Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay...I have come here after exhausting all options over the last few hours. Here is a little background.

This evening(it is almost midnight here in Oahu,HI) after returning home from having surgery. I almost stepped on a young bird. It was turning dark and the baby had been really soaked by the sprinklers. Here in Oahu the winds are pretty strong with a hurricane expected this weekend. Anyway. I took the baby to the back deck. And place him into a birdcage for about 30 minutes. As the wind blew him dry he began to move about in the cage and sing constantly.I assume in an attempt to find its mother. I keep feed at the back of my deck for birds and have a very wide variety of unique visitors.With the cage doors open I have been successful in having 2 birds re-united with their mothers this way. A mynah and a red crested cardinal.The mynah had fallen from the Palm beside the house. Unfortunately it's brother/sister somehow did not survive the fall with the nest.
Anyway, after no success of having todays bird find it's mother in this way. I took the bird from the deck and placed him in the yard to sing near the bird feeders and shrubs. The young bird sang and was approached by another bird once. the young bird then to my surmise FLEW!! straight back to the cage(about 15 feet away. It was now Dark so I placed the young one back in the cage and into a nest that I had found a month or so ago.

Now, I fear that this bird if he makes it through the night will not survive if not fed. What really bothers me is that I believe this bird is possibly an ENDANGEred species.
The bird appears to be a young Honeycreeper. He/She has a Curved Bill which is longer than what would be expected. It is predominately yellow and Green. It's song I would classify as more of a repeated trill. ANyway, if this bird makes it through the night.....I need suggestions on what should be done to ensure it's survival. WIth an emphasis on the bird returning to the wild safely.

I guess it is also important to note that around my home are many Mongoose and stray cats left to it;s own it would surely meet an undesirable end.

This has been long winded. But thanks for reading and hopefully more thanks for your help in saving this bird.

I am not real familiar with Hawaii (wish I was ). But anywhere in continental US the best bet would be to contact the nearest conservation dept. I am sure they are listed online or maybe in your phone book. Especially if this is an endangered species they should be helpful in reintroducing it into the wild or caring for it until it is able to be completely on its own. Usually in storm conditions they arequite helpful in trying to save native wildlife especially those endangered. I am also not sure if you have any actual wild bird rescues in your area it might be something to google?? I can google it for you but since I am not familiar with your area it might be easier if you are able to find one that would be near you. I know several around here but again that wouldn't be any help to you. Sorry I couldn't be more assistance. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the reply.

this morning before daylight I went out to the deck and opened up the cage. Baby was still alive. So I left the door open and proceeded to drink coffee and watch for the outcome. As the sun came up the baby started to sing constantly calling for it's mother I assume. After about 20 minutes a pair of Majiro's(White Eyes) showed up,Coaxing the little one from the cage.

The little one Flew to the top of the cage and then Off the the deck almost making it to the canopy before a strong when pushed the little one straight to the ground.

I then went outside picked the little one back up and took him back to the cage for round two. The two white eyes either parents or surragates lit on a limb in the Guava tree about 10 feet away and began to search it for food. they then fed baby 2 times over the next 30 minutes, Backed off and called for baby to C'mon let's go! baby tried this time getting blown back down into a neighbors small privacy fence area where his cat was roaming. luckily when I arrived to retrieve him the cat could not figure out where the Loud calling of the baby was coming from. His size seemed to help him in this situation. The baby is not much larger than a small lemon. Anyway, Round 3.

Back at the cage baby rested for about and hour. By this time the rest of the birds that come in for their daily feeding from my yard had arrived. The Bulbals, Brazilian cardinals, Rock doves and ringnecks as well as a flock of Java finches and other assorted finches were all their. My only worry was the 7-10 Mynahs that were also present. The Mynahs always run the show around here and can be very rough with the other birds. I feared that a fall to the ground here could result in the babies demise.

Well, this time baby Flew from the nest landing on the a smaller shrub. The two white eyes instantly greeted im along with the rest of the Finch flock. His next flight was straight up to the canopy where he was heard all day calling. His call is much different than the other birds and is very distinguishable.

As of sunset I went outside and could here him still above in the canopy. I know he is without a nesting spot however, I feel satisfied that his surrogate parents will teach him well and he will be fine as long as he can stay in the tree through the nights and off the ground. Mongoose are unforgiving and very hard on birds here especially the ground nesters.

Anyway, Thanks for the response. My plan of action was to give him the chance to make it own his own. If he had not taken the course he did I decided I was going to take him to the Honolulu Zoo Or UH pacific here on the island.