I found a dazed and confused bird in my yard.

[Lex]

.
It didn't seem like it had a broken wing or anything. Just listless and out-of-it. It's been very, very hot and very dry here over the last 2 weeks.

When the bird saw me, it tried to run away which it did a bit, but then kind of gave out and fell over.

I scooped it up with a shovel and laid it in a box with some newspaper. I put some cool water in a plastic lid and set it in there, and got a blue cool-pak and put it under the newspaper. I wet some of the newspaper lying on the bottom a bit (for moisture) and put a cover over the box so the neighbor cat can't get in, but left some room for air to move through. The box is on my front porch in a shady and secure place.

Just a few minutes ago, I put in a little bird seed and it seemed to be sitting up better.

Now what do I do? Just leave it in there to rest?

Could it be the heat or lack of water that got to it? It's a small common looking gray bird--not sure of the type. I can't see any obvious injury.

[MisterP]

1. could also be starving and/or poisoned; are its wings crusty and its

feathers stuck together? 'coz that's what that stupid "bird repellent" glue does to them

[Lex]

4. Feathers look okay and not crusty.

Gosh, I hope it hasn't been poisoned!

[punpirate]

2. Hard to say...

... could also be disease, or the bird is old and ready to go.

If it perks up in a few hours after some water and getting its temperature down, it will probably be fine. If it's already a bit more alert, that's probably a good sign.

Cheers.

[Lex]

6. It actually looks on the young-ish side

and seems to be perking up some. I'll check again in a few hours to see how it looks then.

[XemaSab]

3. After a couple hours

open the box and see if it flies away.

If not, take it to the humane society tonight or tomorrow.

[Lex]

8. Okay, thanks. I'm hoping for a full recovery.

If the neighbor cat is out, I don't want it hopping around not able to fly because I'm sure the cat will get it.

[ladjf]

12. Could be a fledging bird, not quite ready to fly. Feed it and keep

it cool. It might just need some time.

[uppityperson]

13. a lot of young birds fledge before being able to fly

They can flutter down first. Then they can flutter horizontal, then fly horizontal, finally flying up. You may have a young one. Go outside and listen for a parent bird calling it as sometimes the parents hang around and follow it and feed it on the ground.

[ladjf]

14. Although its a bit late for birds to still be fledging, I just had three

young blue birds fledge today from a bird house in my backyard. You are right about the parents calling to them. Best leave the bird where you found it. Probably doesn't need food, just protection from cats, dogs and children.

[Dudley_DUright]

5. Play it some Led Zepplin "Dazed and Confused"

That should perk it right up. :P

Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true.
I wanted a woman, never bargained for you.
Lots of people talking, few of them know,
Soul of a woman was created below! Yeah

You hurt and abuse, tellin' all of your lies.
Run 'round sweet baby, lord, how they hypnotize.
Sweet little baby I don't know where you been
Gonna' love you baby, here I come again

Everyday I work so hard, bringin' home my hard earned pay.
Try to love you baby, but you push me away.
Don't know where your going, all I know just where you been,
Sweet little baby I want you again.

Oh yea, all right, all right

Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true
Wanted a woman never bargained for you
take it easy baby, let them say what they will
Toung'll wag so much when i send you the bill

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Dazed-and-confused-lyrics-Led-Zeppelin/FF098B76F1AEB72E482568870000C2CB

[kikiek]

7. I hope it feels better soon. Its nice to hear that people still care.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Maybe he's just out lookin' for some high school chicks

Alright, alright.

[dhinojosa]

10. Did it have a Bush/Cheney T-Shirt on?

heheh. Thanks for helping the little birdie out. :)

[AndyTiedye]

11. We Had a Young Blue Jay Land on Our Deck, Nest and All

I guess mama jay's nest construction techniques were not quite up to snuff.

We quickly brought the cats inside (to their considerable annoyance),
and waited. The mama jay and a couple of the others started chirping
something like "come on, fly, you can do it" in bluejay -- eventually
the young one figured it out and flew off into the bushes.