Swift bird

Kenj

Free Member
Posts
83
Likes
183
Out side today in Cambridge came across a swift unable to fly beak open I thought the heat had brought it down picked it up and placed it in the shade in garden tried to give it a drink no joy cotton wool stick and it started to drink sitting un held on my hand. Tried to fly but could not placed it in a cardboard box for a few hours tried to find what they eat no joy any one got ideas what to feed Tried phoning for Some organisation that look after Swifts these birds feed on the wing and get there water of what they eat any help on what to do would be grateful I think its a fletching.
 

Attachments

  • 6402FB22-2D77-4A51-9513-FF15231A6EE6.jpeg
    6402FB22-2D77-4A51-9513-FF15231A6EE6.jpeg
    490.3 KB · Views: 127
When in flight they r catching flies I believe they find taking off from ground level difficult Near us they drink from lake by dipping up water while low flying over it
Just enlarged you pic that appears to be a baby one
 
2cv that might help try and find food tomorrow
Witzend thought it was a young one don't know what I have my let self in fore but could not leave it on the road with its beak wid open as if it was pant-in like a dog
 
Kenj said:
Out side today in Cambridge came across a swift unable to fly beak open I thought the heat had brought it down picked it up and placed it in the shade in garden tried to give it a drink no joy cotton wool stick and it started to drink sitting un held on my hand. Tried to fly but could not placed it in a cardboard box for a few hours tried to find what they eat no joy any one got ideas what to feed Tried phoning for Some organisation that look after Swifts these birds feed on the wing and get there water of what they eat any help on what to do would be grateful I think its a fletching.
Click to expand...
RSPB ?
 
Kenj said:
Out side today in Cambridge came across a swift unable to fly beak open I thought the heat had brought it down picked it up and placed it in the shade in garden tried to give it a drink no joy cotton wool stick and it started to drink sitting un held on my hand. Tried to fly but could not placed it in a cardboard box for a few hours tried to find what they eat no joy any one got ideas what to feed Tried phoning for Some organisation that look after Swifts these birds feed on the wing and get there water of what they eat any help on what to do would be grateful I think its a fletching.
Click to expand...
I got a swift from a neighbours roof as it was tangled in some rope apparently they can’t just fly off and you have to just lift it as if you are going to throw it up (so I was told) and it did work for me and not if it was hurt (naturally)
 
After a quiet night checked it was ok tried giving it a drink with cotton but did not drink much. I read they cannot take off from the ground went upstairs and it was sitting on my flat hand looking about spread its wings and did not fly, now taking it to a vet.they say they have had birds before.
 
Last edited:
The Swift must be one of the hardest birds to look after most other birds you can feed and give fresh water but Swifts feed in flight found out you must not handle them until you wash your hands or wear gloves.I am no expert just had to surf the net to find things out if I found another I would no what to do,
 
I find if you hold them by the head then give a quick flick of the wrist it’s over in a heartbeat. Sounds cruel but it’s the humane thing to do.
Good luck but nature should have been left to take its course. You’ve done a hungry hawk out of an easy meal😞
 
Another bird story:

Couple of days ago, at the other house a cat got hold of a pigeon and it appeared to have damaged it's wing. Thought I would give the bird a chance to recover so I popped it onto the work bench in the shed and left the door open. After a couple of hours I spotted another pigeon hanging around the entrance of the shed then it walked in. After 10 minutes or so both the pigeons walked out. I thought that's kind of cute, the male sought out it's mate.
Next minute the male mounts the female and starts bonking it!
Neither bird seemed in a rush to leave the garden so I went out, the male flew, the female couldn't. Decided to grab it and despatch it whilst thinking pigeon breast for tea, unfortunately, it made a dash for the brambles and I couldn't get to it.
Yesterday there was a distinct smell of rot so can only assume it had died. Starved to death or dehydration possibly?
Pity I was too slow!
 
izwozral said:
Another bird story:

Couple of days ago, at the other house a cat got hold of a pigeon and it appeared to have damaged it's wing. Thought I would give the bird a chance to recover so I popped it onto the work bench in the shed and left the door open. After a couple of hours I spotted another pigeon hanging around the entrance of the shed then it walked in. After 10 minutes or so both the pigeons walked out. I thought that's kind of cute, the male sought out it's mate.
Next minute the male mounts the female and starts bonking it!
Neither bird seemed in a rush to leave the garden so I went out, the male flew, the female couldn't. Decided to grab it and despatch it whilst thinking pigeon breast for tea, unfortunately, it made a dash for the brambles and I couldn't get to it.
Yesterday there was a distinct smell of rot so can only assume it had died. Starved to death or dehydration possibly?
Pity I was too slow!
Click to expand...
STD ?
 
caledonia said:
I find if you hold them by the head then give a quick flick of the wrist it’s over in a heartbeat. Sounds cruel but it’s the humane thing to do.
Good luck but nature should have been left to take its course. You’ve done a hungry hawk out of an easy meal😞
Click to expand...
You can take the man out of Bonnyrigg, but you cannae take Bonnyrigg oot the man 😂
 
Last edited:
The swift population is now on the red list of endangered birds and numbers have dropped by 65% over the last 25 years.

So for me the rescue of any swift is worth trying.

The raptors can always get something else to eat. Pheasant and grouse chicks maybe? Plenty up on the Scottish shooting estates. That's if the dodgier gamekeepers don't poison or trap them. Queen's estates are know to be pretty iffy in that respect.
 
mariesnowgoose said:
The swift population is now on the red list of endangered birds and numbers have dropped by 65% over the last 25 years.

So for me the rescue of any swift is worth trying.

The raptors can always get something else to eat. Pheasant and grouse chicks maybe? Plenty up on the Scottish shooting estates. That's if the dodgier gamekeepers don't poison or trap them.
Click to expand...

Or nice plump Chickens?
 
mariesnowgoose said:
The swift population is now on the red list of endangered birds and numbers have dropped by 65% over the last 25 years.

So for me the rescue of any swift is worth trying.

The raptors can always get something else to eat. Pheasant and grouse chicks maybe? Plenty up on the Scottish shooting estates. That's if the dodgier gamekeepers don't poison or trap them. Queen's estates are know to be pretty iffy in that respect.
Click to expand...
I totally agree if a bird can be given a wee helping hand to get back in the air great but sometimes your better not prolonging things. We often get birds hitting the glass on our porch and a couple of weeks ago my misses walked around with a Nuthatch for a couple of hours till it eventually flew off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top