Download Embracing the Challenge In Challenging Birds Tackling the

Embracing the Challenge
In Challenging Birds
Joanna Weitzel
Executive Director
Carolina Wildlife Care
Focus of Lecture
• Examine the unique similarities and differences between
(2) species: common nighthawks and chimney swifts
• Equip and inspire care givers to face the challenge of
these special birds with confidence, and perhaps even
anticipate their arrival!
Tackling the Challenge
• When you are faced with an
an unfamiliar rehabilitation
challenge, how do you feel?
• Caring for a species other
than the routine, might be
perceived as “difficult”, when
in fact they are just “different”
Why are these 2 aerial insectivores
perceived as challenging?
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Nighthawk and Swift Similarities
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Small beaks, short weak legs and tiny feet
Large eyes & mouths in proportion to
overall size
Large flat heads blend into rounded bodies
giving the appearance of no neck
Both species eat and drink on the wing
Long-distance winter migration to South
America
Must be able to fly fast, far, and flawlessly
Require special rehab considerations
– Exercise
– Feather condition
– Timing of Release
Adults and juveniles will not self-feed in
captivity; they are not anatomically designed to
pick up food
Adults are notorious for being difficult to feed in
captivity
Juveniles don’t gape like most juvenile
passerines; birds feed by moving towards food
Adults and juveniles do not perch like other
passerines requiring special set-up
Pressure to get it right, considering timing of
release (migration) and the fact that
overwintering these species are rarely
successful
Going to extremes to preserve their feather
condition is absolutely essential
Difficult to treat wing injuries as both species
require perfect flight
Preparing for the Challenge
• Don’t fight uniqueness, seek to understand it
• Be open to modifying the traditional approach; one diet,
one cage does not fit all
• Have care manuals/books on hand BEFORE admission
Rehabilitation and
Conservation of
Chimney Swifts
by
Paul and Georgean Kyle
www.chimneyswifts.org
$10.00
Hand-Rearing Birds
by
Laurie Gage and
Rebecca Duerr
Amazon.com
$71.99
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Natural History
• To understand the
rehabilitation needs of
these special birds, it is
important to know
something of their
character, behavior,
and breeding biology
Natural History- Common Nighthawks
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Initial Care and Stabilization
• As with any birds, warming the bird first is essential
• Begin with fluids the first several hours, until birds are
hydrated and capable of passing mutes prior to feeding
solid foods
– Swifts and nighthawks lack a true crop so oral
hydration is just as effective as gavage or
subcutaneous injections
• Once bird produces well-formed, normal feces, begin a
regular feeding routine based on age and species
Development of Nighthawks
Day 8-10: Pinfeathers emerge
• Diet: Continue offering a
wider variety of insects
dipped in FoNS/Mac Diet
– A general rule of thumb:
weight will double from hatch
to day 4, again from day 4 to
day 8, then slow
– Weigh chick often to ensure
weight gain
– If not, double-feed at dusk and
dawn.
Family Caprimulgidae, most
similar to owls and even cast
pellets
Cryptically-colored species
Described as nocturnal
insectivores, but also
crepuscular with heaviest
feeding around dusk and dawn
Perch along branch parallel to
it rather than perpendicular
Separated from whip-poor-will
by the presence of a pale
patch in the wing
Nighthawks have a strong,
earthy smell
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Eggs are laid directly on sand or
gravel with no nest
Common Nighthawks are
declining throughout North
America
Why? Factors include
pesticides, new construction
materials for roofs, predation,
human traffic in graveled areas
Development of Nighthawks
Hatching: Chicks are semiprecocial,
downy and weigh around 5-6 grams
• Diet: Offer pinhead crickets (4-5 at
a time) dipped in an insectivore
hand-feeding diet and plain yogurt
– Alternate with small amounts of
“dipped” mealworms
– Offer a wider variety of insects
gradually
– While all insects are dipped in FoNS/
Mac Diet the insects themselves
comprise the majority of the diet.
Development of Nighthawks
• Days 20-23: Fully feathered;
capable of thermoregulation
and short flight
• Day 25 -30: Chicks are
capable of catching own food
and flying well; nearing adult
weight (58-91 g)
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Feeding Technique
• Start early training of feeding technique.
– Grip insects with blunt tweezers or forceps
and use “zooming” gesture
– Chicks quickly become familiar with the
zooming gestures.
– As chicks become more active, pull hand
further and further away (below eye level)
– It is imperative that bird’s beak be cleaned after
every feeding to avoid feather damage
Feeding Frequency of Nighthawks
• Feed more heavily at dusk and dawn, but
offer food every 2-3 hours throughout the
day
– Most chicks eat heavily, and then refuse
food.
– In most cases, giving chicks a rest of a few
minutes, and then re-offering food brings a
better response than continuous feeding.
– Check hydration levels often, as younger
chicks dehydrate easily and will develop an
impaction.
Housing Nighthawks (until
feathered)
• Nest in container works well
using heating pad/heat lamp
as the birds can move to/from
the heat
• If using incubator, do not
overheat, keep temperature
around 95 degrees
• Using wet paper towels (not
sponges) changed frequently
will keep humidity levels high
without introducing mold
Housing Nighthawks (fully
feathered)
• No wire cages, smooth sided
enclosure (kennels,
Reptarium)
• Source of sand for dusting
• Traditional perches not
required; logs and rocks for
perching
• Dishes of food and water not
necessary, as bird is force fed
Nighthawk Flight Conditioning
• As bird nears release age, fly
it to food in large flight cage
(8’x16’x8’)
– It will see the “zooming” gesture
and fly towards the food
• Set up lamp in large outside
flight cage during evening to
permit exercise and natural
foraging behavior
• Do not need to be “raised” in
large flight cage as they
seldom fly for pleasure, but
need access to one to
evaluate flight
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Nighthawk Release Considerations
• Release on full stomach or
near dusk or dawn
• Time release with the arrival
of a full moon helps the bird in
foraging first few days
• Select a safe location known
for nighthawks, especially
important during migration
Natural History- Chimney Swifts
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Natural History- Chimney Swifts
• How do you know if
you have chimney
swifts?
– found in a fireplace
– covered with soot
– still clinging to their
nest
– chattering loudly.
– beak and feet
Family Apodidae, most similar
to hummingbirds, but have
been linked to nightjars
Only swift commonly found in
eastern North America
Described as diurnal
insectivores, but also
crepuscular with heavy feeding
around dusk and dawn
Squared off tail with spines
protruding from the bottom.
Cannot perch, but cling to
vertical surfaces using sharp
claws
Like nighthawks, obscure
feathering in front of eyes
thought to reduce glare and
protect the eyes
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Chimney swifts are gregarious,
with large numbers roosting
together in a single chimney
during non-breeding season
Swifts use saliva to bind
nesting material and attach
nests to vertical surfaces. The
salivary glands that increase in
size during breeding season
Like nighthawks, populations
of chimney swifts (Chaetura
pelagica) are declining.
Development of Chimney Swifts
• Hatching: Young altricial;
both parents feed
– Diet: Alternate feedings of
mealworms and an insectivore
diet.
– If older nestlings or fledglings are
available, swab their mouths with
a worm and feed to hatchlings
3 times a day until the bird is 10
days
• 3 days: Pinfeathers are visible
on back and wings
Development of Chimney Swifts
• 10 days: Primary feathers
begin to unfurl
• 14 days: Eyes begin to
open; milky blue in color;
lids wrinkled
Development of Chimney Swifts
• 21 days: Eyes turn more
brown; fully feathered;
“practice flapping” holding
tightly to nest and exercising
wings until out of breath
• 21–28 days: Flying up and
down inside the chimney or
tower like little helicopters
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Feeding Technique- Swifts
Development of Chimney Swifts
• 30 days: Wings cross by 1 inch in back;
first flight outside the chimney or tower;
nearing release age
• Chimney swifts feeding response is
triggered by one of the following
methods
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Blowing into the incubator
Tapping the side of the nest
Making “kissing” noises
Gently brushing the swifts with
a facial tissue
• The swifts respond by throwing head
back, bobbing around and trying to
grab in its mouth anything near it
Feeding Frequency of Swifts
• Each bird should always be fed as many mealworms
as it will consume at each feeding
• Hatchling through pinfeather stage should eat every
half hour for no less than hourly feeding schedule after
feathers unfurl
• One to two drops of water should be offered at each
feeding by placing the drop on the side of the beak,
never inside the mouth
• It is imperative that bird’s beak be cleaned after every
feeding to avoid feather damage
• Swifts should average a weight gain of 1-2 g per day
for the 1st three weeks.
Housing Swifts (fully feathered)
• No wire cages, smooth sided
enclosure (Reptarium,
butterfly huts)
• Traditional perches not
required; need screen or
fleece-like material for
clinging
• Dishes of food and water not
necessary, as bird is force fed
Housing Swifts (until feathered)
• Swifts younger than 14 days
must be kept in an incubator
• An incubator can be
constructed and wet paper
towels (not sponges) can be
used frequently to keep
humidity levels high without
introducing mold
Flight Conditioning- Swifts
• As swifts become more active,
their box is moved into an artificial
chimney inside a large flight cage
(8’x16’x8’)
• Swifts will fly to the side of the
aviary, but must be physically
moved into the chimney at each
feeding
• It doesn’t take long for swifts to
realize they must return to the
chimney to be fed
• After 2 weeks of conditioning,
swifts will be ready for release.
Tails feathers should cross by 1 “
in back and swifts should be
difficult to catch
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Swift Release Considerations
• Release on full stomach at
dusk
• Time release with the entry of
an established roost into a
chimney
• Select a safe location known to
have chimney swifts in the
area
• The release of the young swifts
will attract other swifts within
the area
Difficulties in Hand-Feeding
The difficulty in feeding adults and juveniles of
both species can be attributed to a number of
factors
• An inability replicate a normal feeding strategy and/or
prey selection
• A natural tendency to reject what has not been
imprinted from the nestling phase as food.
• Stress exhibited when beaks are forced open to feed
• A desire to feed more often than absolutely necessary
• Diet being offered too much a departure from natural
diet
Force-feeding Adults
The sides of a nighthawk and swift’s beak are soft and pliable, and
prone to damage with improper force feeding.
1. To part the beak, slip a pair of forceps at the sensitive flanges of the bird’s
beak to gently part the bird’s beak, so that it opens naturally and safely
2. Do not pry beak open or use a fingernail as beak will bend or break easily
3. Quickly, place food in back of the bird’s throat or use the tip of your finger to
prop bird’s beak open while feeding
Tackling the Challenge
• Hit a stumbling block? Have other resources
readily available.
– Seek advice and don’t go it alone
– Know how to find the “experts” (NWRA, IWRC, Facebook)
– Network with others (State Associations, Local Audubon Chapter,
Birding Lists, Vendors, etc)
“Never be afraid to
try something new.
Remember, amateurs
built the ark.
Professionals built
the Titanic.”
Special thanks to Linda Hufford for her
contributions to the nighthawk section of
this program
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