On Tue, 14 May 1996, Peggi Rodgers wrote:
> Don't forget, if you find a shorebird or waterfowl that is still downey and
> abandoned, you will need to get it to a rehab center. They suffer from
> hypothermia quite easily and do not recognize predators until about three
> weeks of age. They are especially vulnerable in this lousy, wet weather.

(Soapbox, please):

NO NO NO. In 99.9% of the cases, the best thing to do is leave it alone.
And unless you have personally witnessed the death of both parents, then
it's unlikely that you need to interfere with nature (though I should
qualify this by saying that keeping the cat inside is not interfering with
nature!). And in my own personal opinion, I wouldn't even interfere if I
did see both parents get killed. That happens in nature. Life is brutal.
Predators have to eat too. Perhaps if you've witnessed the death of a
pair of Whooping Cranes, then it might be justified. Otherwise I don't
think so.

Peggi, don't take this as a personal attack, I certainly don't mean it
that way. But what justification is there for doing what you suggest
above? I can't think of a quicker way to kill baby birds than to
interfere with their natural growth and development. I think that under
almost *no* circumstances should you ever bring a baby bird to a rehabber.
Even with precocial birds that are susceptible to hypothermia as you
suggest. Chances are high that your (not you personally, but any human
presence) presence in the area is the reason the bird was alone in the
first place, and that the adult is nearby anxiously awaiting your
departure. Baby shorebirds are not just left to fend for themselves when
they are still susceptible to hypothermia, the parents brood them for
several days *after* leaving the nest. I don't know much about ducks, but
I imagine it's the same. The bottom line is this, though: Consider that
for millions of years, these baby birds have managed to do fine without
rehabbers. How is it all of a sudden in the last 100 or so years they all
need to be saved? Your best bet is to leave them alone, keep the cat
inside, etc.

I must also say I flew off the wall last spring when I heard on the radio
a PAWS advertisement encouraging people to bring baby birds in to
rehabbers. I'm sorry, but that pretty much substantiates my low level of
respect for PAWS.

-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html2222