8. Dehydration . Birds should be tube-fed fluids several times a 

 day to keep them sufficiently hydrated, until they are cleaned 

 and swimming frequently, or known to be taking adequate quantities 

 from dishes in their pens. 



9. Pathogens . Pens, bedding, and feeding and tubing utensils should 

 be kept clean and disinfected regularly to avoid the transmission 

 of disease. Bedding materials that are likely to mold, such as 

 straw or wet newspaper, should not be used. This will reduce the 

 likelihood of infection by the fungal respiratory disease asper- 

 gillosis, a common problem in captive wild birds. 



The Center constructs pens for the birds using plywood sheets, measuring 

 0.6 m x 2.4 m x 0.9 cm (2 ft x 8 ft x 3/8 in). The plywood sheets are usually 

 subdivided with additional sheets of plywood or other barricades, so that 

 the birds can be spaced out within the pen. At first the pens are set up 

 indoors, so that the birds can be kept warm, but in later stages of rehabilitation, 

 many birds can be housed outdoors, depending on the weather. When necessary, 

 covers of plastic or cloth netting are placed over the pens to keep the birds 

 from flying out. 



The materials used for bedding in the pens are kept as clean and dry 

 as possible to prevent microbial infection, chilling, and the recontamination 

 of plumage with food and droppings. Two layers of bedding are ordinarily 

 used: a bottom layer of newspaper or thick foam padding, and a top layer 

 of absorbent cloth. It is particularly important that birds that lie con- 

 tinually on their ventral surfaces, such as loons, grebes and sea ducks, be 

 given a resilient bottom layer (of crumpled newspaper or foam). If this 

 resilient layer is not provided, these birds will develop pressure sores along 

 the keel when kept on too hard a surface. Active birds spending most of their 

 time on their feet can be given a bottom layer of flat news sheet only, which 

 is then covered with cloth for absorbency. 



During the first few days of captivity, the food and water intake of 

 the birds is supplemented by forced-feeding and tube-feedings of hydrating 

 solution. To avoid the stress of repeated handling, however, every effort 

 is made to have all of the birds feeding themselves within a day or so after 

 their arrival at the Center. They are also encouraged to drink from pans 

 of water in their pens. 



Fish-eating birds, such as pelicans, loons, cormorants, alcids, and sea 

 ducks, are fed small saltwater smelt (10 to 15 cm or 4 to 6 in long). Other 

 small fish can be used, but anchovies are not recommended because birds that 

 feed on them produce very oily droppings, which will recontaminate the plumage. 

 Self-feeding is encouraged by tossing a few small live fish into pans of water 

 or on the ground in front of birds. The movement of the live fish will usually 

 produce feeding behavior, as will competition with individual birds that have 

 already begun to feed. 



Grain-eating birds, such as swans, geese, dabbling ducks, and ruddy ducks, 

 are fed soft grain feeds at first, such as chick starter mash (nonmedicated) 

 and Trout Chow (Purina), which are presented in low, wide pans of water. 



130 



