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394 Hand-Rearing Birds

may stay with adults for up to 6 months, learning foraging skills before becoming fully independ-
ent (Petersen 2001a; Klusener et al. 2018).
Brooding is especially important during the first 2 weeks of life when the young cannot maintain
a proper body temperature on their own (Petersen 2001b). In North American species, fledging can
occur anywhere from 14 to 63 days after hatching and, in some cases, the young may remain with
their parents for even longer.

­ Criteria­for Intervention

Human disturbance of nesting sites and severe weather conditions are the most common reasons
for shorebird eggs and chicks to be brought into captivity. Shorebird parents may abandon their
nests if humans or their pets remain in close proximity for an extended period of time. Nesting site
conditions may change due to weather, with nests being temporarily flooded by extremely high
tides or heavy rain or covered by sand, dirt, or debris in strong winds. Abandoned eggs may survive
to hatching, even those moved by high tides, if found in time and incubated properly.
Shorebird chicks that become temporarily separated from their parents may be captured by well‐
meaning rescuers. If the chick is brought immediately to a wildlife rehabilitator and is in good
condition, it may be possible to reunite it with the parents if the location where it was found is
known. However, chicks are often kept by the rescuer for a day or more before being brought to a
rehabilitator, in which case the bird will need immediate attention.
Orphans may be the product of asynchronous hatching if the last chick or egg is left behind by
the parents. Predation or injury of parents also may create orphans.

­ Record­Keeping

Detailed information on the location where the bird was found should be recorded. This will serve
as a guide for suitable habitat for release. Wildlife regulatory agencies have minimum standards for
record keeping that require tracking of individual animals undergoing rehabilitation. Check with
your regulating agencies for further information. As a minimum, the following information should
be kept: species, age, location found, reason brought into captivity, medical problems, final disposi-
tion, and release location.
A detailed medical record should be kept on each animal, with results of the initial examination
recorded and any updated information added as it happens. This should include regular body
weights, progress of treatments, and pertinent notes on behavior.
Marking the top of their head with a sharpie marker or temporary plastic leg bands may be used
to identify individual chicks (National Band and Tag Company). Leg bands used for identification
should be regularly checked for correct fit, because many shorebirds have a substantial increase in
leg size between hatching and fledging. The marker may need to be reapplied as it fades.

­ Incubation­and Hatching­of Eggs

Proper incubation temperature is critical for ensuring the maximum hatchability of the eggs as
well as the best physical condition of the chicks that hatch. For more detailed information on
incubation of eggs, see Chapter 3.