Evening star., 1946-05-01
This and That
By Charles E. TraceueU.
FALLS CHURCH va

rALBS CdURCH, va.
Dear Sir:
Il always read your column and con-
slider it fine contribution to WORTH
while knowledge. Tonight your story
about the mockingbird with the broken
leg made me decide to tell you about
the wounded towhee
"On May l, 1914, as I was leaving the
house in the morning I saw a bird sit
ting on the porch steps, and it hardly
moved from under my feet as 1 ap-
preached. then saw it was a female
toWhee lying partly on one side. 1
picked 1t up and found that one foot and
one wing were broken. To save it from
the first cat that might come along 1
placed it on the floor inside the screened
porch but soon saw it was practically
helpless as all the toes of one foot were
folded back and it could not stand.
I took 1t in the house, placed its good
foot on piece of paper and drew an
outline. then made splint out of a pipe
cleaner, to duplicate this shape and
carefully taped the broken foot to the
splint with adhesive. When I put it
down. it hoped all over the place.
though its wing was still useless. But
the foot worked we'll enough so it could
60 anywhere on the floor.
I'VE gave it water and food, and al
lowed 1t to live right with the family on
the porch. 1t ate lot and seemed all
right except for the wing. The male
stayed outside in the leaves and bushes
by the porch, calling at intervals.
L went on long air trip, and re-
turned on May 20 to find the towhee
had for three days been using both
wings and flying all around the porch.
l took off the splint and its foot was
all right. 1t walked all right, also clung
to the wire screen with both feet. and
they seemed to work perfectly. Its mate
was still outside, calling occasionally
from the ground under the rhododen-
drons. I. let 1T out and saw it and it's
mate for several days before they left
for parts unknown
very truly yours, j. S. H.,
Major General, U. S. A.
"P. SIN field near where I lived
several years ago there was a pheasant
that had lost one leg. Several times
over period of two or three years I
saw 1t hopping around on one foot
X ~
This letter shows what may be done
to help an injured bird with the aid of
common sense treatment.
1t also reveals about how long one
may expect an injured leg and wing to
heal
This correspondent shows, too, the
best method of handling both injuries
by making splint for a broken leg, but
by leaving an injured wing alone.
About three weeks, more or less, pro-
ic nf1 ,i,,i,
will do the work; or at least nature will
do it, with a little help.
1t goes without saying that protection
from further injury and plenty of food
and water are prime necessities
All injured birds should be put on
screened porches, and care taken to see
that no pets are allowed
Care must be used in applying a splint
to the leg.
1t is best to leave wing alone.
A wing is much more complicated
work OF nature than leg. The leg is
all out in the open, as it were, whereas
the finer bones of the wing are hidden
by the feathers.
Nature will care for broken wing, if
any one can.
Attempts to help wing by amateurs
mostly results in failure, whereas ma
ture, left to her own devices, often
brings the wing back to perfect health
and service.
Not all bird injuries will turn out as
well as those of the towhee aided by the
general.
Many birds are hurt internally, and
will not eat, and for such there is little
to do. But if the bird eats we'll, it has
every chance to survive. provided 1t is
given intelligent care, and not too much
| Of 1t.