First Aid:

If you see a swift lying on the ground, it certainly requires support. If you do not have enough courage to lift him, tell the relevant departments (City Guard, Department of Environmental Protection Office in the nearest municipality or city). From May to August comes to our clinic large number of these birds, and in late June and July that are mostly young. We face the most with wing or clavicle fractures, jaw and beak injuries, poisoning. Young Swifts are often pushed out by a sibling, fly away too fast, or someone has destroyed the nest. There are cases of healthy individuals, which falling to the ground the ground they can not rise into the air by themselves. If there is no any visible injuries you can try to let him go gently, preferably with a supply of low altitude over the soft ground, so that in case of internal injuries (fractures) the fall is not worsened his condition.

Remember - never throw the bird.

The chances of survival for swift, who did not depart from the hand would be decreased in every the hour. The best solution is the fastest possible delivery to the nearest center (asylum) for birds. If it is not possible for some reason, try to veterinarian examine him. In case of an incurable injury, will not be need for additional animal transport-related stress. If the doctor does not have experience with this species, you can always contact us. Any bird which comes to us is firstly examinated (weighing, determination of sex, age, and of course injury). The most important thing is to ensure its proper temperature and hydration. If it is not possible to give intravenous or subcutaneous injection, we give water gently using pipette,directly into the spout.

Swift should be placed in a small cardboard box or plastic (approx. 20x30x15 cm) with daily changed backing of newspaper or kitchen paper. Young, with scanty plumage are very vulnerable to decreases in body temperature or overheating.

 

 

Feeding:

If you are not able to deliver the bird to a specialist facility, and want to raise and release, in addition to providing him the right conditions you need to take care of his nutrition. Even the slightest mistake in the menu or the frequency of feeding can be fatal.

The best food is prepared from a mixture of insects or minced meat. Due to the difficulty of obtaining the ingredients, preparation and storage, you could use a replacement food. A detailed recipe and method of execution you will find HERE .

It is difficult to determine the optimal frequency and amount of food per day. Each individual may have different needs. Young, poorly feathered bird must be fed every 1 hour from early morning to sunset. Older specimens every 2 hours.

Swifts do not facilitate our work. Food in the form of molded, pea-sized balls  we need to put them straight to the spouts.

Best way: keep the bird in left hand. Open the beak with right hand fingernail and hold it with the left hand index finger.Now push "the ball", moistened already with water, with right hand deep into the throat. During the whole procedure you should remember not to get bird dirty. Paper towel which encapsulate the animal can help. The remains of food from the corners of the beak remove with a soft brush.

Rehabilitation:

Juveniles who reside in our facility are constantly monitored. In addition to observing the proper development of the plumage is also checked for weight. In the initial period should be increased by 5 g per day. Swifts reach a maximum weight of 50 g. After reaching they lose some, when about 40-45 g are ready for departure. In the last period of stay are helpful exercises in a closed room. A healthy bird can fly a few meters and land on a curtain. If have problems with that, does not acquire the appropriate height and lands on the ground, you should try again or attempt to more accurately diagnose the disease.

Returns on freedom:

Disquiet, grimaces during feeding, trying to get out of the box, the lack of weight gain for 3 days, that are the signs that time to leave our center is coming. Prolonged detention of swifts may end up too small a mass and a decrease in condition, or an outlet at a time when no longer have the chance to migrate from Polish territory. In determining this point, outside to the weight measure of the wing length is helpful, which should be between 160 to 165 mm. Wing ailerons should extend beyond the tail ailerons by more than 3.5 cm. Prior to the release their state of purity must being checked. In the case of contamination wash them under running water. Massage from the base to the end get rid of the excrement, food debris, etc. Then dry the bird in a clean box.Birds, that have poorly developed pectoral muscles and are not very viable, are not suitable for release.

Swift instinctively senses its ability to depart. We can help him by putting on the hand, directed at an angle of 45 degrees into the sky. While maintaining the necessary precautions (soft grassy ground, sunny weather), we wait. If the bird does not fly away, repeat the entire procedure the next day.

Remember that:

- Birds require relatively frequent, regular feeding and the right temperature without which their chances of survival are zero. A person with no relevant experience and commitment is not able to deal with them. In the case of chicks every hour feeding is required, in the case of larger specimens at two to three hours. If you do not have adequate time, working 8-10 hours a day and no one is able to relieve you, the bird has little chance of survival.

- Just getting his bearings education is only half the battle. To return to nature will need to be rehabilitated. Without it, the release of the bird is equal to his death. Centers are very reluctant to accept bred in captivity animals, which will have to spend a lifetime in a cage.

- The keeping of birds need permission of the Regional Directorate of Environmental Protection. If you do not have it, you have to face the legal consequences.