I doubt swift will eat them, they are not like sparrows, their diet is more similar to the swallows - more than half of swift's prey are hymenoptera, then small beetles, flies and small butterflies. They spend almost their entire life in the air and that's where you need to find food for them. I'd go to the nearest park with small ponds, streams etc and catch the insects like flies, mosquitoes etc with butterfly net or sth similar.
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Found a baby bird. ID needed
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sciencefiction
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It was in the middle of a busy street, probably fell of the nest of the buildings on it. I read the parents of common swifts never take them back and it's often they fall out of nests and need hand rearing. To be honest, the moment I took it I didn't know anything, not even what type of bird. I was carrying 2 plastic bags with my shopping and my dog, so it was a quick decision, or lack of.... I probably should have left it to nature as I'll only watch it die.
I thought of the reptile section, what am I looking for there? The maggots were a youtube idea. I know not the best idea but better than fish food. 🙄
I thought of the reptile section, what am I looking for there? The maggots were a youtube idea. I know not the best idea but better than fish food. 🙄
sciencefiction
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It has no feathers around it's neck and under the wings. To me it looks rather weak still to be able to fly. It is way smaller than how it look in the zoomed pictures I posted.
sciencefiction
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Thanks for that. I had read about the cat food and dog food but no explanation why anywhere. My guess is too much carbs/grains in those and wrong type of protein and fat? I need to get crickets is what I am reading. And I don't even know if it will make it to this evening. It's very weak.
As @Simon Cole said, I think you should call these guys for advice. https://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/
in the wild, baby birds eat little and often, it’s imperative that that it gets the right food if it is to survive, experimenting with isn’t going to help this animal and this now seems to have been going on for 24hrs.
in the wild, baby birds eat little and often, it’s imperative that that it gets the right food if it is to survive, experimenting with isn’t going to help this animal and this now seems to have been going on for 24hrs.
Hi all,
The normal advice for any swift is to re-launch (throw it up) and then hopefully it will fly away.
cheers Darrel
They can't take -off from the floor, so they leave the nest fully fledged and don't land again at all until they are ready to breed after several years away.
The normal advice for any swift is to re-launch (throw it up) and then hopefully it will fly away.
cheers Darrel
Simon Cole
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Keep it warm. They use maggots for all chicks at St Tiggiwinkles IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUTUBE IDEAS. Talk to them and they will tell you why cat food etc. kills young chicks. You need to hand it over or notify the correct authorities. It is a legal matter. Posting about cat, dog and reptile food is quite infuriating. It is not your pet and you should hand it over. The RSPCA will intervene because you cannot look after it's welfare.
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sciencefiction
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What am I supposed to do on Saturday evening and Sunday during a coronavirus crisis? This animal would have been dead by now if I hadn't picked it up. I sent an email to the only bird rescue Ireland I found, still no answer. Does anyone know a contact that might help?
I read about the food. There is info on right diet, crickets advised mainly for hand rearing but I won't be able to get them locally. Closest place is 3 hours drive. Today is Sunday, no chance I can go. The other place is amazon, dried ones but lately it's been taking weeks for delivery of anything. The one reptile shop was out of stock of crickets.
So the bird is doomed really diet wise unless I get the right stuff soon...
I don't think it's fully fledged. I held it several times in an open hand, including when I picked it up from the street, it just crawls back and forth, would not fly off. They apparently can't take off from the ground because of the length of the wings. However, this is a tiny bird still. Wings are max 9cm
I can order crickets from amazon. Any other ideas in the mean time? I live in a city, right in the city centre, not like I can go catch insects easily. I have no garden.
Hand it over to whom? I don't want a pet bird. RSPCA Ireland? I could not find such a thing. I called ISPCA in Ireland...."Thank you for calling, the helpline is currently closed"...
sciencefiction
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I had read about both cat and dog food being unsuitable already, before I fed the bird it's first meal. For the same reasons it is not suitable for fish either, wrong proteins and fat, hence I thought the fish food is a better option. It's probably not suitable either but it's rich in water insects, vitamins, garlic, low on carbs, etc.. The bird is alive, eats a bit and defecates after eating. It's in its nest and was strong enough to try to crawl backwards when I was force feeding it, which is a bit better than it was this morning. I think I'll boil an egg and try that too today. In the mean time I'll order crickets too and hope for the best. I'll call the ISPCA again tomorrow.
mort
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Didn't know you were in Ireland. You have probably already seen this http://www.irishwildlifematters.ie/animals/birds.html and this http://www.swiftconservation.ie/contact-us/ but just in case.
Maybe try some spiders or something similar, they’re everywhere even in cities. Another one as mentioned would be to try maybe swatted flies or something similar. Can imagine this is probably one of the hardest fledglings to feed due to how specialised swifts are. Not like a sparrow or a pigeon that eats anything. You’re doing your best, just keep trying to find some bugs for the time being.
cheers
conor
cheers
conor
sciencefiction
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Trust me, I checked all corners for spiders 😳 We have them here of course but I can't find any today. Extra time at home, extra cleaning lately...
Thanks, there isn't a contact in my county but I sent a message to the nearest 2 on the list and I sent an e-mail explaining the situation. Hopefully someone responds soon.
sciencefiction
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Looking on that video below, mine seems to be around 20 days or so old comparing to the development of those below.
sciencefiction
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Well, good news guys.
I am just back after handing off the little swift. I got in touch with the swift rescue, from one contact to another until they got someone in my area. The lady that took it said she'll take care of it for a couple of days then drive it off to Galway to specialist swift care. She said it's quite rare to find a baby swift and also manage to get it to pull through. She said many people had said they found a swift only to bring something else so I did a great thing saving it. They said the food I gave was fine, egg yolk and even cat food in emergencies for a couple of days is ok, better than nothing.
It had perked up quite a bit just before I gave it away, walking all around its big box, and in the car it climbed out through the holes of the carry shoe box twice, so in the end it settled in my hand, super feisty little thing.
Here is my farewell video with it. Thank you all for your help.
I am just back after handing off the little swift. I got in touch with the swift rescue, from one contact to another until they got someone in my area. The lady that took it said she'll take care of it for a couple of days then drive it off to Galway to specialist swift care. She said it's quite rare to find a baby swift and also manage to get it to pull through. She said many people had said they found a swift only to bring something else so I did a great thing saving it. They said the food I gave was fine, egg yolk and even cat food in emergencies for a couple of days is ok, better than nothing.
It had perked up quite a bit just before I gave it away, walking all around its big box, and in the car it climbed out through the holes of the carry shoe box twice, so in the end it settled in my hand, super feisty little thing.
Here is my farewell video with it. Thank you all for your help.
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Well done fingers crossed for the bird.
I made an enquiry this morning on your behalf as I was near our animal shelter (GSPCA) and I was just about to report back to you that in fact soaked and mashed cat biscuits is a good emergency food and often used for many birds at the shelter.
I made an enquiry this morning on your behalf as I was near our animal shelter (GSPCA) and I was just about to report back to you that in fact soaked and mashed cat biscuits is a good emergency food and often used for many birds at the shelter.
zozo
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I knew they could stay airborne for extremely long periods,, but didn't know they can't take off from the floor... Remarkable isn't it... 🙂 Last Friday evening I was watching a small group of swifts with awe, they were soaring over an empty soccer field about a few inches from the ground hunting mosquitos I guess... Looked awesome to see them manoeuvre so close to the ground and with a remarkable speed too for quite some long distances... Little daredevils must have quite some confidence in their flying skills.. One mistake and not able to take off again.
It was actually the first time I saw them do this...
😍 Good Job!!
Simon Cole
Member
Well done - you did so well! I'm over the moon for you. Great rescue! you are a Legend my friend. 
LondonDragon
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Awesome 🙂 good effort and hopefully it will make it 🙂
Found a baby blue tit a couple years back with a broken leg and wing, and over a month managed to get it back to health and flying and was happy when I released it in the local park, had to make a food paste using bird feed granules and feed it using a syringe!! 🙂
Had an empty tank with harscape in it (only recently planted), so put a net around the glass and it was happy in there.
Found a baby blue tit a couple years back with a broken leg and wing, and over a month managed to get it back to health and flying and was happy when I released it in the local park, had to make a food paste using bird feed granules and feed it using a syringe!! 🙂
Had an empty tank with harscape in it (only recently planted), so put a net around the glass and it was happy in there.
lurcher
Member
Well done science,many wouldnt bother,you are some guy. Utmost respect to you.