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Posted on September 6, 2009 in Life, the Universe and Everything, Oddities, Wildlife by Jay24 Comments »

The other day, OH looked out of the window and saw this collared dove on the bird feeder.

Well, it’s not unusual. There are three collared doves that feed here on a daily basis, but this one looked a bit ruffled so he called me over and asked me if it was alright.

Clearly, the poor thing is not alright at all.

In fact, he seems to have been involved in an accident.

I thought at first perhaps he’d flown into the window and broken a few feathers (these doves are not the brightest birds on the planet and quite regularly clunk into our windows), but it’s worse than that.

He’s not only bent a few feathers, but he’s broken his beak, poor thing. What’s more, he has a bald patch on his head and his eyes look a bit wonky, so I’m guessing he hit a car, or vice versa.

I tried to catch him to take him up to the Exotic Pet Refuge because they will take wildlife too, but he wasn’t having any, so I had no option but to put more food out and watch. He’s managing, for now, because he can clearly fly, and he can also eat, and he’s now been hanging around doing both for several days.

But I’m wondering how he’ll fare this winter.

Good luck, little bird!

24 Responses to “Will he live, do you think?”

on 06 Sep 2009 at 1:06 pm1Baino

Jay you’d be surprised. If he can fly and eat, he’ll be fine. Although if you can catch him, a vet might be able to trim the beak so that it grows straight.

I had a single White Winged Chuff here all winter. He flew, but badly and these large chicken-like birds hang around in groups of a dozen or so. Not my little man. Clearly his mob had left him to his own devices. I didn’t feed him but he managed to forage and whatever was wrong with his wing and legs seems to have resolved and he’s back with the group now. I agree though, wild doves of many varieties are not high on the intelligence rankings!
on 06 Sep 2009 at 4:37 pm2babs - beetle

Oh what a poor birdie! I hope he gets stronger so he can cope in the winter. My guess is that if he’s flying and eating he should survive. Still I hate seeing any little creatures injured.
on 06 Sep 2009 at 6:09 pm3Sistertex - Spacial Peepol

He certainly rung his bell somehow. I’d say he will probably come around, except not sure about the broken beak.

Nice of you to give him some care, that should surely help him out. It is a little ways until winter yet so hopefully he will have plenty of time to mend.
on 06 Sep 2009 at 6:10 pm4Sistertex - Spacial Peepol

With his beak broken he must have smacked something head-on, you think? Maybe he flew full speed into a window.
on 06 Sep 2009 at 6:36 pm5Carolina

Oh hi, could you not have posted something more cheerful for my first visit to you since I’m back?
Poor bird. Although if he can fly and eat he will hopefully be allright. Perhaps he (or she) will stay around your place. That would be a smart move.
on 06 Sep 2009 at 10:09 pm6Jay

Baino – I’m glad to hear your Chough survived and was accepted back into the flock!

If I can catch him, I will take him to be looked at. If someone can straighten the beak as it heals, he will have a better chance.

Babs – Me too. I hope you’re right and he’ll be OK. I tend to think so, too. Fingers crossed!

Sistertex – He did, didn’t he? I don’t think it was a window. I might be wrong, but the damage looks too severe. I know they can break their necks, but … this looks more like a glancing blow, with the bird being knocked out of the way. What do you think?

I hope he’ll keep coming around for the free food. It might help him get by.

Carolina – Hey, nice to see you!

Sorry it’s a bit of a downer. Go back in the archives a bit, I’m sure you’ll find something more cheerful that you missed!
on 07 Sep 2009 at 3:25 am7sandi mcbride

Perhaps these folk at the sanctuary could help get him safely to safety? How wonderful for you to care…it reminds me of my grandmother’s favorite hymn…His Eye is on the sparrow…so I know He watches me.
Sandi
on 07 Sep 2009 at 4:28 am8Grace and Bradley

Poor bird, she was lucky that you have show kindness to it. Hope it will recover.
on 07 Sep 2009 at 9:40 am9ethelmaepotter

Your love for creatures great and small has never been more obvious. Jay, you’re an absolute treasure!
on 07 Sep 2009 at 9:43 am10Maggie May

Poor thing! I see quite a few damaged pigeons where I live. usually with damaged feet.
I once tried to catch a poor frightened pigeon with loads of wire and hanging debris from his feet. Couldn’t do it. Too quick for me.
Congratulations on POTD. Came over from David’s.
on 07 Sep 2009 at 11:33 am11shrinky

Poor little fella’, lets hope he stays close to your garden where he will have the food and shelter he needs. We have an injured duck in a similar pickle, hubby took it upon himself to drive to her pond when he could to feed her – he discovered her when he took Sam out one day, but Sam long since lost interest, so Al went out there on his own. He fretted that as he is away every other week, she may not survive. She then hopped in the car with him last week, so he closed the door and took her home. She is happily swimming in our river now, with all our other ducks. Smile.
on 07 Sep 2009 at 11:45 am12sandy

pictures are superbly showing the problem- we’ll send him out into the universe with our blessings and I guess natural selection and providence will do the rest..
on 07 Sep 2009 at 1:24 pm13secret agent woman

Here via authorblog.

Birds are hardy creatures, if he can fly and walk and eat, it’s likely he’ll do fine.

This post is a nice synchronicity for me – my most recent post is about an eagle and I just watched a big flock of Canada geese go honking gover my house.
on 07 Sep 2009 at 1:58 pm14Alixandra Hice

Gosh that’s a pretty bird – minus the bent feathers and broken beak, of course. And he’s much luckier than the duck that lived for years with an arrow protruding squarely through his neck. Kind of amazing how wildlife adapts to the hardest lessons. I’m sure that dove’s appetite is the biggest indicator that he’s on the mend. I hope you see a lot of him.

Congratulations on your POTD mention.
on 07 Sep 2009 at 3:24 pm15Kate

Bless him – but he did come to the right place didn’t he?? You will see him right
on 07 Sep 2009 at 4:20 pm16meredith

Poor bird. I can’t bear to see a little creature sufferng. Congrats on pOTD mention !
on 07 Sep 2009 at 9:24 pm17Jay

Sandi – They don’t have any special resources, sadly. It’s up to me to catch him if I can – and I will keep trying! Thanks!

Grace and Bradley – Thank you – we’ll do our best to make sure he’s fed, at least!

Ethel Mae Potter – You are very kind. It’s true, I love them all, so that being the case, how could I fail to be concerned?

Maggie May – Thank you! I didn’t know about POTD until I came in here to answer my comments!

We see pigeons with damaged feet, too – I think it’s a type of staph infection that they get. Their toes drop off.

Shrinky – Oh, poor duck! Yes, it is amazing, isn’t it? I have heard of one-legged pigeons and pigeons unable to fly surviving for years in town centres where food was plentiful.

Sandy – Thank you, Sandy – you are sweet!

Secret Agent Woman – I hope so! Fingers crossed.

I liked your Eagle post! Sweet and funny!

Alixandra Hice – Good grief! An arrow?? Poor little thing! Could no-one catch him?

And thanks for the congratulations! I am certainly honoured!

Kate – We’ll do our best, Kate!

Meredith – Thank you!

I hate to see them suffering, too, but I keep watching out for him. It’s good to know he’s still around.
on 08 Sep 2009 at 12:41 am18Maureen

Aw, poor thing. I have quite the history of having injured or lost animals make their way to my yard. I do hope he/she is okay.
on 08 Sep 2009 at 7:20 am19Merisi

I came over here from David: Congrats on Post of the Day!

I hope this poor bird can nurse himself back to health with your kind help.
on 08 Sep 2009 at 7:02 pm20brian miller

congrats on the POTD. i think he is in just the right hands now…
brian miller´s last blog ..Hard Court Dreams
on 10 Sep 2009 at 9:31 am21Jay

Maureen – It’s funny how the injured ones often seem to find people who care, isn’t it?

Merisi and Brian Miller – Thank you!

I will do my best to help him!
on 23 Sep 2009 at 2:00 pm22Danielle

Hi everyone…

I just stumbled upon this site, I hope I’m not intruding too much. A morning dove flew into our window this morning. He can’t fly and he seems to have hurt his beak. He is alert and can walk around fine. I have him in a cage right now because there are cats roaming around and I am afraid for his safety. What do I do???
on 24 Sep 2009 at 12:37 am23Jay

Hello Danielle -

Poor thing. You might find that he perks up after a while having rested, but if you have a wildlife centre or refuge near you, it might be better to ring them and see if they’ll take him on. People who are used to dealing with wild birds seem to have a better chance of rehabilitating them.

I’m guessing you’re in the US? This site has a list of wildlife centres and advice for caring for injured birds. You could try them?
on 05 Oct 2009 at 3:05 am24Danielle

thanks Jay..

I got in contact with a wildlife rehab. It was at an individual’s house. She took the dove in and cared for her for a week. Apparently the dove developed avian pox and passed the other night. She had a fractured beak and was being tube fed so I’m glad I didn’t leave her out there or she would have starved. Still sad though, poor thing.