Hoopoe Rescue.

[MrPlum]

Found a young Hoopoe on a dirt track (not actual picture) this morning...




A Minah bird, with a nearby nest, was brutally removing his feathers, one by one. The future looked grim. I've brought him home but wondering how best to take care of him.

I'd guess he's at the age and size to commence first flight.

His behaviour is something I've not seen before. He appears to fall asleep, then at regular intervals, wakes up, stretches his neck upwards and around to the right, nearly topples over, then goes back to sleep. I'm thinking an injury. I've just noticed him preening which I see as a good sign.

There may be a 'twitcher' on the forum. What's the drill on helping these birds recover?

[magnum]

I would say they are insect eaters,if it is very young would be tempted to mash up insects to a pulp try avoiding the hard shell and wings and feed with tweezers.
Good luck probably got small chance of survival.

[MrPlum]

Thanks for the advice. The bird survived the night. My youngster and I are out bug-hunting this morning, to see if it will eat.

[MrPlum]

Here's the wee fella. Eating okay, preening normally and the strange arching of the neck has stopped.

[MrPlum]

Just to close this topic, the bird has been eating well and seems in good shape. Whether it remains that way we'll never know, since an hour ago it flew the coop. The search has been abandoned.

[Big Boy]

Well, I think that's fantastic news. I honestly thought that you were going to tell us that it had died. Well done.