Throughout the fall and winter, the majority of patient admissions at the Wildlife Center of Virginia is made up of avian species.  While most of the “better known” patients are raptors, the veterinary team provides the same attention and care to all of its patients—large or small.  These three passerines (songbirds) are currently receiving treatment at the Wildlife Center:

American Robin #11-2610.  This adult robin was admitted on November 17 after it was rescued from Albemarle County. Literally pried from the jaws of a cat, the robin was suffering from numerous punctures and lacerations on its body. Center veterinarians did not expect the bird to last through the night.  However, after the robin survived its first two days of hospitalization, Dr. Adam Naylor sutured one of the wounds on the side of its body. The Center’s staff continued to clean the robin’s wounds daily and within a few days the injuries began to improve noticeably, and now new feathers that are starting to grow its back.

The robin is currently being acclimated to the outdoors and the Center’s rehabilitation staff will need to see if the bird can fly well before the team can approve it for release. But for now the little bird has surmounted the odds and appears to be on its way to a full recovery.

Cedar Waxing #11-2628.  This songbird was found on the ground in Rockingham County, Virginia. When it was brought in to the Center on November 28, Dr. Miranda Sadar noted that the bird had a noticeable wing droop in its left wing and that it was suffering from dyspnea [shortness of breath]. Radiographs revealed that the waxwing had a fracture in its left coracoid [shoulder] which could explain its wing droop.

Due to the dyspnea, Dr. Miranda recommended that the bird spend a day in the Center’s oxygen chamber. Like American Robin #11-2610, the Center’s staff was unsure if the Cedar Waxwing would survive its first night, and it was another three days before the Center’s veterinarians felt comfortable enough to take the bird off of oxygen.  However, the songbird has recovered slowly. As of December 8, it was no longer breathing heavily and the wing droop is no longer noticeable. The waxwing is scheduled to receive another set of radiographs during the week of December 12.  If the Cedar Waxwing’s shoulder is healing well, it may only be a matter of time before it is released.

Carolina Wren #11-2638. This wren was admitted to the Center on December 7, after it was rescued in Albemarle County.  Apparently, the young wren flew in through the open window of a house and was caught by a cat. Upon arriving at the Center, Dr. Dave McRuer examined the wren and found visible injuries consistent with a cat attack.  He administered a prescription of antibiotics to help prevent infection.

As Carolina Wrens are known to suffer from high stress in captivity, the rehabilitation staff and the veterinary staff have been closely monitoring the wren and its weight. The wren has been eating a diet of mealworms and insects (no small feat, as it needs to eat almost constantly) and has not shown any appreciable signs of stress. The veterinary team hopes to release this bird as soon as it finishes its course of antibiotics.

December 13 update

After finishing its five day prescription of antibiotics, Carolina Wren #11-2628 was returned to its rescuer in Albemarle County and released on the afternoon of December 12. The wren showed no signs of infection and the slight injuries it sustained from its encounter with a cat were resolved before release.

December 20 update

American Robin #11-2610 and Cedar Waxwing #11-2628 have both recovered enough to be moved out of the hospital and into two separate flight enclosures in the Center’s aviary—where Center’s veterinary and rehabilitation staff have observed the birds flying well.

The Cedar Waxwing had another series of radiographs taken on December 19. The waxwing’s fractured shoulder appears to be healing well and a callous has formed over the fracture site. Although the waxwing has mildly decreased range of motion in its left shoulder, the bird still flies very well. The Center’s veterinarians and rehabilitators plan on monitoring the Cedar Waxwings flight characteristics over the coming weeks.

In the meantime, both songbirds are maintaining their weights and the Cedar Waxwing has started eating cedar berries–kindly donated by helpful staff members–by the handful.

December 29 update

American Robin #11-2610 was released on Christmas Eve, back in Albemarle County. 

After another week of monitoring, Cedar Waxwing #11-2628 was also cleared for release.  Because Cedar Waxwings are social creatures, the best release spot for them is with others of the same species — fortunately, Wildlife Center volunteer Carol often has a flock on her property in Augusta County.  After a few days of keeping an eye out for the waxwings, Carol spied them on December 29, and waxwing #11-2628 was shuttled over to Carol’s house for release.   

The Wildlife Center depends on the donations of caring individuals for the health care provided to these songbirds– and to the other 2,600 patients we have admitted this year.  Please help!