Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 15:56:23 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Huy Subject: Re: A Sad, Cautionary Tale MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Pete, this is certainly a good lesson and thanks for sharing. It is true that most vets, and even many rehabilitators, do not understand all bird species they will encounter. Once you have delivered a bird to a vet or rehab, it's fate is no longer in your hands. Should you find it necessary to take one to a rehab or vet for care, the least you can do is make sure they know of the species ID and natural diet and perhaps special habitat requirements. Was the bittern kept in the standard open front vet cage? Even if offered frogs it may not have eaten in such an exposed location. A covered cage might have been better. I strongly recommend calling a licensed wildlife rehabilitor first. Ask if they are familiar with the species and if they can care for it or if they can recommend another place with the experience to take it. They are generally more aware of the needs of birds and wild creatures. Be prepared to transport it yourself - often volunteers are not available to go anywhere but the center at which they volunteer. Vets are often clueless about wildlife. An animal shelter or animal control center is probably going to be the least knowledgeable about wildlife. Tri-State rehab in Delaware has a great reputation. Under no circumstances should you attempt to care for a bird yourself. Either release it or get it to a knowledgeable and licensed facility ASAP. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================