Emergency Prep · Wildlife
The No-Rehab Orphans
House Sparrows, Starlings, and Pigeons
The rehabber won't take them — so if you don't, nobody will. Paola has raised dozens. 10 modules on why these three species are unprotected, sparrow and starling nestling diets, crop-milk substitutes and syringe feeding for squabs, weaning, the release dilemma, and the lifelong responsibility you're signing up for.
About this course
Bring a baby house sparrow, starling or feral pigeon to a wildlife center and most will turn you away — the law excludes these non-native species from protection, and permits forbid rehabbing or releasing them. That leaves you. Paola has raised sixty-odd sparrows, twenty pigeons and a handful of starlings (her budgies taught some of them to eat), and this course is everything she wishes someone had told her first: what each species actually eats, how a squab feeds without gaping, starlings and iron, weaning, the release dilemma, why a tame sparrow outdoors is a dead sparrow, and the pigeon-lung mask rule. Eyes open, before you say yes.
What you'll learn
- Why the Migratory Bird Treaty Act excludes these three species and what that means for rehabbers and for you
- House sparrow nestlings are insectivores: insect formula, mealworms, egg yolk, every 20–30 minutes — never seeds or bread
- Starlings need soft, low-iron food; high-iron dog and cat foods cause fatal Iron Storage Disease
- Pigeon squabs do not gape: parrot hand-feeding formula at 100–102°F through a soft nipple or glove-tip rig
- Weaning at 3–4 weeks and the hard choice between an aviary life and a release that is illegal in many places
- Psittacosis and pigeon breeder's lung: N95, HEPA, wet-wiping, never dry-sweeping
Who this is for
Anyone who has been turned away by a rehabber with a peeping baby in a shoebox; bird keepers who already have budgies or finches and want to know what's safe; and people who want the whole truth — including the euthanasia reality and the decade of care — before they commit.
Course outline (10 modules)
Quiz & Certificate
Knowledge quiz
After completing all lessons, take a short quiz to test your understanding.
Go to quiz →Completion certificate
Pass the quiz and earn a shareable certificate of completion.
View certificate →Frequently asked questions
Ready to get started?
$9.99 · Lifetime access · 10 lessons