Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 09:35:57 -0800
From: Streiffert <streif at televar.com>
Kristi wrote -

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Compassionate, yet Realistic Tweeters:
I have a friend in nearby Electric City who wants to know: "Should I let
nature take it's course, or is there anything I can do to help?" She's
had a cedar waxwing in her yard for two days that does not seem to be
able to fly. They moved it to cover last night, but today found it
under attack by a magpie. So she put it in a bucket and brought it
inside. It has no symptoms, no drooping wing or anything, and it seems
"small" to her. Suggestions?
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Waxwings are one of the best cage birds around, by that I mean that
they rehabilitate well in bird cages. They are docile by nature and
do not throw themselves at the sides of the cage as do other birds.
If the choice is between letting the bird die and rehabilitation,
then by all means try the bird cage method. Please try phoning the
local "bird hospital" first though. Even if they are unable to care
for it, they may be able to offer advice on proper feeding methods.
I imagine lots of fruit and a little bit of meat should do the trick.
A cousin of mine kept an injured waxwing for a long time before it
was well enough to be released. He almost refused to let it go since
he had become very attached to the bird.

- Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca