I live in the city; I am not running some kind of complex calculus where I have to choose how many of what species live and who dies. You can leave that kind of decision to the professionals.
All wildlife goes to the wildlife place (sometimes there is more than one option, depending on the species); domestic animals like cats and dogs go to a private or municipal veterinarian.
Well I called the wildlife place and the kinglet died 
The guy was quite sad about it too. We talked a bit about what great little birds they are and he said they’re one of his favourites so he was bummed out by it not surviving. Guess there was more wrong with him than I thought. But at least he didn’t die out in the cold, dark. He was warm and safe.
Again, I’m just curious. How often do you encounter wildlife that you feel needs to go to a wildlife place? I’ve lived in cities/suburbs all of my life, and I’m not sure I’ve encountered such a thing more than once or twice.
I really like and appreciate wildlife. I feed birds, and garden in a way to provide shelter, water, etc. But I guess I feel my obligation pretty much ends there. Only exception would be if I thought I had CAUSED the injury or something.
That’s right. You done good. 
An endangered species or something? Not often. Feral pigeon mauled by a cat? Couldn’t tell you the exact frequency, but it is never too surprising.
All I can tell you is, I would not leave an injured animal (or human) to slowly die an agonizing death outside in the cold.
All I can tell you is, I would not leave an injured animal (or human) to slowly die an agonizing death outside in the cold.
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I feel exactly the same.
I’m sorry to hear that, but it is a reality of wildlife rescue.
It’s not normal for a wild animal to disregard its normal wariness of humans so when they do you have to wonder what exactly is going on. Are they on some level aware they are sick/weak/injured and are choosing a human habitation because its warm? Because they fear humans less than other potential hazards and predators?
If nothing else, the bird did not die for lack of food, water, or shelter. It most likely did not die in terror, attempting to flee a predator. If nothing else, you gave it a chance at a peaceful passing.
Thanks for your insights. One thing I appreciate about these forums is the opportunity to compare how I feel about certain things with others’ approaches.
I generally consider myself pretty much of an animal lover - both domestic and wild. This discussion has helped me examine the depth and limits of my feelings.
Good for you @FloatyGimpy. Poor little kinglet, at least he died warm and cared for.
There’s a famous passage in 9th Century Old English literature, by the Venerable Bede, comparing human life to a bird in the cold:
“O king, it seems to me that this present life of man on earth, in comparison to that time which is unknown to us, is as if you were sitting at table in the winter with your ealdormen and thegns, and a fire was kindled and the hall warmed, while it rained and snowed and stormed outside. A sparrow came in, and swiftly flew through the hall; it came in at one door, and went out at the other. Now during the time when he is inside, he is not touched by the winter’s storms; but that is the twinkling of an eye and the briefest of moments, and at once he comes again from winter into winter. In such a way the life of man appears for a brief moment; what comes before, and what will follow after, we do not know.” A Clerk of Oxford: The Venerable Bede and the Blink of an Eye
Here’s another translation and William Wordsworth’s sonnet version of the passage First Known When Lost: Interval