Injured bird

On Sunday morning I found an injured bird in my backyard. It was unable to fly, so after a while I brought it into the house, because there are plenty of mongooses and jackals in the campus I live in. I was told that it is a barbet. It's been eating mashed ripe mango, and has had some water which I had to give with a small spoon or a dropper.

Yesterday we took it to a vet. He didn't know much about wild birds, but said that there is probably some internal injury. He said there are some minor injuries outside, and asked me to apply some antiseptic ointment. He prescribed a painkiller, and an antibiotic, which we've been giving with a dropper.

One thing which bothers me is that it is not making any sounds. It seems alert and okay enough. When I leave it outside, it tries to fly, but is unable to take off.

Any help or suggestions about feeding, diagnosis, or treatment appreciated. Attached are some pictures.

Raghu.

Bump !

I have no idea about treatment for this injured bird, but I hope someone else will have something useful to say.

[ Fantastic quote from Chomsky. ]

Contact Nilesh from PAWS, they have lots of experience with bird rescues. See: http://pawsasia.wordpress.com/

all i can do hope for best .....my goodwishes with you dear

Please keep us updated on the birds health! Get well soon birdie
There is a thread called which bird is this

And I think Mridula is a big bird lover (just a guess) and she might be help you with what can be done. (not saying the vet was not good but maybe she has something up her sleeve)

I remember using a filler as in 'ink filler' (ofcourse a new one and not used before) to feed the bird with some drops of water! The summer heat could also take a toll on the bird's health.

Something I found about this bird on wikipedia - The Brown-headed Barbet is a resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka. It is an arboreal species of gardens and wooded country which eats fruit and insects. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-4 eggs. The bird is largely frugivorous on mangos, ripe jack, papaya, banana, figs and similar cultivated fruit trees. Its habitat includes urban and country gardens though it tends to eschew heavy forest.

BTW, I am very happy to see that you took interest in helping this bird.

If you can try to offer it some fruits may be it would eat something! Hope it gets well soon.

It is a grey headed barbet, I think a juvenile.

From my limited knowledge, a bird with internal injuries tends to die really quickly so if it is still alive it is probably just external damage.

Not making any sounds is quite normal for an animal that is injured as in the wild it would not want to draw attention to itself in this weak state (same with dogs). As it becomes more comfortable, gets out of shock it may produce a few notes.

If its wing is damaged is should be kept in a cage with as little movement as possible as, bones heal quickest with cage rest. In any case you do not want it to fly before it is fully recovered.

So for the moment I would suggest you keep feeding it a variety of fruits and seeds. In the meantime try to get hold of Nilesh from PAWS.

If you contact him make sure you let him know what painkillers and antibiotics you are giving.

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If you like to take care of it, find a birdcage. It eats fruits and insects, flower petals and nectar. For nectar use sugar water and for insects use minced meat from a mutton shop.

The key is to make the bird independent so that it could be released into the wild. Do you think there is a fracture in the leg? or wings? The vet should take an xray and examine it.

There is a Jain Bird Hospital in Chandni Chowk. You could send it there.

Bikaner Bird Hospital
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I too think the legs seem fractured or maybe the bird is too ill to move them. Maybe my perception on a single picture which might be wrong.
Agree with RWeHavingFun, an Xray might help but then I am no doc.

Why not try to callup helpline for animal support in your town, am sure there are bird lovers who will guide you to the right institution.

I am a bird lover but otherwise hopeless with them, I have no tricks up my sleeve I sincerely hope the little birdy is better noew.

Well done for trying to save the bird.

My mother was a wizard with animals, but she was seldom successful with the smaller injured birds. However, if it has lived as much as a couple of days, then I think there is good hope. Partly because it hasn't just given up in fear and panic.

Most likely a case of heat and dehydration. Mix some fruit juice and pulp with Water and give it with a dropper, it should be fine in a few days time.

If it does not consume it, then condition is serious and there is nothing much you can do other than just wait and hope for the best.

Many thanks for all the replies. I am sorry for not replying earlier.

The bird died yesterday at 6:45 AM. Its condition had improved a bit since Sunday, and it ate mashed mango and banana frequently, although I had to feed it either with my finger or a small spoon. It was gaining strength, trying to hop around when I took it to the lawn outside, and trying to bite my finger with its beak. However, yesterday morning it was listless, and though it ate a bit at 6 AM, and hopped a bit on the terrace while eating mashed fruit, it again became dull soon, and started breathing with its beak open --- which I'd read on the Web was a sign of trouble. I held it, and removed the unswallowed food from its beak, but nothing helped. It soon slumped its neck, and died. I've buried it in my backyard, under a guava tree, near where I found it.

Incidentally, it was a brown-headed barbet, looking exactly like the picture of the latter in the Wikipedia.

Thanks again for the help, concern, and suggestions.

Raghu.

Damn.

It was cared for, at least. So great job, nyraghu.

Good intentioned deeds might not always give a fruitful end, but then one cannot stop doing them.
You did the best you could.