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?