For anyone working in the field of wildlife disease and dealing with avian populations, there inevitably comes a time when hand-rearing individuals is necessary. There are over 9,600 recognized avian species worldwide, with 810 found in North America. Each species is unique, with differing nutritional requirements. As anyone who has attempted hand-rearing knows, success is probably more art than science, but without the knowledge and reference of basic formulas and techniques, it can be even more time-consuming and less successful than the norm might otherwise be.
It is more often than not that a chick that needs hand-feeding will arrive unexpectedly, and action must be taken immediately to save its life. There is no luxury of researching methods and formulas the next day. This book brings together a variety of methods that have been successfully used by an array of animal curators, rehabilitators, aviculturists, bird enthusiasts, veterinarians, and biologists. Having formulas and techniques available for a wide variety of avian species in one source is invaluable when confronted with a hungry orphan chick.
The editors, Rebecca Duerr and Lauri Gage, did an excellent job in finding experts in the field of hand-rearing chicks to provide the content for the chapters. Rebecca received a BS from San Francisco State University and her DVM from UC Davis. She has worked on oiled seabird care and is currently an avian and exotic animal veterinarian for the Wildlife Care Association of Sacramento.
She brings a love of birds to this book, and it is mentioned that her favorite birds are hatchling American robins and house finches. She contributed material for several chapters including the introductory chapter on general care, woodpeckers, and finches. Laurie Gage was a director at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, California, and then a veterinary assistant at the Los Angeles Zoo. She is currently with the United States Department of Agriculture, where she specializes in big cats.
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