Baby bird needs help

[packleader]

I changed the oil on my wife's car and did not immediately dispose of the oil in the oil pan. An hour later I saw a baby bird (sparrow?) swimming in the oil. My wife and I washed it in water with Dawn liquid soap and dried it up. It's now inside an old bird cage from my children. I gave it water and wild bird seeds that we have for our bird feeder. I just checked the baby at dusk. After six hours it's still alive. What else can we do?

 

[Jace]

I changed the oil on my wife's car and did not immediately dispose of the oil in the oil pan. An hour later I saw a baby bird (sparrow?) swimming in the oil. My wife and I washed it in water with Dawn liquid soap and dried it up. It's now inside an 35-year old bird cage from my children. I gave it water and wild bird seeds that we have for our bird feeder. I just checked the baby at dusk. After six hours it's still alive. What else can we do?

View attachment 299748View attachment 299750

You did good

 

[Ruthanne]

Keep it warm.

 

[jimintoronto]

Keep it warm.

Thats funny......They live in California. JimB.

 

[Remy]

Call animal control for advice. You may have to wait until Monday.

 

[oldaunt]

Watch carefully to make sure it is actually eating and drinking. If not, it will need to be hand fed. Looks like most of what you are offering might be too large. Hard to tell, being that ragged, but I would say that isn't a sparrow beak. They are usually blunter and more curved.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

From what I understand baby birds don't do well when away from mom. I'd try to get the number for someone with knowledge on how to keep a chick alive. I know there's expert people who do take in birds to nurse them. I have no idea how to reach them.

 

[oldaunt]

I have raised a few, but you need to know the kind of bird to know how to handle it. Not all are seed eaters.

 

[Jace]

Update...how's it?

 

[Chet]

I think you need a better picture to help identify it, especially a profile with the feathers dry. Then you would know more about it.

 

[Ruthanne]

Thats funny......They live in California. JimB.

I mean with possibly a heat lamp on the aquarium.

 

[Avon]

Having filled its gut with burning contaminated oil, it might have been kinder to have hit it on the head.

 

[debodun]

Someone mentioned this - call a wildlife rehab person. I found this, if it's any help:

Wildlife Care of Southern California

 

[packleader]

Someone mentioned this - call a wildlife rehab person. I found this, if it's any help:

Wildlife Care of Southern Califor

Thank you very much but (a) Ventura is 2 hours to drive without the usual stop-n-go Los Angeles, and (b) the baby regettably died after 2 days. It probably was too young to survive.

 

[oldaunt]

Thank you very much but (a) Ventura is 2 hours to drive without the usual stop-n-go Los Angeles, and (b) the baby regettably died after 2 days. It probably was too young to survive.

More likely too damaged. It looked fledged enough to do well otherwise., just days from flight.

 

[Jamala]

Thank you very much but (a) Ventura is 2 hours to drive without the usual stop-n-go Los Angeles, and (b) the baby regettably died after 2 days. It probably was too young to survive.

I only just saw this thread... however... when a bird is covered with oil, it is important not to wash it immediately. The bird could freeze to death.

Best to wipe off some of the oil, feed it through a tube and then when it has some strength, then bathe it after a day or two or better yet speak to an expert on birds.