Post by Gord on Dec 30, 2008 15:07:26 GMT -8
Last week at Island 22 I encountered this Red-breasted Sapsucker half frozen in the snow. I guess the extended cold weather was too much. 
I gathered him or her up and headed to the bird store to get some suet. It was too weak to put up much of a fight but clung under my coat in a fluffy ball.
I gave him small pieces of suet and some sugar water. The sugar water helps give some energy to get going again. He then came home in a small box.
At home, we fed him some more and then I made him a box. He was already stronger and more active. I got a couple pieces of firewood and drilled shallow holes in them which I then smeared some suet. I tied them upright in the box. I wanted to mimic its natural perches and way of feeding.
After a couple small meals before bed we left it to rest in the garage which was warmer than the outside but not as warm as the house. I didnt want to shock it with extremes in temperature. In the morning, Christmas Eve, it was even more active and bright. He would even drink from the syringe of sugar water himself. That tongue is something else! Then a decision had to be made on what to do. I would have rathered the weather to have warmed more and not to be snowing. But on the other hand, the bird had recovered nicely and was not happy in a box especially for a couple more days. Such a balancing act. We finally decided that it would be best to let him go. He survived most of the really cold weather and we hoped that with a second chance and a full stomach he would make it.
A close up prior to release. That beak does not have much of a pinch, but when he starts to hammer on your finger, OUCH!!!
A series of shots from the release. He took off quite strongly and happily landed on the trunk of the tree where I had put the last of the suet. I hope he would find it and use it.
Nice when these things have a happy ending!
I gathered him or her up and headed to the bird store to get some suet. It was too weak to put up much of a fight but clung under my coat in a fluffy ball.
I gave him small pieces of suet and some sugar water. The sugar water helps give some energy to get going again. He then came home in a small box.
At home, we fed him some more and then I made him a box. He was already stronger and more active. I got a couple pieces of firewood and drilled shallow holes in them which I then smeared some suet. I tied them upright in the box. I wanted to mimic its natural perches and way of feeding.
After a couple small meals before bed we left it to rest in the garage which was warmer than the outside but not as warm as the house. I didnt want to shock it with extremes in temperature. In the morning, Christmas Eve, it was even more active and bright. He would even drink from the syringe of sugar water himself. That tongue is something else! Then a decision had to be made on what to do. I would have rathered the weather to have warmed more and not to be snowing. But on the other hand, the bird had recovered nicely and was not happy in a box especially for a couple more days. Such a balancing act. We finally decided that it would be best to let him go. He survived most of the really cold weather and we hoped that with a second chance and a full stomach he would make it.
A close up prior to release. That beak does not have much of a pinch, but when he starts to hammer on your finger, OUCH!!!
A series of shots from the release. He took off quite strongly and happily landed on the trunk of the tree where I had put the last of the suet. I hope he would find it and use it.
Nice when these things have a happy ending!
