Fall Fowl



Much like our feathered friend, Daphne, water and shore birds who are unable to migrate due to injury - or being domestic! - are going to become more obviously in need as the weather cools and the healthy animals begin to head south.

 Whether you like them or not, Geese and ducks are a big part of the fall landscape in southeastern Wisconsin. Large flocks descend on recently harvested corn fields and area lakes and streams. This is also the time of year when caring people will start to notice those unfortunate souls who get left behind due to injuries they may be suffering from.

Waterfowl poses a number of diffculties that we don't face with other types of animals. The saying goes around WINC, "they don't call them wild goose chases for nothing." Of course each situation is different, but many have the same obstacles to overcome:

• The bird spends most of its time on water where it is difficult or impossible for a human (or any other predator) to catch him.
• The bird can still run even when she does come out of the water making it easier for her to duck, dive and hide in the bushes where she’s safe from predators (us)
• The bird can still fly even though they have a debilitating leg or foot injury. They will often stay in the water which supports their weight, only coming up on land for brief periods.

The reason many of the calls we receive about waterfowl this time of year are difficult is that injuries sustained a few weeks (in some cases even a few months) ago are oftentimes unrepairable. If an injury is severe enough to keep a bird from doing what comes natural to it, namely flying, and it goes unnoticed and untreated for too long, the chance that we will be able to re-set it and coax it to heal properly is small. Due to regulations (and the inability to survive if done so) we cannot generally just amputate the injured area either. Even if we could amputate, the animal's overall health is often not good enough to ensure their survival through the process or follow-up care; and permanent placement is difficult to find if the injury area will require ongoing medical attention or care.

If you see a goose, duck or other type of water or shore bird that you think needs help please gather the following information before contacting your nearest rehabilitator.

• Where has the animal been seen most often and how near is it to water?
• What behaviors (holding out or dragging one wing, noticeably limping, unable to balance) are you witnessing that could help us pinpoint the injury?
• How close has a person walking (not a vehicle) been able to get to the animal before it responds (ie. tries to run away, dives into the water, or perhaps it can’t move at all)

With birds that aren’t yet approachable but are obviously injured the best situation would be for someone frequenting the area to offer up small tidbits of food like cracked corn, rolled oats or bird seed. This lulls the animal into a sense of security and will hopefully give that individual or one of our volunteers a better chance at getting close enough to contain the animal.

With many waterfowl species coming into season for licensed hunting please be careful when attempting to assist a bird in need. When in any area where hunting could potentially occur, always be on alert and be sure to wear bright clothing so that any potential hunters in the vicinity can see you too. If you have any questions about an animal you think needs help always contact your local rehabilitator for advice and guidance.

New Nest, Same Story

So you think you’ve found a baby bird…



photo by LMB

The first question to ask is this really a baby bird or is it a small adult bird?

The second question is what was the bird doing before you discovered it and what has it been doing since? Also note whether or not any injuries are obvious.

It may seem like baby birds are a product of spring, but here in Wisconsin we have several species of songbirds that nest later in the season and also some that nest several times throughout the season. Just because it’s July doesn’t mean baby bird season has stopped here at the Wildlife In Need Center!

So, what do you do now that you’ve found a baby bird?

Baby birds that still have lots of pink skin showing and whose feathers are soft and fuzzy or nonexistent are called nestlings. Nestlings are babies that should be in the nest but may fall out due to weather, predators, or other forces. Baby birds that don’t have any obvious injuries should first be warmed up to body temperature under a lamp, on a heating pad, or in your hand before being renested. Those that can be replaced in their original nest should be. In cases where the nest has been destroyed or is too high to reach the baby can be replaced in a substitute nest. A substitute nest can be made of a wicker basket, hanging plant basket or any plastic container with drainage holes poked into it. If using a plastic container be sure to line it with dried grasses, sticks or leaves so that it isn’t slippery. Hang your substitute nest at least 4-6 feet off the ground so it is out of easy reach of neighborhood pets and kids and within hearing distance (less than 12 feet) of the original nest. Don’t feed the baby; it should be hungry and peep because of it – that noise alerts the parents to where it is and they will feed it as well as any siblings in the nest.

Fledglings are babies that are old enough to leave the nest. They spend a couple of days hopping around the ground and making buzz flights an inch or two above the ground a foot or two at a time. That is how they learn to fly and build up their strength; activities they can’t do in a nest. Their parents continue to feed them on the ground but don’t stay with the baby at all times. Fledglings are mostly feathered, with wing feathers and at least a start of tail feathers, but may still have a bit of baby fluff here and there. Babies at this stage should be left alone and monitored from a distance.

If you have any further questions or you feel that the baby bird you’ve found may be injured please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Please Help! : Oconomowoc Duck

For the past week calls have been flooding into both the Wildlife In Need Center as well as the Oconomowoc Police Department regarding a male Mallard duck with reportedly an arrow or dart bisecting his upper neck and/or head area.

Regrettably, both those who have reported sighting the duck as well as those who have gone to the area in efforts to help the duck have not had luck in getting close enough to contain it to bring it in for care.

If you know anything about the incident or individual who inflicted this upon an innocent animal please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services at 612-713-5360. According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is ruled that all migratory birds and their parts (including their eggs, nests, and feathers) are completely protected. (16 U.S.C. 703, more in detail go to http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html ) Lastly, P.L. 105-312 also revised the law to permit the fine for misdemeanor convictions under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to be up to $15,000, rather than $5,000.

If you encounter the duck; try to stay calm when you move toward it. If you can get close enough the best thing to do is to gently toss a sheet or light towel over as much of him as you can. Birds are more docile when they cannot see. However, it is apparent that with his condition it may not be possible to cover the head completely. Once covered, softly tug on the edges of the sheet to cinch them together and try to nudge him into a box or container as tenderly as possible.

The Wildlife In Need Center’s office is staffed from 9AM to 5PM seven days a week including all of the summer holidays. If you have any information on this duck or are willing and able to assist in his capture please contact us at (262) 968-5075. The Wildlife In Need Center is dedicated to providing wildlife rehabilitation to Wisconsin wildlife with the intent to release back to their native habitat, conduct research designed to further the positive impact of rehabilitation, and provide quality community education programs and services. On Monday, June 27th, the new Wildlife In Need Center will be open for business at its new location at W349 S1480 Suite B South Waterville Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Thank you for caring!

 

Guest Blogger L.M.B.