06/04/2026
So, two days after I posted about fledgling song birds and what to do if you come across one, I rescued my first one of the season and made my second trip of the year down to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
I came across this Common Grackle fledgling laying in the middle of John St. near the Foodland, most likely hit by a car. His parents were flying back and forth desperately trying to care for him. I thought the little guy was dead and I was worried about the parents getting hurt flying around him in the road, so I decided to move him away from the road where they could safely say their goodbyes. I was shocked to find him still alive. He was lying on his side on the hot pavement with eyes half closed, gasping for breath and holding one wing at a slightly odd angle. I knew in that moment I couldn't leave him in his parents' care as I thought he was seriously injured, possibly a broken wing, and perhaps near death. In fact, I was certain he wasn't going to make it and that he was going to pass away very quickly. I felt bad removing him from his parents with them nervously keeping watch from a distance. I wished I could speak Grackle so that I could reassure them that their baby would be alright.
I brought him home, made him comfortable in a carrier, and left him in my bathroom with the light off and the door closed. Being kept in quiet darkness is often best for animals going into care as it helps them relax. I had an hour left of work before I would be able to transport him to Aspen Valley if he survived that long.
I was prepared that I might be burying a little bird when I returned home, but instead he was looking much better. His eyes were open and bright, he was stable on his feet moving around the crate, flapping his wings and able to perch on my finger.
Ideally, I would have liked to return him to his parents, but it had been over an hour since I picked him up. The window for reuniting parents with fledgling song birds is 1-2 hours, so I was concerned a reunion might not be possible. I was also concerned with the fact that he had most likely been hit by a car, there was still a possibility of injury. I made the decision to drive him down to Aspen Valley.
By the time we arrived, he was a lot more active in the crate and squawking for food or in protest. I'm not sure which. When he was being transferred into Aspen Valley's capable hand neither the intake staff nor I could detect any injury. He was no longer holding his wing at an odd angle.
He will be examined by their vet for any undetected injuries and will be put in with young grackles already in care. I imagine he'll be released back into the wild within a week or two. It's fanciful thinking, but perhaps, he'll find his parents and can tell them himself that he's fine.
