Rescuing a Bird
Knowing when to help a bird:
Rescue a bird if:
- An injury is visible
- The bird is having trouble standing or flying
- One or both of its legs are dragging
- The beak is damaged
- A baby or fledgling is orphaned (see details below)
- It is covered in oil
- It is trapped and cannot free itself
- It is entangled with fishing line, string, cotton or plastic rings
- It has hit a window or been hit by a car (see details below)
- The bird has been caught by a cat
- It has been attacked by a dog
- The bird is unconscious or cannot move
- The bird has difficulty breathing
- If you can catch a bird in the wild then it is probably sick
Things to check:
Territorial birds:
- Some birds are territorial and need to be returned to the area they were found. Please ensure you notify the rescue centre of the location.
Orphans:
- If a chick looks orphaned wait and watch, the parents may be away in search of food
- If a nestling has fallen from the nest and you know for certain which nest it came from, try putting it back (without putting yourself at risk)
- If you spot a fledgling on the ground watch from a distance as the parents may be close by. If you are worried about the safety of the fledgling, then put it in the middle of a thick bush as high as possible, eg. a high hedge or a clump of bamboo.
- If after the above steps are taken and you consider the chick or fledgling to be orphaned, please bring it to your nearest rescue centre.
Hitting a window:
- If a bird has hit a window, pick the bird up and put it in a box. After half an hour to an hour open the box in a room with curtains closed, if the bird flies normally pull the curtain back slightly and open the window to let it out. If it does not it has more serious injuries and needs to be brought to your nearest rescue centre.
Carrying out the rescue:
- Corner the bird or approach it from behind and throw a towel or sheet over the bird, covering its body and head then pick the bird up through the towel or sheet on either side of its wings. It is best to move quietly and quickly.
- Place the bird into a box, container or clothesbasket covered with a towel. Line the container with something soft and be aware of frayed linen that has loose cotton on the edges as this wrap around the bird’s legs.
- Most sick, injured or orphaned birds require some form of heat source; you could use a wheat bag, hot water bottle or a plastic bottle filled with hot water from the tap.
- It is best to get the bird to your nearest rescue centre immediately or as soon as you are able. Please note that we are unable to collect birds due to the large numbers we get through our centres and rely on the public to drop them to us.
- If you are unable to immediately get the bird to a centre, please ring for further advice.
- Place the bird in a quiet, warm and dimly lit location prior to transportation.
- When transporting the bird do not have the car stereo on loud.
- Baby birds need to be kept warm 24 hours a day, they can be put into a hot water cupboard or on an electric heat pad or a 25-40 watt globe fitted to a clip on lamp could be used. It is important to regularly check that they are not too hot - wings held out from the body and panting are signs they are too hot. Feathers fluffed out and feet and legs cold to touch indicate they are cold.
Remember not to put yourself or the bird at risk.
