Crows




	Unlike the Raven, crows are highly social birds living in large family groups. They are often seen in swarms flying to their roost at dusk and can create quite a commotion with their conversation back and forth as they fly through housing developments. When a baby has fallen to the ground, the parents become very protective and may start to "dive bomb" anything they deem a threat including people, cats and dogs. This has never involved anyone actually getting hurt but can be a bit annoying when there are 50 of them. Once a baby is on the ground, the parents will not come down to feed it ,unlike most songbirds who's offspring have to be on the ground to learn how to fly and find food. Crows are very intelligent birds and can live for 25 years. They play an important part in our eco system with carrion control and help keep some populations of pests at bay. They help keep neighborhoods clean of rotting fruit on unpicked trees and can be quite comical to watch from a distance.




	Common injuries are broken wing, broken leg and gunshot. This crow has a broken wing. It does not sit close to the body and will drag on the ground when he stands. If he had a broken leg, he would topple to the side and use his wing for balance.

Place injured adults and juveniles into a large box or pet carrier with paper lining. You can put a bowl of water and some soaked cat or dog kibble inside as it may be 24 hours before a rehabber can respond (this is a temporary diet until a rehabber is reached, do not try to raise a bird on this as it is not complete nutrition) Babies should be placed in a small box with soft padding to create a cozy nest like feeling. This can be placed on top of a heating pad set on low. Pieces of soaked kibble can be dropped in the babies mouth if he is gaping(DO NOT TRY TO FORCE BEAK OPEN) Babies are usually very dehydrated so it is crucial to get them to a rehabber asap as feeding a dehydrated animal will only dehydrate it more. Do not attempt to squirt water into its mouth as this may result in aspiration. Make a note of where and at what time the bird was found . Keep track of when the group fly's through the area as this may help return the crow back to its family after care.




	This is the abdomen of a young crow that is emaciated and dehydrated. The sunken scaly skin should be smooth and bulging.


	West Nile Virus


	Each year many crows and other corvids die from west nile. They seem to have little resistance to the mosquito borne virus. Some people become frantic when they see a bird and think that they will contract the disease if the bird stays in their yard. The truth is, the mosquitos will bite the nearest thing that they can consume blood from. If a bird or animal is nearby, then they will most likely become the target instead of a human. Many songbirds such as swallows and phobes consume mosquitos ,there fore limiting the chances of anyone being bitten. In 2005, Camarillo Wildlife cared for well over 40 birds and mammals that recovered from west nile virus including a Raven. Vector control believes this to be a first in California and that this is very exciting news that such a bird could pull through a virus believed to be fatal to crows and ravens. Other species to recover at our facility include Western Bluebird, Grosbeak, Towhee, Scrub Jay, dove and tree squirrel.

	Copyright © 2004 Nicky Thole/Karin Beer-Koller ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For viewing purposes only. Downloading for commercial use will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.