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 Wild Bird Rescue - A Basic Guide
 

Wild Bird Rescue
What the Backyard Bird Watcher Should Know!

When Do You Know if Rescuing a Wild Bird
is Necessary?

Finding a baby bird on the ground is a dilemma ... what to do?  Should you pick it up and rescue it?  Or leave it be?  Here is a basic guideline to help you decide if wild bird rescue is necessary. For more help go to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory.
  • If the baby bird is feathered and hopping around the best course would be to leave it alone.  Many birds leave their nest (fledge) before they can fly.  If this is what you observe chances are good the parents are nearby and watching over their baby.  By interfering you may lessen it's chances for survival.  Try to rein in your parental instinct and walk a little distance away and watch.  You may see the parents rush to the baby and then you'll have some assurance that everything will be okay, and "rescuing" the baby would only interefere with its natural progress.


  • One word of caution.  If there are cats that run loose in your neighborhood, it may be best to take a good look to see if any are lurking nearby.  If that is the case, remove the cat or collect the baby bird and try to return it to its nest.  That way it will have a chance to try its wings again when it may be safer.


  • If you find a featherless baby that has obviously fallen out of it's nest, the best thing to do is simply put it back.  If you find a whole nest that has fallen from a tree try to replace the nest as near to it's original location as possible.  It's very likely the parents will return.  If they do, bird rescue won't be necessary.


  • If you find it necessary to pick up a baby bird to replace it in the nest don't be concerned about human contact.  The parent birds will not reject or attack the baby if you have touched it.


  • If you find a baby bird that is obviously injured or you can't replace it in the nest for some reason, this is what to do:
    Initial rescue:  First, put it in a dark, secure box or paper bag lined with soft tissue.  Provide ventilation.  The darkness will calm the bird and help relieve it's stress.  Keep children and pets away.  Do not attempt to give it food or water as that can do irreparable harm or cause death. 
    Second Stage Rescue: For emergency treatment and care contact your local wildlife rehabilitator. If you cannot find one yourself The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory can help you find a rehabilitator in your area.  It is against the law to keep native wildlife even if it is injured.  Wildlife Rehabilitators are trained and licensed to care for our navtive birds and animals.


  • If you cannot locate a rehabilitator contact your local veterinarian.  At the very least they should provide someone that will be of help, or hey may care for the bird themselves.  Do not keep the baby bird.  It is against the law to keep native wildlife in captivity.  If the bird is injured it will need professional help.
The same guideline is true if you find an injured adult bird.  In some cases, an adult might look injured or dead, but it is actually just stunned or perhaps unconscious.  This is common for birds that hit windows, but not hard enough to be killed.  If you find such a bird, and it is breathing without difficulty, place it in a dark box as described above.  Give it time to recover on its own and then release it.  If the bird has recovered satisfactorily it will fly away when uncovered, so be sure to take the box outside before opening it.  Release th bird in a quiet place away from pets and children.  If the bird is injured and unable to recover call your local wildlife rehabilitator as described above.
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