Birds
Most baby birds that are uninjured in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres never required care. Please seek help before intervening if you are unsure of a birds need. This will prevent you from unknowingly kidnapping a baby bird and eliminating an otherwise healthy birds chances for a natural upbringing by its parents.
Birds essentially have no sense of smell. They do not care if you touch their babies (solely for the purpose of returning a baby bird back into its nest that has fallen out, please do not touch baby birds that are safely in their nest). Parent birds will appreciate you replacing a nestling that has fallen out of the nest, they will not reject the baby, this is a myth. Nestlings are often pink with no feathers, or have a small amount of fluffy, downy feathers and are unable to grip with their feet. Fledglings are mostly or fully feathered birds that are just leaving the nest. They can spend up to two weeks on the ground while learning to fly. Their parents are still caring for them, it is best to leave them alone. If you think a fledgling has been orphaned it is best to observe for two hours, if the parents haven’t returned please call your nearest Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
General Information & Injuries
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This is normally a result of being hit by a car or flying into a glass window. Generally the bird appears groggy, and often is unable to stand or fly.
If you witnessed the impact, or it is obvious from the location in which you found the bird that this is the issue, get a cardboard box just large enough to hold the bird and punch it full of ventilations holes to prevent overheating. Carefully place the bird inside and securely close the box. Place the box in a very quiet, dark room in an area that is cool in the Summer or warm in the Winter. Leave the bird alone for an hour or two. Often after an hour the bird is recovered and can be set free, if however after three hours the bird has not recovered it will need to be taken to a Wildlife Rehabilitator or Vet Clinic as it will require long term care, medication and other treatments.
Birds strike windows because they see the reflections of trees in the windows. Closing blinds will increase the reflection and does not help. The reflection needs to be broken up from the outside of the window. This can be achieved by using decals or hanging wind chimes or other objects in front of the window.
Do not open curtains or blinds on windows that are opposite or in line of sight of each other as the birds see this as a clear corridor and will continue to run into them.
Birds will also try to land in plants or indoor trees that are directly behind a window, consider moving these plants.
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Once a bird has been in a cat’s mouth it will most likely contract pasturella, and without antibiotic treatment will die. This is true even if there is no sign of wounds. ANY saliva contact will mean death. It is very important that these birds receive medical treatment from a Vet Clinic or Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Please keep cats indoors, restrained via leashes or in a catio when outside. The toll cats exact on our bird population is horrendous and completely unnecessary. If a plague, oil spill or toxic waste dump was putting our bird populations at risk no one would tolerate this, so why would anyone think it was okay for pets to attack, maim and kill them?
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A bird that is sick will often appear lethargic and puffed up. They are usually grounded, bedraggled, appear ruffled up with damaged feathers and will be easy to catch. It is important to note that during the winter healthy birds may puff up their feathers in an attempt to stay warm.
If you think a bird is sick it is a good idea to wear gloves when catching them. Place the bird in a cardboard box that is just big enough to contain them, be sure to punch ventilation holes in the box first. After containing the bird contact your nearest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or Vet Clinic as they will most likely require medication and special care.
Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl
This basically includes anything with webbed feet. The young of these birds will imprint almost immediately on anything that moves, including you!
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These downy yellow/brown/black balls of fluff commonly get lost as they will follow anything that moves. Duckling Mom’s WILL NOT accept another’s babies, and will in fact KILL another’s babies. It is imperative that you DO NOT attempt to reunite these babies unless you are 1000% certain that you know who the Mom is!
Ducklings are extremely fragile and stress, improper feeding and lack of heat will kill them. Do not handle them beyond placing in a small, ventilated cardboard box with a non-raveling bedding (such as fleece) to snuggle into to keep warm. Do not allow them to get wet! Contact a Vet or Wildlife Rehabilitator with the utmost urgency if you want them to survive.
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These are also downy yellow/brown/grey/black balls of fluff who also commonly get lost as they too will follow anything that moves. Often you will find a mama goose in the vicinity and it is easy to pop the baby in with any family of geese that have babies of the same colouration and size. Do not try to introduce a gosling into a family with babies that are larger than the orphan.
If you are certain that there are no appropriate families around after 30 minutes of searching then get the gosling to a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or Vet Clinic as quickly as possible. They are very fragile and lose body heat rapidly when alone. Time is a killer, seek help immediately.
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Ducks, Geese and Swans are often injured by unleashed pets, wild predators, and humans. Be very careful if you choose to contain a large goose or swan, they are very powerful and have been known to break a human leg with their wings.
Try to get between them and the water, as that is the first place to which they will try to flee. Use a sheet or large fabric of some kind to throw over them, hug them from behind being sure to safely keep their wings at their sides. They are best contained in cardboard boxes, rubbermaid totes, large dog crates or kennels (plastic ONLY, anything metal or wire will damage feathers) or lastly a clean garbage can. Remember to put ventilation holes in whatever you contain the bird in. Contact and transport to a Vet Clinic or Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Keep in mind that flightless birds are not always injured. Geese (and all other birds) must periodically 'moult' their feathers and grow new ones. For unmated yearling Geese this can be as early as June, for females that had a clutch to rear this could be as late as August. One parent will be capable of flight throughout the raising of the babies. Often the large Canada Geese decide to do their 'moult' in the oddest of places, parking lots or other expanses of concrete in particular. If possible, shoo them to the seclusion of grasses or bushes. If they are in danger they may need to be moved to the nearest lake/marsh area.
Seabirds & Raptors (Birds of Prey)
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While most often found at the beach, these birds can be found anywhere there is an easy meal such as along rivers, landfills and parking lots. Grounded Seagulls will have broken wings, leg injuries, or be weak from emaciation. Other times they have eaten something that has made them ill or been victimized by discarded fishing equipment.
Approach the Seagull slowly and place a large towel or large fabric of some kind over them, being sure to safely and gently keep the Seagulls wings at their side. When picking up the Seagull be sure to keep the head covered or keep the Seagulls face far from your own, be careful as these guys will bite with the speed of an angry cobra!
Place the Seagull in a cardboard box, rubbermaid tote or plastic dog crate or kennel, being sure to cut ventilation holes first. Once the bird is contained contact your nearest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or Vet Clinic.
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These are owls, hawks, falcons and eagles. Raptors have sharp beaks and talons and can be dangerous to handle. It is a good idea to use thick blankets or towels, as well as wearing welding gloves or other heavy leather gloves when dealing with these birds.
Place the bird in a large cardboard box, large plastic dog kennel (not metal as this will damage feathers) or a large rubbermaid plastic tote. It is critically important that you remember to cut ventilation holes into any container you use to prevent overheating! Once the bird is safely contained contact your nearest Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre or Vet Clinic and transport immediately.