You've found an a lost or
injured Wild Bird
With all the wild birds that are
attracted to your feeders... inevitably you will come across a dead or
injured wild bird from time to time.
Window crashes are one of the leading
causes of disoriented, injured or dead wild birds found around the home.
High winds or nest raiders are usually the source of orphaned wild baby
birds... but sometimes baby birds simply go exploring and jump from the
nest.
What to do with
Injured or Dead Wild Birds
Injured, orphaned, and dead wild birds
are a part of nature that we become forced to deal with. Here's what to do
when you find a dead, injured, or orphaned wild bird.
Dead Wild Birds...
Unfortunately dead wild birds are the easiest to deal with. Dead wild
birds may have died for several reasons, old age, a fatal window crash,
perhaps a disease. Since we don't know the cause of death... dead wild
birds should be handled while wearing gloves. Place the dead wild bird in
a small paper or plastic bag and put them in the trash. This may seem a
little harsh... but if the bird died from disease this may help keep it
from spreading to healthy birds.
Injured Wild Birds...
Just like people... wild birds have accidents and become disoriented
or injured. Often times window crashes were the cause of the injury. If
you find a wild bird that has suffered a window crash... here's what to
do.
- If the wild bird is on it's feet an
moving around a bit, just leave it be. It will soon recover and fly
away.
- If the wild bird is unconscious, put
it in a shoe box with a lid and place the box in a quite area out of
reach of pets or predators. If its cold outdoors bring the shoe box
indoors. Don't try to feed or give the bird any water. If it wasn't
seriously injured it should revive in 5 to 10 minutes. Once revived
release the bird.
- If the wild bird appears to have a
broken wing or leg, it should be taken to a veterinarian or a wild
bird rehabilitation center.
Orphaned Wild Baby Birds...
Those of us that enjoy the outdoors are sure to come across what
appears to be an orphaned baby wild bird that is unable to fly. The first
thing that you should do is determine if the bird is hurt, and if it is a
nestling or fledgling.
Nestlings
Nestlings are baby wild birds with few if any feathers. They are
unable to cling to your finger. The best thing to do with a nestling is
put it back in the nest... that is if you can safely reach it. It is a
myth that the parents will detect your scent on the baby bird. Most birds
have virtually no sense of smell. If the nestling is injured it should be
taken to a veterinarian or a rehabilitation center.
The other alternative is to allow mother
nature to run its course. Nestling mortality is naturally very high. Nature has
its own way to compensate for a high mortality rate of wild birds.
Fledglings
Fledglings are baby birds that are feathered and able to cling to your
finger... or a branch. Most likely the fledgling is not abandoned. The
parents are probably near by. Look around and see if you can locate the
nest that the fledgling came from. If you find it... simply place the
fledgling on a branch near the nest. The parents will handle it from
there.
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