I need help from the rehab people on the list. Is there some way to
protect birds that are momentarily stunned by impacting on windows from
being eaten. I feed birds in my yard and about once, a bird (ususally House
Finches, American Goldfinch, or Pine Siskin) slams into my front window.
Most birds give it a glancing blow and fly off. A few are killed instantly
and they are donated to the museum here at WSU to go into the collection.
However, a significant number are too stunned to fly but some have
recovered. Usually I put them in a tree to keep them from the cats, then
keep an eye on them the best I can. They usually disappear within half an
hour. I have always assumed they flew away but yesterday I started to doubt it.
About 1000 PST, I heard the sickening thud and raced outside to get
to the bird before a cat did. It was an American Goldfinch. It was still
alive but was relatively unresponsive. I picked it up and held it in my
hand to keep it warm. It seemed to perk up a bit and I tried to put it in
the tree but it wouldn't grab the branch so I set it on top of the bird
feeder. I went back in the house and tried to keep an eye on it. I saw a
Black-billed Magpie fly into the yard and before I could get outside to
scare it away, the magpie grabbed the goldfinch in its bill and flew off. I
felt really sad that the goldfinch died anyway.
I was wondering if there was something I could keep them in,
temporarily, until they revive enough to fly away. Should I keep them in a
bird cage, box or what. Should I leave them outside or bring them inside.
Please respond to me personally.

Thanks


Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu