Page 644 - Hand rearing birds second

Corvids 645

bears careful consideration. If other juvenile corvids are present in the nest and not quite ready to
fledge, they might prematurely jump out of the nest when the sibling is returned. If the juveniles
are not fully feathered and therefore more docile, returning a sibling to the nest is generally more
successful for all of the birds. Some corvid nests, including those of ravens, are located on cliffs or
in tall trees and would require an experienced climber or special equipment to reach the nest. If an
attempt is made to re-nest a corvid nestling in a substitute nest, the situation must be observed
until the adults are seen directly feeding the young.

Record Keeping

Corvids living in the United States are covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and any time
spent in captivity is, by law, regulated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and by indi-
vidual state agencies. Injured or orphaned corvids should be cared for only by individuals or organ-
izations permitted by both the state and the federal governments. Outside of the United States, the
laws regarding wild birds vary. Beware that an inexperienced caregiver raising a single bird is
almost guaranteed to produce an imprinted or tame bird, and caregivers need guidelines to suc-
cessfully rehabilitate corvid species. Some rehabilitation centers do not accept corvids. Search state
and federal organization websites to locate a rehabilitator willing to care for the species.
Basic information including species, age, location found, finder’s contact information, reason for
bringing the bird into captivity, behavior of the bird when found, medical problems found on ini-
tial exam, final disposition, and release location must be included in a record for each bird. A
detailed medical record should include initial exam and updates, such as body weights, response
to treatments, medications, daily types and amounts of food consumed, behavioral notes, and
results of laboratory tests.
Recording the location the bird was found is critically important. Corvids are social birds, with
family members congregated in a specific area. Returning a bird to a support network upon release
will enhance its chance of survival. Detailed records about the habitat in the location the bird was
found will allow a caregiver to pinpoint areas with habitat beneficial to a particular species of cor-
vid. This will aid in the successful release of birds unable to be returned to their home territory.
Because much of a corvid’s behavior depends on its familiarity with its environment and learned
skills, it is critical to release a “city bird” in the city and a “country bird” in a more rural area.
Multiple caregivers may result in inconsistent and inappropriate care; therefore, feeding and
housing instructions including amounts to feed and feeding methods for each stage of the bird’s
growth or recovery should be available.
Finally, corvids require the company of conspecifics to decrease stress and to develop social ties.
They may carry illnesses or parasites that are infectious to other birds. Records should detail interac-
tions or contact between birds in captivity to enable caregivers to keep social groups together through
release and to track and locate transmission of contamination or illness. Corvids should be raised in
stable groups to prevent the spread of disease to the entire rehabilitation collection of corvids.

­ Initial­Care­and Stabilization

A newly admitted corvid should be allowed to stabilize in a warm, quiet, and dark enclosure for at
least 15 minutes before having an initial exam unless immediate care is indicated. The initial exam
should consist of a systematic search for lesions, fractures, or other abnormalities. If indicated,