In the UK nearly all injured wild birds have failed the fitness test. Only on major migration routes can one consider exhaustion as a possibility, and even then the bird should be thought to be unwell as well as exhausted. All traumatically injured birds must have fluids, per os or i.v. If it is collapsed, an i.v. bolus of glucose saline would be better. Do not perform surgery on injured wild birds for the first 24 hours unless there are special reasons.
First aid is of greater benefit.
A good proportion of injured wild birds will die in the first 24hours due to their illnesses no matter what one does, hasty surgical interference will make the numbers greater and also waste vet s time. Examination of a conscious bird will allow diagnosis of only a proportion of the casues of lameness. Beware of diagnosing sprains as a cause of lameness . Minor fractures and injuries to joints and their associated structures can only be assessed by examining the unconscious bird. General anaesthesia and examination of the unconscious and relaxed bird, followed by radiography is mandatory in all cases where the cause of lameness is serious, equivocal and persistent, or where there is a fracture or dislocation.