Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird

tanhot · 2nd June 2009

Hi,

My wife found a fallen baby sun bird on the road on 28th May (last Thu) and decided to put it in a small box and leave it near a tree for the parent to feed it. The next day we found someone left some bread for it and it is not only not eating but ants will gathering round the bread. So we decided to bring it home and be its adoptive parent until it can fly away.

I understand that its main diet is nectar but how to gather nectar for it to feed? Check the web and it says that it also eat insect like ants and spider. Caught some ants but it refuse to eat. Manage to catch a spider which it ate but how to catch enough spiders everyday for it to eat? Finally bought some mealworm (beatle larva) at a fish shop which it gladly ate. Phew otherwise I do know how to continue nursing it.

I noticed that one of the bird's leg seemed injured as it stands only on one of its leg. I am wondering when will it fly away and whether it can survive with an injured leg.

Here are some pictures to share. Can someone confirmed that it is an olive-backed sunbird? Comments welcomed.

1.

2.

3.

Rgds

Reno · 2nd June 2009

You have a good heart. Not sure if it is a sunbird. As for the injured leg, not really sure but can the injured leg able to grip onto the perch?

sharkspin · 2nd June 2009

looks like a common iora.
thanks to tanhot...this birdie will have a chance to fly free soon

Evilmerlin · 2nd June 2009

Perhaps you could contact the Birdpark for advice? Those are some nice shots btw!

rainwhisper · 2nd June 2009

You have a good heart~

tanhot · 2nd June 2009

Hi fellow Cser,

Thanks for your response especially to Sharkspin for correcting the bird-id. I checked up the web and I think Sharkspin is right about it being a Common Iora. The web mentioned that it has two white stripe across its body. No wonder its beak is not that thin and curvy like a sunbird.

Yes, it is able to grip/stand with one leg but it is not very stable as it tend to fallover. The other leg is just simply providing support and the feet is not griping. Will continue to feed for a while and if its condition does not improve I may call up Birdpark.

Rgds

erictan8888 · 2nd June 2009

very kind of you to bring the bird back...
now it has a more definite chance of survival...

hope it can fledge soon...

digital601 · 2nd June 2009

It might have fell from the nest. Must be somewhere near where your wife found her.

NovJoe · 2nd June 2009

Up for a kind hearted CS'er

! Great effort!

limmick · 3rd June 2009

Hi tanhot, you may want to contact the NaturePixels.org - Crashed or Injured Bird Hotline for help: Ashley at 81802082.

And good of you to take care of the chick

http://www.naturepixels.org/phpBB3/v...&t=5009#p51483

Following is from NPX:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Crashed or Injured Bird Hotline
by Ashley on Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:22 am

Dearest all,

In the midst of bird migration, if you ever need any help or advise on crashed, injured or dead bird, do call me... 24/7, i will try my best to give you some directions or tips.

Ashley
81802082

Pearlang · 5th June 2009

It's such a cutie.

hotlouse · 5th June 2009

frankly i have my doubts about what the birdpark will do with the baby bird. The last time i was stranded with a baby oriole, I handed it over to them after 3 weeks as holidays had ended and i couldn't take care of it as it was flying around the house and knocking and breaking things. I asked them what they would do with the bird, and even the guy wasnt very sure what they would do. -.-

tanhot · 9th June 2009

Yup I am also a bit doubtful if the Birdpark would do anything much unless it is a rare bird.

The bird is making progress and is able to fly for about 5 to 6 feet but it is unable to stand with one leg on its own after it landed. I am doubtful if it is able to hunt on its own.

Yesterday morning when I check on the bird we do not know why it suddenly died on its sleep. Not too sure if the bad landing after its flight injured it further.

My wife buried it and put a flower on top of it. She ended it with a prayer. We gave the bird a 2nd chance in life but I guess the law of the jungle has its own way of determining survival of the fittest.

My daughter asked me where is the baby bird? We told her it has flown away (at least in spirit).

Pearlang · 9th June 2009

That is so sad.

erictan8888 · 9th June 2009

what a sad end....

was still hoping that it could fledge...

limmick · 9th June 2009

Sorry to hear about the sad ending.. but you did your best to help... thanks!!!

2nd June 2009	#1
tanhot New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upper Bukit Timah Posts: 30	Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird Hi, My wife found a fallen baby sun bird on the road on 28th May (last Thu) and decided to put it in a small box and leave it near a tree for the parent to feed it. The next day we found someone left some bread for it and it is not only not eating but ants will gathering round the bread. So we decided to bring it home and be its adoptive parent until it can fly away. I understand that its main diet is nectar but how to gather nectar for it to feed? Check the web and it says that it also eat insect like ants and spider. Caught some ants but it refuse to eat. Manage to catch a spider which it ate but how to catch enough spiders everyday for it to eat? Finally bought some mealworm (beatle larva) at a fish shop which it gladly ate. Phew otherwise I do know how to continue nursing it. I noticed that one of the bird's leg seemed injured as it stands only on one of its leg. I am wondering when will it fly away and whether it can survive with an injured leg. Here are some pictures to share. Can someone confirmed that it is an olive-backed sunbird? Comments welcomed. 1. 2. 3. Rgds

2nd June 2009	#2
Reno Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Land of the Teddy Bear Posts: 1,441	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird You have a good heart. Not sure if it is a sunbird. As for the injured leg, not really sure but can the injured leg able to grip onto the perch?

2nd June 2009	#3
sharkspin Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upper Thomson Posts: 713	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird looks like a common iora. thanks to tanhot...this birdie will have a chance to fly free soon

2nd June 2009	#4
Evilmerlin Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Woodlands Posts: 960	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird Perhaps you could contact the Birdpark for advice? Those are some nice shots btw! __________________ Photoblog Flickr

2nd June 2009	#5
rainwhisper Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 334	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird You have a good heart~

2nd June 2009	#7
erictan8888 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,225	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird very kind of you to bring the bird back... now it has a more definite chance of survival... hope it can fledge soon... __________________ Hope to learn from everyone here.... http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/TanEric/

2nd June 2009	#8
digital601 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 312	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird It might have fell from the nest. Must be somewhere near where your wife found her. __________________ 5D/40D+BG-E2/CZ 35T*1.4/17-40mm f4 L/24-70mm f2.8L/135mm f2L/200mm f2.8L/400mm f5.6L

2nd June 2009	#9
NovJoe Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ~Sunny Little Island~ Posts: 1,266	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird Up for a kind hearted CS'er ! Great effort! __________________ *My Flickr* *My Photobucket*

3rd June 2009	#10
limmick Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Singapore (Eastern side) Posts: 177	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird Hi tanhot, you may want to contact the NaturePixels.org - Crashed or Injured Bird Hotline for help: Ashley at 81802082. And good of you to take care of the chick http://www.naturepixels.org/phpBB3/v...&t=5009#p51483 Following is from NPX: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ Crashed or Injured Bird Hotline by Ashley on Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:22 am Dearest all, In the midst of bird migration, if you ever need any help or advise on crashed, injured or dead bird, do call me... 24/7, i will try my best to give you some directions or tips. Ashley 81802082 __________________ Regards, Micky flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickylim/sets/

5th June 2009	#11
Pearlang Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,318	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird It's such a cutie.

5th June 2009	#12
hotlouse Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 165	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird frankly i have my doubts about what the birdpark will do with the baby bird. The last time i was stranded with a baby oriole, I handed it over to them after 3 weeks as holidays had ended and i couldn't take care of it as it was flying around the house and knocking and breaking things. I asked them what they would do with the bird, and even the guy wasnt very sure what they would do. -.-

9th June 2009	#13
tanhot New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upper Bukit Timah Posts: 30	Re: Nursing fallen Olive-backed Sunbird Yup I am also a bit doubtful if the Birdpark would do anything much unless it is a rare bird. The bird is making progress and is able to fly for about 5 to 6 feet but it is unable to stand with one leg on its own after it landed. I am doubtful if it is able to hunt on its own. Yesterday morning when I check on the bird we do not know why it suddenly died on its sleep. Not too sure if the bad landing after its flight injured it further. My wife buried it and put a flower on top of it. She ended it with a prayer. We gave the bird a 2nd chance in life but I guess the law of the jungle has its own way of determining survival of the fittest. My daughter asked me where is the baby bird? We told her it has flown away (at least in spirit).