How to Care for an Injured Bird

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Did you know that it's illegal to treat most wild birds? The best thing to do is protect an injured bird until it can fly away or until a licensed rehabilitator takes over.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Bird Netting
Boxes
Lightweight Towels Or Cloths
Soft Facial Tissues
Colanders
Paper Bags

Step1

Try to assess the source of the injury.

Step2

Cover a bird that has hit a window with a kitchen colander or box with holes in it, and give it time to recover.

Step3

Remove the box or colander when the bird has regained its senses, and let it fly away.

Step4

Gently pick up a bird whose injuries are more serious and put it into a box or paper bag lined with soft tissues. Poke holes in the lid of the box or bag so that the bird can breathe.

Step5

Refrain from giving food or water to the injured bird.

Step6

Call for professional help. If you do not have a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, call your local Audubon chapter, Humane Society or a local veterinarian to put you in touch with licensed rehabilitators in your area.

Tips & Warnings

Handle a wild bird as little as possible to avoid further trauma.
Dropping a lightweight cloth over an injured bird can help you catch it so that you can place it in a box.
Do not try to "heal" an injured bird yourself unless you are licensed to do so.
It is unlawful to keep most species of wild birds without a license.
If you find an injured hawk, owl or other large bird that has the potential to injure you, do not try to capture the bird yourself. Call for help as suggested above.

Comments

wildliferehab said

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on 7/8/2008 When birds hit a window its always a good idea to just keep it quiet and let it get its bearings. Many times they just have the wind knocked out of them. Most rehabilitators just do the same thing and after several hours many of these birds are released. So that is a completely acceptable practice and the law allows you 24 hours to get the bird to someone licensed. If the bird isnt able to fly off in 24 hours then he needs medical care anyway.

Many animal do just need supportive care and protection from predators to heal. They are amazing at healing themselves even without our intervention. I picked up an injured bird recenlty and the woman who called practiced REIKI and spent several days trying to "heal" the birds broken wing from a distance but finally gave up and called us to come get it. Of course the delay meant the birds wing had started setting already and couldnt be r

ice2008 said

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on 4/13/2007 We have glass windows and occasionally a bird will fly into the window and look critical wounded.

I found that if I put a cardboard box over the bird for an hour the bird survives and flys away when I remove the box.

I think the still air and quiet helps the bird mend itself. Also if a cat happens by during recovery thay can get at the bird. Sometime I put a rock on the box to hold it down.

Ive done this 20 or more times over the last 4 years and all survived.

kedar said

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on 1/10/2007 USING ALTERNATE RESCUE - I have been practicing REIKI (since 1989 - I, II & masters A) which really helps if give the energy from a distance. If you know such alternate therapies you can use it effectively. All the animals and birds have tremendous capacity to heal themselves and little bit of support can make their recovery fast..

KEDAR CHAUHAN (INDIA)

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Keep the bird warm. Birds go into shock very quickly. If you are going to put it in a paper bag or a box, poke holes on the sides, it is easier for the bird to breathe than from the top of the container.
Keep the bird in a warm, dark and quiet environment.
Contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center or animal shelter once the bird is in the container. Do not give it food or water unless told to do so.

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