didn't want to release her in darkness only to be captured again so made a decision to put her in the greenhouse overnight and check how things were in the morning. I knew from experience that if she survived overnight she was in with a chance, but didn't really hold out much hope. To my surprise, she was very much alive the next morning but thoughts of instant release were driven from my mind when I realised she wasn't even attempting to use her wings. I thought I had done an awful thing in rescuing this poor bird if she couldn't fly. She was agitated when I went in and ran and hopped to and fro underneath the staging but not so much as a flick or a flutter of wings. On the positive side, there were still no signs of dragging or drooping and no misplaced or broken feathers. She just kept her wings tucked in close to her body, and there they stayed. Anyway, I put out fresh water and a mixture of sunflower hearts, dried mealworms, porridge oats, chopped apple and a small amount of tinned cat food. Did all this as quickly as possible and left her in peace. I was able to observe her to a certain extent as my back door is half glazed and the greenhouse quite close to the house. The panels are not glass but polycarbonate and although not as clear as glass I could see the food and water quite clearly. Almost as soon as I had gone she was over to the water dish having a drink, then set to with the food. She was very selective but fortunately had a very good appetite. Surprisingly the Cotoneaster and Pyracantha berries I had put in the night before remained untouched, yet she attacked the new food with enthusiasm...especially the chopped apple and cat food (I found it very satisfying that she was enjoying eating the catfood...poetic justice)... More later....
hi chloeb it looks like a this year bird, i am inpresed with how it is doing, as i said already
it is not easy rearing an injured bird, the vet i used to use, now has a policy that any injured
bird going to his surgery, is put to sleep, so you can see why i now use a different vet. well done to you.
best regards mac
To continue...
After discussions between us and suggestions from an experienced birder friend we had put together a few very valid theories as to why she wasn't flying or trying to:
1. She was unable to fly for whatever reason, prior to (and the reason for) getting caught (as Ray has pointed out)2. She had injuries that were not immediately apparent.3. She was a migrant bird from another area who had become too exhausted.
I was torn. Part of me was full of hope that she would recover, given the aforementioned positives and given time. The other part of me imagined an imprisoned and probably very unhappy flightless bird in my greenhouse indefinitely.
Anyway, I told myself, it was early days yet. Our birder friend related that she once had an injured bird which lived in a cardboard box for a few days then suddenly made a miraculous recovery and flew away.
It also brought to mind another seemingly hopeless experience of my own, many years ago.
I had rescued a song thrush (will refer to it as female although it could equally have been male), one of a pair, that flew too low over the road, was hit by a car and landed on the pavement outside my house, stunned and injured. It's mate was ok and flew off. I kept that bird in a large darkened shed for I forget how many days with an obviously damaged wing. I don't know how it healed but I had somehow, very hamfistedly I am sure and whilst it was still stunned, managed to splint it with matchstick and cellotape. The bird pecked it off soon after of course but perhaps it had been on long enough for blood and feathers to congeal, making a natural splint...who knows. The bird looked fine other than the one drooping wing so I decided to wait and see. After a period of time, perhaps a week, maybe two, though it must have seemed much longer at the time, to my huge relief and delight she started making short fluttering flights which got longer and stronger until I felt it was safe to set her free.
As a matter of interest, amongst a variety of other food suitable for thrushes I dug up worms for that one, put them in a tray of soil and she scratched them out for herself.
I will never forget the day I released her, it seemed to me nothing short of a miracle. She flew, perhaps a bit laboured to start with, to the fence. Rested a few seconds then another, stronger, flight into my neighbour's laburnum tree where another thrush was sitting. They stayed for a few minutes then flew off together! Was it the mate who was with her when she was injured or was I simply being naive in thinking that? Whatever the reality, I will stick to the idea that it was. The thrush visited my garden quite frequently after that, always recognisable by the drooping wing.
Sounds like I made it all up but I assure you it is true. So amazing that I hardly believe it myself, but all true. I suppose this is not to be recommended and some would say I should have taken the bird to a vet but I felt competent, had reared birds before, and was worried that it might be written off and euthanased. (I notice mac has just coincidentally mentioned this possibility) However, my decision, my responsibility and I am so pleased it worked out ok.
The memory was hidden at the back of my mind but this brought it all back vividly. It gave me hope that Mrs Blackbird might yet fly :)
Cont shortly...
Thanks mac. As you see, I didn't have a great deal of faith in vets at the time I looked after the thrush years ago. Had a few bad experiences to go on. Am happy with the ones I have now but imagine they don't all have the facilities for looking after/treating injured birds. I suppose even Wildlife Centres must draw the line sometimes.
ChloeB Thanks mac. As you see, I didn't have a great deal of faith in vets at the time I looked after the thrush years ago. Had a few bad experiences to go on. Am happy with the ones I have now but imagine they don't all have the facilities for looking after/treating injured birds. I suppose even Wildlife Centres must draw the line sometimes.
i hope you know i am a man now in tears, reliving all the weeks of looking after all my injured
birds, it got to a stage where i was taking in hundreds per year, many years ago i took in
forty four birds of prey all confiscated from houses around yorkshire, 4 court cases (we won all of them)
this was in one day, i managed to get three quarters back to the wild, it was hard work. i am very impressed with this present case, well done you. best regards mac
Mac isn't the only one in tears! Your thrush story is wonderful - and emotional. Thank goodness it all worked out well for Mrs. Thrush and her OH was waiting for her!! You should turn it into a film!
Mac - your experience with the captive birds of prey must have been life changing for you.
Can't wait to see what happens to Miss Blackbird.