A tiny whitethroat bird was found stunned after colliding with a car. The animal hospital where he was taken decided to go the extra mile and make him tiny shoes to hold his curled toes in the correct position while they heal.
A couple discovered the bird lying in the road in Kibworth Beauchamp, a village in Leicestershire, England, on Aug. 8. They contacted Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital and brought him to the facility for care.
While he was not reportedly severely injured, his toes were curled under, and he could not grip properly. Staff responded by creating two small supports that look very similar to flip-flops.
Animal care team leader Amy Blower provided details about the treatment and the bird’s recovery to Talker News.
The Bird’s Shoes Were Made From Three Simple Materials
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Hospital staff made the supports from cardboard, cotton wool and micropore tape. The cotton wool provides cushioning between the bird’s feet and the cardboard, while the tape keeps the tiny shoes in place.
The hospital said the supports should allow the toes to sit and heal in the correct position. Staff believed the curling could be related to nerve or ligament damage, but they are continuing to monitor the bird until he’s ready to fly away. Blower said the hospital has used the same technique with other young birds, although those cases usually involved nutritional deficiencies.
The Shoes Appear To Be Helping
Blower said the treatment appeared to be working and the bird was making a good recovery. Other than the problem with his feet, staff did not find any additional injuries. The hospital hopes to release the whitethroat within a few days, but only after he had recovered enough to return safely to the wild. Its official website explains that the charity’s goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick, injured, and distressed wildlife.
The facility also returns patients to the areas where they were found when appropriate, as this can help reduce stress when an animal is released.
Whitethroats Spend the Summer in Britain
The hospital does not commonly receive whitethroats because the migratory birds are only in Britain during the warmer months. According to the British Trust for Ornithology, the whitethroat is a small brown warbler that migrates from Africa. The birds usually begin arriving in Britain and Ireland in April, and most have departed by the end of September.
The species is currently on the United Kingdom’s Amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern. Hospital staff said that made it especially exciting to see this bird recovering and moving closer to returning to the wild.