Injured/Orphaned Bird Care

Baby Birds- Does this bird really need my help?

Evaluate whether the bird needs your help before bringing it to the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Every spring we are flooded with calls concerning young birds who are out of the nest. It is human nature to help. A young flightless bird, hopping on the ground, seems helpless but this is a natural stage in their development. They may need protection from domestic animals but rarely need us to "rescue" them. The following article will help you decide whether a young bird needs human intervention and what to do if you find an injured bird.

NESTLING: A nestling is the first stage of an altricial bird's life. They hatch featherless, unable to regulate their own body temperature. They are unable to perch and require a nest structure to support their bodies. If you find a young bird that fits this description, place it back in its original nest. Birds do not have a developed sense of smell and will not abandon their young because of human touch. If placement in the nest is not possible, locate a licensed rehabilitator. It is important to keep these young birds warm (90 degrees). Each species has specific dietary needs. Do not feed nestling birds milk, bread or whole worms! It is better not to feed them, than to feed something that could be harmful.

BRANCHERS: A brancher or fledgling is the second stage of an altricial bird's life. At this stage the young bird has feathers, its wings and tail are short, and it is able to perch and hop. These birds no longer live in the nest and their begging cries draw the parents to their location for feedings. By now, the baby birds do not need human intervention. The best assistance at this stage is to protect them from domestic animals and children by restricting dogs, cats and kids from the area for a few days or by placing the brancher in a dense bush or on a low branch in a tree. (Many rehabilitation facilities, including the Bird Sanctuary, will not accept the European Starling and English sparrow. These two species are not native to North America. They tend to over populate and their aggressive behavior displaces many of the native cavity-nesters such as the Eastern Bluebird.)
Precocial birds are species that are covered with down and leave the nest within hours of hatching (duck, turkey, Killdeer etc). If you find hatchling birds of these species do not attempt to catch them. Finding these birds alone does not mean that they are abandoned! Your presence has spooked the parent. Trying to catch the young will often scatter them making a reunion with the parents more difficult. Remove domestic animals and humans from the area and allow the family to reunite.

CAPTURE: If you do need to rescue a young bird, place it in a small cardboard box or paper bag to protect it from a draft. Nestling altricial birds will require additional heat. If a young bird is difficult to catch, this is a good sign that it does not need human assistance!

Injured Birds

The first thing to consider when capturing injured wildlife is that the animal does not realize you are trying to help. You are viewed as a predator. They will always try to flee and/or strike back. Secondly, the capture, restraint and transfer is an additional stress on an already compromised system. Be as gentle and quiet as possible.

SONGBIRDS: Most common injuries to songbirds are: car strike, collision with a window or dog or cat attack. An injured bird will have one or many of these characteristics; only be able to sustain hopping flight, be unable to stand, have a drooping or dragging appendage and/or obvious injuries. Do not pick the bird up with your bare hands. Even songbirds can have a nasty bite. Capture by draping light towel over the bird and using gloves to place it in a small box or paper bag. Avoid peering in at the bird. This will only induce panic. Do not give food or water unless advised by rehabilitator.

RAPTORS: Birds of prey are often injured by car strikes, collision with windows, and, unfortunately, leg hold traps and gun shot wounds. To evaluate if a raptor is injured or just feeding on the ground, observe from a distance and watch its behavior. If it is injured, it will remain still or try hopping flights. If is feeding, its wings will be outstretched (called mantling) and will be ducking down to pick at its food and quickly peering over its shoulder to see if anyone is going to challenge it for its prize. If the bird shows signs of being injured, use great caution in approaching the bird. Raptors have sharp, powerful talons and strong beaks. Locate a heavy blanket or towel and heavy gloves. Raptors that are non-flighted will roll onto their backs when cornered. Throw the blanket onto the bird and it will grab it with its feet. Cover its head to calm it down. Slide the bird into a heavy cardboard box or container using a broom or shovel. Try to avoid touching the bird. If you cannot take it directly to a rehabilitation facility, keep it in a dark quiet place until transfer.

WADING and DIVING BIRDS: Herons, grebes, coots, cormorants and loons are fish eating birds. They have sharp beaks used for catching and slicing their prey. Loons and coots are unable to walk on land. In heavy fog these birds often become disoriented and land on roadways and in open fields. If the bird has not been grounded long the best treatment is a quick trip to a large body of water. These birds will use their beaks to stab at their intruders. Great care needs to be taken when approaching any of these fish eating birds and it is best to call a rehabber for assistance.

State law protects all native wildlife. It is illegal for an unlicensed individual to provide long term care for an injured or orphaned wildlife. If you have determined that an animal needs assistance and have captured it, transfer it to a wildlife rehabilitation facility as soon as possible! Improper diet or socialization by humans can ruin its chance to return to the wild! A list of licensed facilities in your area can be found by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE,