Raising Baby Starling Birds
Starlings, officially called European Starlings, were first introduced to the United States in 1890. They were brought to the country by those who wanted to live among all the birds found in William Shakespeare's poems and plays. The starling is mentioned in Shakespeare's "Henry IV."
Starlings can now be found throughout the United States. Taking care of orphaned starlings is no easy feat.
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Identification
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First you have to be sure you've found a European Starling because it's illegal to take care of most birds in the United States. Because European Starlings are an introduced species, however, it is legal to care for and house them. They are best identified by their bright yellow mouths, and older babies have black feathers.
Dehydration
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An orphaned bird is likely to be dehydrated. Do not put liquids into a baby starling's mouth, however; doing so could kill the bird by causing it to aspirate or drown. Instead, put drops of liquid on the outside of the beak, or feed the bird a liquid-rich food such as watermelon.
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Food
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In the wild, baby starlings are mostly fed insects, so the food you feed should be high in protein as well. Do not feed them worms you find outside because they can have harmful parasites. Dog or cat food mixed with water and applesauce is a good choice.
Feeding
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Depending on the age of the bird, feed it every 20 minutes (for nonfeathered babies) to 1 hour (for feathered babies) during the day. To hand-feed it, use a stirrer or popsicle stick. At 1 month, the baby may be old enough to begin the weaning process, though it won't be completely weaned until about 8 weeks.
Housing
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The younger the baby, the warmer you need to keep it. Unfeathered babies should be kept in 90-degree environments, while older babies with feathers can tolerate 75-degree enclosures. Be prepared to house the bird in a small container with a heating pad underneath and a towel inside.
Considerations
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The European Starling is one of the few wild bird species not protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So while it is legal for a person to feed and care for the birds, this doesn't mean it's a good idea. Raising baby birds is difficult, and you may need to search for an experienced wild bird rehabilitator to help.
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