Located in the Michigan.
I originally thought it was a young crow, but I’m starting to think it’s a young grackle?
Where I need additional help / advice: the bird has an injured wing.
Problem TL;DR: found bird with injured wing. Called literally every place that could help, but all wildlife rehabs/rescues are full. DNR informed me that the only other option if I can’t find a licensed rehabber is euthanasia. Bird is currently alert, eating, drinking, and climbing. I set up a secure space for them outside. I’ve now been caring for them for about 4 days now. I just… need advice about what I should do from here… I really have no idea if I am doing the right thing…
More details / backstory: I saw this guy stumbling across a busy road, wing drooping, nearly getting hit by cars. I ran out, shooed him into the neighbor’s garden where there is lots of cover, and hoped he would survive the night.
The next morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about the bird, so I went outside to go check the garden again, hoping he had flown away. The moment I stepped around the corner of my home, I saw him, hopping and flapping on the ground, being stalked by 2 cats that one of my neighbors let roam outside. I swooped in quickly, scooped up the bird, and popped it into a carrier.
I then called every wildlife rescue / rehab center in & near my area. Every single one of them either did not take small birds (raptors and owls only) and the ones that did accept small birds let me know that they were full and couldn’t help me.
I called vet offices, shelters, triple-checked the DNR certified rehab list, put out inquiries for any private licensed rehabbers, even posted my plea on a local Facebook wildlife group… no luck.
Called DNR & let them know, asking if they maybe had any more resources I could look into. Since I could not find any licensed rehabbers, they simply suggested I take it somewhere for euthanasia.
I’m… at a loss. I put antibiotic cream on the problem area on the wing (attempted a wing wrap on the advice from a vet tech, but just could not get it to stay properly, not matter what, so I got rid of it), set up a large screen tent in a more secluded area behind my home, reinforced the base perimeter as best I could, built up a secure perch with branches starting from the ground up to the ceiling, and gave the bird food and water.
The bird seems very happy with the perch they don’t need to fly to get up the highest place. They’ve drank plenty, and have been eating cat food soaked in water + bugs & worms I’ve dug up for them. They definitely have an appetite! And their bite has gotten significantly more painful since I first scooped them up. It was weak before, now it actually hurts sometimes! (I handle them carefully and safely only for wing-check medication).
I have NO intention of making this bird into a pet!! I just want them to be released eventually, and ak trying to make sure they don’t get too comfortable with me. I’m just upset that the only alternative to a licensed rehabber is euthanasia.
Please… I’m really conflicted on this. What should I do from here? Any advice is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Ya it could be a Grackle. Does it move the injured wing in any way normally? If it can’t move the wing at all normally it may not heal well without medical intervention. Unfortunately their wings are very delicate. It sounds like you’ve done all you can in terms of phoning vets and rehabs, so I can’t really help much there, but just keep up what you are doing and keep checking with the rehabs that take small birds. Either the wing heals on it’s own or not, but either way it feels like you are doing all the right things. I hope it works out!