Does This Bird Need Rescue?
Birds are challenging - they are excellent fakers. Most "look" fine, unless obvious injuries.
Window Strikes: Especially window stricken birds will often look fine, but really be suffering from shock and head injuries. They may have the limited ability to fly away, only to die somewhere else.
Baby birds - nestlings or fledglings found on the ground, and easily captured usually have something wrong with them. TEXT us a picture.
More Information:
How to Rescue a Baby Bird
Can/How do I Raise it Myself?
Should Mammal Orphans Be Rescued? Many bunnies, fawns, and other babies are "kidnapped" each year.
General Information:
1) What kind of bird is it?
Where was the bird found? Near river, tree, field, pavement, road?
Birds are challenging - they are excellent fakers. Most "look" fine, unless obvious injuries.
Window Strikes: Especially window stricken birds will often look fine, but really be suffering from shock and head injuries. They may have the limited ability to fly away, only to die somewhere else.
Baby birds - nestlings or fledglings found on the ground, and easily captured usually have something wrong with them. TEXT us a picture.
- Nest or baby blown down: Look baby all over. Legs ok (pull each one out)? How cold does baby feel? Dead siblings? Cold or injured babies need rescue; cold babies may be replaced once warmed.
- Renesting: Can a nest be put back, with some improvement? Often a simple basket wired & taped into crook of tree branch will work. If you place a feathered baby bird back in a tree and it falls out again, rescue.
- Sick or Injured babies: Is baby sitting on the ground with its eyes closed or not alert? Can walk right up to it and it does not attempt to get away? Rescue & Text us.
- Baby sitting on ground? If not moving, rescue & text us. Doves cannot fly well for 2 weeks. They sit on the ground hiding. They eat food from the ground so this is normal. Text us so we can advise.
- Robin or Jay type fledgling hopping on ground: neither can fly well for 2 weeks & eat food on the ground. Text us so we can ID & advise. Babies sometimes seem fine, and because they are fledglings people leave them. However, fledglings can hit windows & be injured. We can advise.
- Shorebirds found at the river: Did you find one or more ground birds at the river? Often, mom is just around the corner. Text us before you take shorebirds! If wet, cold, and acting tired. Rescue. Text first!
More Information:
How to Rescue a Baby Bird
Can/How do I Raise it Myself?
Should Mammal Orphans Be Rescued? Many bunnies, fawns, and other babies are "kidnapped" each year.
General Information:
1) What kind of bird is it?
Where was the bird found? Near river, tree, field, pavement, road?
- Songbird? Duck or duck-like? Shorebird?
- Hatchling - naked baby bird
- Nestling - tiny feathers, or feathers till in 'tubes' called Pin feathers.
- Fledglings - young birds with feathers, may or may not be able to fly well.
- Juveniles - can fly, but have coloring of young for that species
Grebes and other water birds:
Found a duck like bird on the road or parking lot?
Rescue! All downed waterbirds should come to rescue to be warmed, rehydrated, and checked for injuries.
1) Migratory waterbirds can accidentally land on pavement.
4) Waterproofing is often lost when landing. Bird in picture is NOT waterproof. Look for small dark hole at lower part of neck. Looks like a necklace. This is a spot that water can get past feathers and onto her skin. Causing hypothermia, and ultimate death.
5) Care: do not overly handle or feed waterbirds.
Found a duck like bird on the road or parking lot?
Rescue! All downed waterbirds should come to rescue to be warmed, rehydrated, and checked for injuries.
1) Migratory waterbirds can accidentally land on pavement.
- 2) Injury is common in landing or be why they landed.
4) Waterproofing is often lost when landing. Bird in picture is NOT waterproof. Look for small dark hole at lower part of neck. Looks like a necklace. This is a spot that water can get past feathers and onto her skin. Causing hypothermia, and ultimate death.
5) Care: do not overly handle or feed waterbirds.
- Food or handling can contaminate feathers, hurting their waterproofing.
- Dehydration happens fast. Birds cannot process food when dehydrated. Do not feed.
- Migratory waterbirds often cannot process food due to special migratory status of their intestines. Do not feed.
- Never place in bathtub- this kills waterproofing as their poop is full of oil.
- Waterbirds on ground are ALL COLD: place on thick towel, in box, place in warm room. TEXT.
Non waterproof Horned Grebe.
7) Getting waterproofing back. Please take bird to a rehabber...ONLY experienced rehabbers can do this...The bird will NOT get its waterproofing back in the wild....it will get hypothermia and die.
IF REMOTE: TEXT us for advice, we can assist you.
Please do not let children or pets near these birds.
Need Help? TEXT us we are happy to assist. Or if your rehabber needs advice, you may contact me at 541-728-8208 or by email at lovenativebirds@gmail.com.
IF REMOTE: TEXT us for advice, we can assist you.
Please do not let children or pets near these birds.
Need Help? TEXT us we are happy to assist. Or if your rehabber needs advice, you may contact me at 541-728-8208 or by email at lovenativebirds@gmail.com.
