How to Care for an Injured Bird
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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Things You'll Need
- Bird Netting
- Boxes
- Lightweight Towels Or Cloths
- Soft Facial Tissues
- Colanders
- Paper Bags
- Paper bags
Instructions
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Try to assess the source of the injury.
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Cover a bird that has hit a window with a kitchen colander or box with holes in it, and give it time to recover.
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Remove the box or colander when the bird has regained its senses, and let it fly away.
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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.
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Refrain from giving food or water to the injured bird.
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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.
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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.
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Comments
View all 6 Comments-
thank you!
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Anonymous
Oct 02, 2011
Hi , My cat brought a baby bird in to the house and I have put it in a box with some tissue and grass in it and I don't know what to do, any recommendations? -
My dog brought a baby bird in the house, of course in its mouth. The bird appears to be gasping for air and is cold to the touch...what do you recommend?
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wildliferehab
Jul 08, 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
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ice2008
Apr 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.
