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Serious question, should I have called a wildlife rehabber for a stunned bird?
A cardinal hit my patio door in Atlanta last Tuesday and was just sitting there, dazed. I had to choose between putting it in a shoebox in a quiet spot for an hour, or immediately calling the local rehab center, which is a 45-minute drive away. I went with the shoebox, and it flew off after about 20 minutes. Did I get lucky, or is calling a pro always the better move?
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ninal911mo ago
Did something similar happen to your friend? My buddy had a robin do the same thing, put it in a box in the garage for a bit, and it was totally fine. I figure if it flies off, you're good.
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willowc601mo ago
A shoebox and some quiet time is the standard move for a stunned bird. The rehab center would have told you the same thing before asking you to drive 45 minutes. Your outcome was the goal, not just luck. @ninal91's buddy had the right idea with the garage. Only time you need to call is if the bird is clearly hurt, like a broken wing, or if it hasn't moved in hours. You did fine.
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