Residents of the Sverdlovsk region found hundreds of dead birds in the Nizhny Tagil area. According to several eyewitnesses who sent photos to the editorial office, all the sides of the track are literally strewn with their bodies.
“Due to the abnormal weather in the Urals, hundreds of swifts fall from the sky from hunger and cold,” said Elena, a reader of E1. RU. - On the track near Nizhniy Tagil, birds fell directly to the ground from exhaustion and cold. A whole flock of birds died, not having time to fly to a more favorable area for searching for food and heat.
According to the motorists who passed by, some of the swifts have not yet died, but are very exhausted. E1. RU reader Sergei said that many birds flew so low that they were hit by cars.
- For the most part, they were hit by cars, because one hit itself on the antenna of our car, although we were driving slowly, - said Sergey. “And they planned right over the road. Closer to Tagil there is a river by the road, there, too, the birds were weird, but there were few of them.
What exactly caused the mass death of birds is not yet known for sure, but we requested a comment from the ornithologist. This summer in the Urals is really extremely cold.
If you've picked up a freezing bird, please reread our instructions on how to take care of it. The main thing to remember is that you cannot feed the bird with food from the table. And they need food not in the morning and in the evening when you come home from work, but strictly by the hour during the day. It is better to consult a specialist for advice. For example, you can call the zoo (they will advise you here, but they cannot give shelter to a "bunch" according to the rules) or contact our forum "We can help you with whatever we can."
And here is an instruction from rescuers of swifts with many years of experience:
1. Place in a box, bring into the warmth everyone who gives even the slightest signs of life or does not even give - they can come to their senses in the warmth. It is advisable to line the box with paper towels.
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2. Give 1-2 drops of 5% glucose, or "Gamavita" (veterinary medicine) into the beak (slightly on the side).
3. Look for an urgently suitable food - a brownie or banana cricket, marble or Turkmen cockroaches, at worst, a tormentor.
4. Do not release the bird until the weather is good. Only active, vigorous and properly fed birds can be released, otherwise they will die from weakness.
5. And remember - a couple of swifts over the summer destroys half a million insects, including blood-sucking ones. By saving them, we are saving ourselves.