A Morning Surprise

Over breakfast this morning, Jacob (my nearly 14-year-old brother) said that a bird had just smacked into the window and injured itself. I thought he was just tesing and making me rush outside to find nothing, but when my mum did check out there, she said there was a tiny bird on the floor. Jacob had a look and told me it was a Goldfinch. I thought, Goldfinches are not tiny, and right I was. When I took a look, a juvenile Blue Tit lay in a box, looking dazed. And Jacob says he knows more about birds than me! Spends too much time on the XBox 360, I think! Ha-Ha.

The Injured Tit

But thankfully the inexperienced young Tit was okay. Just as my dad was finding the phone number of the local bird rescue, the bird let out a high-pitched typical Tit ptwee call and and tok off. With a few determined flaps of effort from the wee birdie's tiny wings, it was up and away in no time. If you do find an injured bird, here are some tips on what you can do:

• Gently scoop up the 'victim' and place in a shallow, bedding (hay, straw, wood-shavings, sawdust, shredded paper) filled box of tub and leave outside uncovered for about 45 minutes.
• If the bird has not rcovered by then, bring it inside in its box and keep in the dark and warmth (in the airing-cupboard for example) phone an RSPB-reccomended wild bird rescue such as the world's leading animal hospital, TiggyWinkles, tel: 01844 292292 web:www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk. An expert will come and collect the bird.
• Take a peep at this:

Caring for a Wild Bird that Cannot Fly in 7 Steps

1. Avoid stressing the bird further by eliminating any distractions. If you have other animals, or children keep them away so as not to harm the bird
2. Contact a wildlife rehab centre. Your vet may be able to tell you the telephone number of a suitable rescue or rehab centre. If the bird is properly injured your vet may treat wild animals or have the phone number and address of a rescue centre. Some domestic animal rescue centres have their own wildlife clinic away from the domestic animals. 
3. Approach the bird slowly and drop a towel gently over top of it. Have patience. If you cannot come close enough to the bird to do this, do not chase it. Use a towel that will not unravel. The birds nails can easily get caught in towels that are terry cloth or have loops in the fiber.
4. Scoop up the bird in the towel and very gently place it into the box, towel and all. Secure the box with tape, being sure that there is enough air circulation for the bird to breathe. Keep the box in a dark, warm area where there are no loud noises. You can keep a heating pad on low under one half of the box. If you have to take the bird in yourself to the rehab center, do not have a radio on in your vehicle- noises will frighten the bird.
5. Do not attempt to feed the bird or perform any first aid. Birds are very easily stressed by handling and need an experienced veterinarian to care for them.
6. Deliver the bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation professional or a veterinarian who is willing to accept the bird. It is illegal (in the USA) for unlicensed individuals to possess any wild bird for any reason beyond overnight care before transporting to a rehabilitation site. Birds have diverse requirements for diet, care and wild birds do not adapt well to captivity.
7. Ask the rehabilitation expert if you can release the bird if he is able to get well again. Often birds should be released near where they were found. That is the best reward for the kindness of rescuing an injured bird!