Injured Baby Sparrow

Hi All,

My neighbor today found a baby bird dangling from it's nest. It appears that the sparrow was old enough to finally fly on it's own, as it's parents and siblings are gone, but it was caught in it's own nest, and was dangling from it's little feet!

The one foot had probably five or six inches of nest crap on it's one ankle. I was able to cut off a lot of it, but the entire foot is long dead from the ankle down. It's not bleeding, and it's all black and hard and nasty. The other foot just has an injured toe, but the bird can actually stand on it's good foot, so I think it will live if given the chance to heal a bit. I just don't know how to care for it on my own. I've got it in a box with holes poked in it, sitting on paper towels (and s/he was kind enough to poop on me) with some seed and worms and water.

Anyway, I've spent the last hour (or more) on the phone trying to call wildlife places. There is a place in Wyckoff, New Jersey in Bergen County that we will be taking her to in the morning, but if they can't take her, or even HINT at putting her down, we'll keep her and drive two hours tomorrow to another rehabilitator who offered to take her in and keep her alive (gods/goddesses willing of course).

If anyone knows how to take care of wild birds, as she (she feels like a she to me) will be staying the night here, I would appreciate any and all advice... aimee@thelandofmyr.com

Also, if anyone knows of any bird rehabilitators in the area (or just NJ in general, gods know I'll drive to save her life) please let me know as well. Thank you.

And the bird, I'm sure, could use your thoughts and prayers.

(P.S. This was written last night, but only posted here today.)

[Christi]

Poor little thing! It sounds like it needs to be amputated or it could cause blood poisoning and kill her. I do hope you are able to find someone to help. Please keep us updated.

Hi All,

Well, ****it. I tried my ****dest to save this little baby sparrow. But she left us within the past hour. I hope her next time out of the nest is not so cruel.

She drank for me last night, this morning, and this afternoon. At a friend's direction, I had soaked some bread in water, and she took small pecks at that. She also pecked at a waxworm. Her eyes were bright, the bleeding had stopped in her toe, both wings worked, and she could stand well on her one good leg. I was very hopeful. I called several places last night and today. The ones who, without even seeing her, had said she should be put down I ignored. And finally I found a lady who has a wildlife rehab within thirty minutes of me who said she would take her in, and had high hopes since both wings and one leg worked. So tomorrow I was to take her there. We figured the birdie would need to learn to fly and eat on her own, but would be okay.

Oh well. I did try. I would have kept her too if no one would take her.

Fare thee well Little Sparrow...

Thank you to those who responded to help me. I appreciate it.

[Christi]

Aw, I'm so sorry to hear that. You did a good thing.

[Sassy]

I am sorry to hear that you lost the little one.