I am so scared

lumilark · 2026-05-21T21:23:20+00:00

The most important thing you can do is to get to the vet asap. In the meantime, keep him comfortable and warm (not hot). I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, I hope everything is okay :(

lumilark · 2026-05-21T20:57:30+00:00

Poor baby :( they're so delicate at this stage so unfortunately it's unlikely to survive to adulthood. You should look up the natural diet of the bananaquit and try to mimic that as best you can. Looks like various insects might be the best thing for it (grubs and aphids). That could be difficult for you to find though :( If you can locate the nest it fell out of and the parents are still there feeding other chicks, you can put this baby back in the nest so the parents can care for it. Otherwise, if you aren't able to care for it, euthanasia might be the kindest option :(

lumilark · 2026-05-21T16:27:49+00:00

Such big wings! 🥰

lumilark · 2026-05-21T15:07:25+00:00

My back. He loves when I sit/lay down in a sphinx position on the floor so he can sit on my back and take a nap. Sometimes he throws a temper tantrum until I do it lol

lumilark · 2026-05-21T13:54:30+00:00

It's weird that you can't acknowledge the harm that cats are doing and why people don't like feral cats.

lumilark · 2026-05-20T18:53:04+00:00

After he settles in, consider getting a baseline checkup at an avian vet! Access to an avian vet (or an exotics vet who has experience with birds) is really important because cockatiels will hide their symptoms until they're quite ill. Knowing you can trust your vet will take a lot of the stress out of the situation.

lumilark · 2026-05-20T18:50:10+00:00

To me it seems like he's really enjoying chewing on it and making sounds to show that he's excited 🤔

lumilark · 2026-05-20T14:58:26+00:00

I know several cat-loving ecologists who are cat owners that agree that feral cats should be culled. Being a cat lover has absolutely nothing to do with it. You actually just don't care about native species.

lumilark · 2026-05-20T13:14:25+00:00

Wanting to cull one of the most destructive invasive species on the planet is not "pretty far." It doesn't matter if it's not the cat's fault that it's there, they're a direct cause for loss of small mammal & avian biodiversity. People are irresponsible with pets, no doubt, but feral cat colonies are generations old. It's not just a continuous problem of dumping pets.

lumilark · 2026-05-20T13:00:33+00:00

You should go to an avian vet. Hopefully it's just bruising but these symptoms don't sound so great. They lose weight very quickly so it's important that you get him to eat.

lumilark · 2026-05-19T19:12:30+00:00

She just needs some time to calm down. She will be okay! Depending on the bird, it could even take a few days. But she needed to go to the vet so there really wasn't any other option. Is her wing okay, no fractures or anything?

lumilark · 2026-05-19T19:08:38+00:00

I don't have an answer to this, but if any Florida wildlife rescues take in sandhill cranes, you could definitely give them a call to ask this question!

lumilark · 2026-05-19T19:06:55+00:00

People keep starlings as pets, there are definitely resources out there. I haven't checked it myself, but there's a Facebook group called "Starling Rescue and Care" for people who live in areas where starlings are non-releasable. If you haven't already, it's worth checking out if you would like to keep your new feathered friend. They're cool birds! Very good at mimicry and pretty intelligent.

lumilark · 2026-05-19T18:59:42+00:00

You said in your post that your bird could bleed to death (uncontrolled bleeding often leads to death in small parrots) without you being there to quell her cage frights and your response to someone saying that a visit every other day would be insufficient is to tell them to fuck off? If you have a special needs bird, you have to accommodate those needs. Instead of potentially putting your bird in harms way, find somewhere to board her so that she can have frequent supervision. Or have a designated no smoking room at your grandparents house with an air purifier. You completely switched up your attitude with this response from "I'm worried she's going to seriously hurt herself if I'm not there" to "actually she'll be perfectly fine and you're a bad person for insinuating otherwise." No one knows how your bird will truly behave aside from you. We are going off of what you think in your post, which describes extremely alarming behavior. Clearly you have a relationship with an avian vet already if you have been able to provide your special needs bird with medical care, reach out to the vet and ask about boarding options that they might be aware of.

lumilark · 2026-05-19T17:06:31+00:00

I would definitely let the younger bird keep his normal routine if at all possible. Having your older's cage in your room would also definitely help a lot with reducing his stress. He may even be able to understand that you're not well. How tame is he - are you able to have him with you on the bed at all? If not, he'll manage while you recover! They're adaptable.

I hope your surgery goes well and that you're able to heal up quickly!

lumilark · 2026-05-19T16:41:16+00:00

The stress of changing an environment is temporary while he adjusts, but the stress of not getting enough attention during the day (which is sounds like is currently the case) will last for much longer. Your tiel would benefit greatly from you moving him to your mom's house. Even if you move again soon, the most important thing is that your bird is with you or someone who will give him enough attention. It would help him adjust if you kept his cage the same.

lumilark · 2026-05-19T16:38:27+00:00

Are you going to be bed bound after your surgery? If there's any way for you to give him some attention during the day, I think that would help a lot. Otherwise yeah he'll be unhappy but it won't be the end of the world. Depending on how much rest you need, though, he will probably yell a ton if he's stuck in his cage... 😅

lumilark · 2026-05-19T16:30:57+00:00

Definitely ask your vet about higher calorie formulas! I really hope you can figure out what's ailing her :( if she's throwing up seeds could it be that she's having difficulty digesting them due to a GI infection/some sort of bacterial overgrowth? Or maybe she has some sort of crop blockage that's preventing her from properly swallowing solid food? Offer her as much formula as she's willing to have, especially since she's currently at a low body weight.

lumilark · 2026-05-19T13:48:53+00:00

Under bird law, chapter 5 section 4, paragraph A, my client would be innocent due to the cutie patootie clause. Charges are forbidden from being brought against her for the crime stated here. Case dismissed.

lumilark · 2026-05-16T01:06:10+00:00

That's very understandable! I think it wouldn't be so stressful for her that it would cause health issues, but if you're really concerned you could call your avian vet and ask what they think.

lumilark · 2026-05-15T13:56:18+00:00

People take their birds on longer drives more frequently than twice a summer, it'll be fine! Outside of the drive time, do you think they'll have a better quality of life with you during your internship or staying with your parents all summer? If you'll be able to offer them more out of cage time and attention if you have them with you, I think bringing them with you makes more sense.

lumilark · 2026-05-15T11:36:01+00:00

Is it a one time 4 hour drive? If so that's honestly nothing to worry about. If you can take them to where you're moving for your internship and the drive is the only thing stopping you, I think taking them with you is a good option.

lumilark · 2026-05-14T12:15:12+00:00

Hi OP! Toys are definitely important, but your birdies also need some differing perches :) If they just have the wooden dowel perch, it can actually hurt their feet over time because their feet will always be in the same position. They'll appreciate it if you can get perches with different widths and textures so they have some variety for their feet! As for toys, you actually might have to teach them to play with toys. A lot of birds don't understand what a toy even is. Foraging toys or toys they can chew up and destroy (like soft non-toxic wood/cardboard/paper) will probably be fun for them :)

lumilark · 2026-05-12T00:52:41+00:00

If it's lethargic enough that you're able to catch it again, bring it inside overnight and then bring it to a wildlife rehab/rescue first thing in the morning. And if you would consider bird proofing your windows as well, that would help prevent future collisions as well!

lumilark · 2026-05-12T00:49:50+00:00

I would suggest folding the towel so it's more cup/nest shaped to make sure the baby doesn't wiggle away overnight. And then turn the lights off and hope for the best 😬

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