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Wild Care Swifts,HummingbirdsandMice,OhMy!
WildlifeRehabof(notso)tinyproportions.Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis
ACapeCodWildlifeRehabilitationCenter
• LifeSpan–1year• Omnivorous:Eatseedsandinsects• Woodedorbrushyareas.Openfields.• HomeRange:1/3t04acres• Reproduction:Yearround,spring
throughfall• LitterSize:3-5young• Estrus:Femalemicecomeintoheat
everyfifthdayuntilimpregnated.• Gestation:21-23days(upto27)
NaturalHistory
NaturalHistory
o Weaning: Young weaned 2-3 weeks o Sexually Mature: 7-8 weeks of age,
breed the same year • Mated pairs: Breed together for a
season, may take new mates next season
• Nest: Stems, twigs, leaves, roots of grasses. May be lined with fur, feathers, cloth.
GuidelinesandProtocol
Doweacceptallbabymice?
• Mice that are pink and resemble aliens, are euthanized.
• Non-native House Mice are euthanized.
• We accept mice with a five O’clock shadow ONLY if in excellent health with well-formed eye slits.
• Peach fuzz by 5 days • Eyes Open: 12 days of age • Ears Open: 10 days of age
Dwight Kuhn - PhotoShelter
MouseFeedingUtensilsTinyUtensilsforTinyMouths
• 1cc syringe • Blunt plastic catheter (white) • Foam eye shadow applicators • 18x1 Blunt Catheter • Use a tissue or soft cloth and
make a mouse “burrito” when feeding
*Mascara wand – to clean fur
HousingandSetup
• Plastic Critter Terrariums work well. Lightweight and easy to clean and transport
• Closely knitted/crocheted nests • Cotton and Fleece linens – no
holes or frills • Heating pad under ½ cage • You can mix & match mice!
StabilizationDon’tcookyourmice!
• Warmth – provide half heat under cage or a supplemental heat source in cage
• Hydration – provide warmed unflavored Pedialyte - PO q 1-2 hours until urine is abundant and clear.
• SQ fluids in the weak or debilitated mouse – up to 10% of body weight
• Stimulate after all hydration or feedings – wet tissue or Q-tip. Clean genitals.
NutritionOverfeeding?–Never!
• Esbilac – Start with 3:1 ratio until feces are abundant and solid. Provide fresh and warm – always. Water bath advised.
• Switch to 2:1 ratio • Walnut water used in formula - decreases
bloat, diarrhea & provides shiny fur coats! • Feed until you see a large milk line and
round belly (contrary to other mammals) • How often? Q 2-3 hours based on growth,
weight, feces. Last evening feed at 11PM, and first AM feed 7AM.
• “Big-headed Syndrome”
WeaningYou’realmostthere!
• When mice are consuming up to 1cc of formula q 3+ hours, offer small slivers of nuts and rodent chow in cage.
• Mush Plate – Esbilac & Baby Cereal. Add life preservers!
• You can often wean mice before their eyes open!
• Gradually reduce the hand-feeding until they are self feeding.
• Change mush plate q 2-4 hours. Reduce. • Provide chopped nuts, vegetables, rodent
chow, seed and small quantities of fruit
WeaningHazardsBeware–Maysleepinmushplate!
Pre-releaseSetupAquariumsworkbest!
• 10 Gallon Terrariums work best! • Exercise Wheel • Hay • Toilet paper rolls/hide boxes • Wood chews • Enrichment • Release hide-box
HealthConcernsSignsofillness
• Guppy Mouthing – Glucose deficiency? Drop of Karo Syrup on the lips can help.
• Diarrhea? Feeding too much, too
often? Is your formula fresh? • Balding – Proper nutrition? Cleaning
them efficiently? Dirty habitat?
• Aspiration pneumonia?
YourMiceandYourSanity
Remember-theyweanquickly!
• Create a Homecare team! • Trade off every 2 nights • Get your sleep. If they have
eaten well all day, they will survive the night!
• Drink too much? Mice are great to help you cut down on your alcohol intake. Photo right : Sets a bad example for proper mouse care. J
• Try a live foster mom whenever available.
ReleaseCriteriaBacktotheWild!
• Exhibiting appropriate behaviors? • Natural fear of people? • Weight at least 12 grams? • Wait for good weather • Release into wooded habitat with
shelter and running water. • Release near stone wall/brush • Provide a protected cache of food. • Release in a mouse box. • Release in groups when possible
Ruby-throatedHummingbirdsFeatheredMarvels
Photo credit unknown.
• Migrate across Gulf of Mexico (1,600 km round trip)
• Breed N. into Canada • Winter in Mexico and further north • Males precede females in migration • Arrive in May, leave in September • Overland migration synchronized with
peak of Jewelweed • Nest selected and built by female • Two eggs, 1-2 clutches per year • Incubation 12-14 days (after first egg) • Parental duties = female only
DevelopmentalStages
FeatheredMarvels
• Chick growth .47g/d days 1-18 • Defecate over nest rim by day 2-3 • Pinfeathers erupt at 7d of age • Eyes open 9 days • Brooded constantly then reduced • Female stops brooding 9 days • First wing exercise 15 days • Fully fledged 18-20 d • Fed by regurgitation, insects brought
days 15-16 • Female feeds 4-7d after fledge (until
22-25 days of age) Mass decreases • Beak = adult length at 30 days
HousingandSetupSetupforHatchling-EarlyFledge
-Covered Baskets (for food) work great! -Fresh flowers ALWAYS -Syringe containers serve well as vases -Secure and cover vases. -Provide Branches -Knitted Nests work well -Critter Cages work too -Water bath to warm syringes – thermos
HousingandSetupSetupfortheFledglings
• Helicoptering? Time for a pen! • Soft-sided Pens • Hang Hummingbird Feeders with
Nektar (change q2-4 hours) • Constant supply of fresh flowers • Low perches/branches • Ensure all structures are stable, safe
and easy access
Stabilization
• Provide fresh Nektar-Plus, warmed • Never provide colored sugar water • Feces are small, comma shaped –
defecate over nest beginning day 2-3 • Do NOT place hummingbirds in the
incubator – body temperature is too high to withstand incubator temps
• If hypothermic, provide supplemental heat. Monitor closely.
• Amazing ability to thermo-regulate at young age (by 9 days of age)
NutritionFormulamustbefreshandwarm
Nutrition–HowdoIfeedthesethings??Verycarefully…
• Nektar-Plus – Refrigerate and make fresh q24 hours
• Must provide fresh WARM formula at each feeding
• Water bath to warm formula syringes Add Anole Food (65%) to formula (ground)
• Abundance of fresh flowers • Feed every 20 min. Feed till crop is pea-
sized. Do not overfeed. • Will peep when hungry – trust me! • 18x2 g blunt cannula works like mom’s
beak! (For birds that are gaping)
Nutrition–HowdoIfeedthesethings??GapersandSippers…
• At ~16 days old, they will begin wanting to sip. Encourage sipping!
• 3cc syringe – paint tip red (nail polish) • Place in front of beak – they learn quickly! • Once adept – place flowers close by • Eventually, they will drink more and less
often, q40 min • Self-feed from flowers and syringes and
feeders strategically placed in cage. • Cover at night. • Oh, and then there’s torpor…
Fledglings&Pre-releaseSotiny,somean!
• Juveniles become territorial • Watch for aggression • Separate if needed • Provide constant fresh flowers/fresh
formula • Place ripe bananas in pen to attract
fruit-flies • Place soft-sided pen outside in
release area (monitored) • Provide feeders/flowers in release
habitat in view of pen.
Pre-ReleaseMysetup…
• Juveniles become territorial • Watch for aggression • Separate if needed • Provide constant fresh flowers/fresh
formula • Place ripe bananas in pen to attract
fruit-flies • Place soft-sided pen outside in
release area (monitored) • Provide feeders/flowers in release
habitat in view of pen.
I’mOuttaHere!HeadedSouth
• Juveniles become territorial • Watch for aggression • Separate if needed • Provide constant fresh flowers/
formula • Place ripe bananas in cage to
attract fruit-flies • Place soft-sided pen outside in
release area (monitored) • Provide feeders/flowers in release
habitat in view of pen. • Ensure migration timeliness!
TheLifeofTwoVeryLuckyHummingbirdsOrphanedHummingbirdsfromWareham.Raisedandreleased!
TheLifeofTwo
YourHummingbirds,andYourSanity
• Remember – they wean quickly! • Find a babysitter with a steady hand.
Highly recommended • Trade off often – take breaks. • They’re small – they can come with
you! • They sleep at dusk. J • You’ll only have them in the summer! • You’ve just helped a migratory
marvel!
ChimneySwifts
NaturalHistory
• In decline on Cape Cod • Reduction in natural nesting sites • “Flying Cigars” • Cannot use chimneys with terra
cotta/stainless steel • Spend their day on the wing –
roosting at night • Travel 500 miles per day for food • Drink on the wing • Arrive in May, breed June • Young spend 30 days in the
chimney and will roost or breed in it! Photo: Kathy Frisbie, “The Place for Wild Birds”
Stabilization
• BasedonJayneNeville’sGuidelines(MountVernonSongbirdSanctuary,Southington,CT
• Heatlamp/heatingpad• WarmedLRS,PED(dropintonares)orPOq15min• VITALHNforadditionalcalories• Eyesbrighter?Feces?Fecessemi-spirallogs,uratesatoneend• Feedliveinsects:Killedwithhemostats(dipinwater)• Insects(WW,MW,crickets)every30-60min,13-15feedingsper
day,givePEDinbetweenfeedings,POwithcannulatip
History
StagesofDevelopment
• Hatchling–2-3daysold,pink,nakedblind.4.5-5.5g
• Nestling–7-8daysold.Eyesclosed,Wingsinpinfeathers.Weight13g
• Lookslikeporcupine?12-14daysold,eyesbegintoopen,pinfeathersunfurl,weight19-20g
• Fledgling–fullyfeathered,feathersonheadsheathed,eyesopen,weight25g
History
Photo: Kathy Frisbie, “ The Place for Wild Birds”
HousingandSetup
• PlasticCritterCage• 2piecessturdycardboard• Provideseasyslope• Linewithmaterialwithnoloops• Linedovereachcardboard• Flattenedpapertowel(center)• Easeofcleaning• Cleanfrequently
History
Illustrations by Jennifer Taylor, Animal Care Coordinator, Wild Care
OvernightSetup
• Securelidrightoverlining• WATCHFORTOES!• Plentyofventilation• Coverwithlightpillowcase
History
FeedingUtensils
Uniquefeedingstyle
Nutrition
• If one bird eats 5 mealworms for 20 feedings per day (100 per day) or 700 mealworms per week.
• 10 birds will eat 7,000 per week. • We believe this is the bare minimum. • Catch insects on the wing, must be
hand fed through length of stay • Consume large numbers of aerial
insects • Large gape allows them to snap up
single insects or swarms • Parents feed “bolus” of insects • Soy Protein Powder and Vionate
Protein,protein,protein!
PhotobyJayneFowler
Pre-releaseSetup
• Wooden “Chimney” box • 20 inches square, waist high • Rubber Shelf Mat siding • Pillow case for floor (changed
frequently) • Sheet hanging inside of door to
prevent escapees • Graduated to songbird aviary • Mesh siding to prevent feather
damage
HealthConcerns
• Dehydration
• Bleeding toenails/injured toes
• Poor feather Condition/parasites
• Mung
• Keeping faces clean
• Reluctance to gape
• Leg injuries
WatchthosePamprodactyltoes!
Photo: Kathy Frisbie, “The Place for Wild Birds”
Pre-Release
● Place “Chimney Box” into aviary ● Aviary must have mesh sides! ● Open door to allow flight into aviary ● Continue feeding every 30 minutes ● They will begin flapping, then fly
out and cling to mesh ● Return swifts to the “Chimney” for
each feeding to encourage them to fly to the chimney for each feed!
● Now feed every 60 min ● Place in “Chimney Box” at night
Theywillclingtoyou,watchyourstep!
Photo: Kathy Frisbie, “The Place for Wild Birds”
ReleaseCriteria
• Must be waterproof • Fully grown, no feather sheaths • Spend most of the day flying • Trained to go to the “Chimney” • Can fly and maneuver flawlessly • Locate a swift roost • 3 days of good weather • Transport to release site • Release 1-3 hours before dark • Prepare for hard release • If not in a flock, provide Chimney as
a roost. Fasten to a tree.
Migratorytimingiseverything
ThankyouNWRA,andthankYOUrehabbers!
Questions?