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438 Hand-Rearing Birds

several days of life, then increasing amounts of adult diet are mixed in until weaning occurs
(Vandeputte‐Poma 1980). Dove and pigeon hatchlings, consequently, are appropriately fed a more
carnivorous diet than would be expected from the adult birds’ diets.

Criteria for Intervention

Doves are frequent victims of cat attacks, window strikes, and car collisions. Young are often found
on the ground after storms when heavy wind or rain causes the flimsy nest to collapse. Loss of
parents to predators is very common as the dove is a favorite prey for hawks. Crows and jays will
attack chicks as well. Pigeons are likely to present with pellet gun injuries, poisoning, car collision
injuries, and feather damage from bird repellant substances. Their young are often orphaned due
to nest removal by exterminators because the nests are frequently found on ledges and rooftops of
business buildings.
Because of frequent nest damage, returning the young to the original nest is often not possible
and orphaned doves and pigeons make up a large percentage of birds presented to rehabilitation
centers. However, doves are one of the easiest birds to re‐nest under the right conditions. The par-
ents will follow the baby’s cries for food and often a parent dove will try to continue caring for a
grounded baby by feeding it and brooding it as much as possible. Grounded neonates will not
survive, but if the chick is warm and alert and the parent birds are nearby, then re‐nesting can be
attempted and is often successful. Use a makeshift nest (small natural fiber basket lined with dried
grass or the remains of the old nest) and attach it to a branch in a nearby tree. Make sure that the
nest is protected from exposure, especially to afternoon sun. Observe the nest from a distance to
make sure the parent birds are caring for the baby. It might take an hour or two for the parents to
return.
Proper species identification is necessary to determine whether release or captivity is suitable.
Rock Pigeons and other nonnative species in the U.S. are not protected by the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act of 1918, so permits are not required to rehabilitate or keep them. Some breeds of domes-
ticated pigeons are not suitable for wild release due to behavior or plumage.

Record Keeping

To comply with Federal regulations, records should be kept per the Minimum Standards for
Wildlife Rehabilitation (Miller 2012); contact state or regional wildlife agencies for additional
requirements. As a minimum, the following information should be kept: species, date admitted,
location found, approximate age, reason admitted for care, medical problems, admission weight,
and final disposition including transfer, death, euthanasia, or release date and location. Contact
information for the finder is useful in the event that more information is required.
A complete medical record should also be kept with each bird, detailing findings of the ini-
tial examination, medications administered, daily body weight, progress of treatment, and
behavioral notes. A daily feed and care chart should be maintained throughout the birds’ stay
in captivity. It is particularly useful to note changes in weight as well as changes in appetite,
temperature, hydration, crop clearance, and diet. Each bird should be assigned a patient num-
ber. If multiple birds are being cared for, small plastic numbered leg bands (National Band and
Tag Company) available from avian and poultry suppliers can be used to track individual
progress.