07/03/10 08:42 , Categories: bird , Tags: bird rehabilitation, bird rescue, birds, fledgings, injured birds, nestlings, rehab, wildlife rehab

This is the time of year when rehabilitators get phone calls for injured or orphaned birds. Here are some tips on what to do if you have a bird emergency......

Follow up:

If you have found an injured adult bird, place it in a well ventilated box or pet carrier and keep it in a warm isolated part of your house away from children and pets. Contact a rehabilitator. It is best not to feed an injured animal; however, if you are unable to contact a rehabber after several hours then provide bird seed as well as soaked dog food or cat food. Also, provide a small container of water that will not turn over.

If you have found a baby bird on the ground that is injured or you are unable to put back into a nest or can not construct a makeshift nest, then bring the bird inside. Make a temporary nest out of an unused margarine tub (or similar container) lined with tissues. Provide supplemental heat from a heading pad set on low and placed under half the container. Frequently, feel the tissue around the baby to assess the temperature and to make sure the baby is not getting too hot. After the baby is warmed, offer pea size pieces of canned or soaked dog food. Tap on the side of the container and many baby birds will gape for food. This routine will need to be repeated every 2-30 minutes. DO NOT give baby birds water, earthworms, peanut butter or milk. It is always best to contact a rehabilitator before offering an injured baby food.

If a bird's nest has been built in an unsuitable location (example: a boat parked in the driveway and not used much) and you need to relocate the nest, then move the nest 10 inches a day until you relocate it to a better place.

Birds that have run into windows will often recover. Place the bird in a box with air holes. Put the box or container in a QUIET location in your house for an hour. Each time you check on the bird, bring him back outside. Open the box and watch to see if the bird flies way. If the bird does not take off, then close the box, allow the bird to rest quietly and try again in another hour. You can attempt this release for 3 hours. If the bird has one wing down (dragging,) a bad head tilt or has not flown away after 3 hours, then you will need to get the bird to a vet or rehabber.