Sometimes people come
into contact with a bird that is injured or abandoned. But what should you do if you find a
bird that needs help?
The first step is to
determine if the bird is actually in need of your help. Young fledgling birds often leave the
nest before they can fully fly, and the parents will care for them from the
ground. In many cases the
fledglings have short stubby tail and wing feathers with some down feathers on the
head, back and chest, and can often be seen
hopping on the ground. These birds
are easily caught, but are not in need of help. If you are unsure if a bird is injured or abandoned, you can
call your local wildlife rehab and they can advise you on what to do. The Wildlife Rehabber website has a
listing of rehabs by state so that you can find one in your area.
A juvenile Barred Owl being treated for a broken wing in the WBS Wildlife Hospital
A sure sign of an injured
bird is if you can see visible injuries or flies hovering around the
animal.
Sometimes birds run into
windows and are stunned. They can
often recover and fly away with a bit of time in a safe place. If they do not fly off after some time,
they may have a more serious injury and need the care of a wildlife rehabber.
If you find a bird that
you believe is injured or abandoned, carefully place it in a cardboard box with
a lid, and keep the box in a cool (in summer) or warm (in winter) place.
A Merlin being treated for a wing injury in the WBS Wildlife Hospital
If you find a bird of prey
such as a hawk or falcon that needs help, you can place a towel or jacket over the animal to pick it up. If you have at least leather work
gloves, they are recommended, too. After the bird is covered with
the towel, you can grab the bird around the legs to protect yourself from the
sharp talons and place it into the box.
Be sure your box is secure so that the bird cannot escape while in
transport.
While the bird is in your
care, do not try to feed it or give it water. There are many different kinds of birds, each with its own
special diet.
The best thing you can do
is transport the bird to your local wildlife rehabber as soon as possible. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are
specially trained to care for these animals, and have all the necessary diets
and medications to administer to the animal.
Your bird will have the best
chance of being returned to the wild under the care of a wildlife
rehabilitator.
Submitted by Paige
Davis, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
1 comment:
very informative article, thanks for the tips which will be useful to literally help a bird or animal.
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