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Conservation
Typically these birds were malnourished or kept in too small enclosures
too long. They may live up to 50 years in captivity without once having
flown or hunted on their own. Fortunately they are finding a home here
at Animals that are not able to be released back into the wild - victims
of systemic poisons, gunshots wounds, accidents or other mishaps - are
identified by this sign in exhibits. Please resist the temptation to help a young animal until VERY certain
help is needed. Often a seemingly abandoned animal is simply waiting for
its mother to reappear after you are gone. We regret that we are not able
to send staff out to pick up animals. Nearly a thousand baby birds, rabbits and rodents are delivered to The Living Desert every year by caring people. Fortunately, experienced staff are ready to feed and care for them and help return them to the wild. Since parent birds often continue to feed their offspring after they have left the nest, a young bird alone is not necessarily in need of help. However if a bird is truly abandoned, it should be taken immediately to a professional rehabilitator in order to avoid imprinting on humans and to make sure it gets the correct food. Malnutrition for even a few days can cause permanent disabilities. Special care is needed for the task of raising baby quail. Quail are social creatures, and do best if raised with other quail so they will learn to scratch and peck for food. Stressed or solitary chicks benefit from the warmth of a hand warmer on cold nights. Mirrors and a feather duster "mom" also comfort them. Living Desert's quail experts have returned hundreds of birds to the natural desert. Hummingbirds are perhaps the most delicate, labor-intensive orphans in the desert. In the beginning, two jelly bean-sized "hummers" are packed into a tiny nest made of feathers and cobwebs. Soft and pliable, the nest stretches as the infants grow. As with most nestling's, these babies instinctively defecate over the side, keeping the inside of the nest neat and tidy. For the first four weeks hummers must be fed every 20 minutes with a tiny syringe until they can eat on their own. When hummingbirds begin to flap their wings, they are put in a bird cage and provided with fresh flowers so they will learn to find real hummingbird meals on their own before release. Other baby birds such as mockingbirds, cactus wrens, orioles, sparrows and finches, require specialized care, too, including food every 30-60 minutes. The Living Desert's "bunny mom" takes care of orphaned jack rabbits and cotton tails with the help of a pet carrier equipped with a heating pad and blanket. Baby rodents, including round tailed and antelope ground squirrels and pack rats, soon learn to hold a syringe between their front paws and drink while standing on their hind legs. Care of the springtime influx of babies is only part of the Living Desert's contribution to native wildlife rehabilitation. Throughout the year hundreds of sick and injured birds, mammals and reptiles of all ages are accepted from the general public, animal control officers and the California Department of Fish and Game. Many have traumatic injuries such as broken bones, others are weak and dehydrated and others are simply old or sick. Each is medically evaluated and treated, and if possible released back into the wild. In 2002, we received a young bocat with a fractured leg. The leg was surgically repaired using a pin and wires. After a few weeks, the leg had healed sufficiently for us to begin feeding live prey to the bobcat in order for him to relearn hunting skills. After two months of convalescing at The Living Desert, he was taken back to the Blythe area where he was originally found and released. Related Links: On
the trail of Cactus Rustlers
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Rescue
& Rehabilitation
