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Sick Bohemian waxwing in Semey, Kazakhstan (1 Viewer)

sandrinhalee

bird happy
Hi everyone,
I'm stationed for 10 months in Semey, which is in Kazakh Siberia.
Yesterday I found a first-winter Bohemian waxwing buried in snow. It was still alive. I took it to a vet, who professed that he didn't know anything about birds, and since he called it a hoopoe, I think he's right. He did ascertain that the bird had no broken limbs and no apparent reason not to be okay. He said it was just cold and hungry.

I don't know of any wildlife help organizations here, nor does anyone I know, and at any rate, even if it exists, I don't speak enough of the language to contact them.

I took the bird home and put it in a box with some water and some thawed raspberries I had. It didn't eat at all as far as I could tell, and I couldn't tell if it had drunk any water either. However, it did become more active and seemed alert. It pooped a few times. One of the stool was yellow; the other was brown and white. Urine seemed clear / white. It didn't huddle or ruffle its feathers up. Rather it seemed ready to fly. Given that it wasn't eating, I felt it needed to go out and feed (but no idea if there's anything for it to eat around!).

I kept it overnight in a warm room, as it was a bitterly cold night, and in the morning I opened the box outdoors. It didn't immediately fly out. However, when I reapproached the box to check on it, it flapped around a bit in panic. I tipped the box to help it out and it came out of its accord and flew into a nearby tree.

Sadly it has only been sitting there for the past hour or so. I can't get it down until it falls of its own accord. Any advice if it does? I know that nature sometimes takes its course, but I want to give this bird its best chance. It's -24 Celsius out right now (-11 F).

Thanks,
-S.
 
If you have or can get any Apples cut them in half and put out a couple of them in the tree. (Stick a branch end through them) It will probably feed on them if it's just hungry.

Malky
 
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