Rescued Magpie

OldNotWIse

Driving down the road yesterday evening there was a magpie that almost got run over. We had to swerve to avoid as did the car behind.

I moved it in to the side of the road, behind a hedge as I had heard it is not ideal to take them as mum might be close by. Coming back almost two hours later there he was on the road again. It was almost 10pm. We decided to take him. I have him in the bathroom now with a box filled with newspapers. He has access to water, cat food, a little mashed potato and sweetcorn and peas (I don't know what magpies eat?!).

It's hard to tell his age. He is not a chick, perhaps a fledgling? He is about 40% the size of an adult. He has some small tail feathers and no "fluffy" feathers if you like. He isn't eating but he seems relaxed. I tried feeding him by dipping thinly sliced meat in water and waving it above him with a tweezer making that trilling noise they make. He more or less looked at me like I had insulted his ancestors.

I don't know what to do. I don't want to bring him to a conventional shelter as they will probably euthanaise him (being a magpie). Are there any specialist wildlife rescues in Dublin/Wicklow/Kildare? I have a car and would drive if it meant he had a good chance of rehab. Though I've read the cute stories about tamed magpie pets, I have a terrier and 8 cats so this is not an option!

Appreciate any advice. Thank you.

tk123

Could you try you local vet? Our's often has feel good stories on FB with wild birds/animals that they've taken in to rehabilitate.

OldNotWIse

tk123 wrote: »

Could you try you local vet? Our's often has feel good stories on FB with wild birds/animals that they've taken in to rehabilitate.

Hi thanks for this. My neighbor has offered to take it down to the vet as it is not eating so I told her to go ahead. I just don't want it pts. (unless necessary of course)

DBB

Hopefully the vet will have a contact already with the licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Kildare, who's excellent with cases like this

OldNotWIse

Neighbour phoned. She said the bird was quite weak when she brought him in. The vet reckoned he is only about 2 weeks old. I assumed he was older Anyway they are going to give him fluids and if he pulls through they have foster contacts who specialize with wild birds. She did say he was very weak and might not make it. At least he has the best chance now. Fingers crossed.

OldNotWIse

He died

I don't know why I feel so sad, and a little bit guilty. I don't know why. Maybe if we had left him there or brought him in sooner, though we only had him from last night until this afternoon.