Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!pacbell!att!ihnp4!ihlpl!mmst
From: mmst@ihlpl.ATT.COM (m.s. turek)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: orphan birdling
Summary: Bjay diet advice
Keywords: help?
Message-ID: <5620@ihlpl.ATT.COM>
Date: 30 Jun 88 20:37:17 GMT
References: <6591@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 51

In article <6591@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>, ins_avrd@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Victoria Rosly D'ull) writes:
> 
> I don't think he's very young -- he has all his wingfeathers in blue,
> but the rest is still grey down.  He can hop about or perch on a finger,
> and flaps his wings enthusiastically if I move him through the air.  
> What sort of encouragement does he need to really learn to fly?

	When he's ready to fly, you'll know it--he'll take off for
	short flights in the room if/when you open the cage.

> I've been keeping him in the warmest room in the house -- about 105 
> degrees F (we've been having a bit of a heatwave).  Is this too hot?
> Too cold?  

	This is probably about 10-20 degrees too warm.
	
	
> He's been eating tiny pieces of steak and bread soaked in
> soymilk, along with water from a syringe.  

	Assuming the steak is raw, that's not a bad idea since a
	bluejay is related to other birds of prey and enjoy meat.
	You can try canned dog food, which may be a little mushier
	and put that on a flat plate with some seeds and berries.
	Keep this plate in his cage, along with a shallow bowl of
	water and observe how much he eats.  When he's self-feeding
	he's approaching release time, given he is a strong flyer.
	
	Another respondent to your question was concerned with
	imprinting.  Hopefully this bird is old enough where that
	won't be too much of a problem.  But try to limit the human
	contact such as holding and talking to him.
	

> The last question is most important -- how can I prepare this young
> thing for a return to the Great Outdoors?  We have a lot of cats in
> our area and I don't want him to find out about predators the hard
> way.  I live (and the bird was found) in downtown Baltimore -- would 
> a more rural setting be better for him?

	Although it's usually best to return things to where they
	were found, jays are generally found in wooded areas, which
	downtown Baltimore is not.  Use your best judgement on this
	and pick a fairly sheltered spot that would provide natural
	foods.  Or maybe send him off with a "care package" of some
	food and place it on a stump, etc. where you release him.
	
	The idea of looking for a wildlife rehabilitation center that
	has other jays is also a good idea --if it is reputable.
	
Marla Turek