Finding an injured bird can be stressful, especially if you have no idea how to treat them properly. Birds can get injured for a lot of reasons. They could get hit by a car or even get into fights with other birds.
Sometimes the birds could be just in shock; however, if the bird is injured, we need to make sure that we do good rather than any harm. In this post, you have all the important guidelines about what to do with an injured bird in my yard.
Characteristics of the injured bird :
Before you start treating the injured bird, especially if it’s wild. It should have one or more characteristics from below:
- It’s on the ground but is not moving
- When you approach the bird, it does not fly away
- You will not have to struggle while picking it up
- It has extremely fluffed feathers
- Injurious are obvious (hanging wing, dangling leg)
- Trying to fly but cannot
What to Do With an Injured Bird in My Yard? : Adult bird
If you are still confused about what to do with an injury in my yard, then follow these simple steps below, and you will be good to go :
Evaluate the Situation of the Bird
The first and foremost step is to stay at a distance and monitor the bird for a few minutes. Make sure that the bird is injured and not a young bird that has weak flight muscles.
Moreover, if the bird can hop and fly low on its own, then it probably doesn’t need your help. Now, if you have assessed the situation and the wild bird is actually injured, follow the next step on how to primarily treat the birdie.
Allow the Bird to Recover From Shock and Injury
Now that you decided to help the wild bird catch the bird and place it in the cardboard box. Cover the box with a lid or towel. After that, place the box in a cool, safe place.
Placing the box in a cool place allows the bird to recover from the injury of the shock. While handling the injured bird, make sure to use gloves to protect yourself from any kind of germ and disease.
Inform a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Make sure to check the bird periodically to make sure that you are getting better. By that time, you can call the wildlife rehabilitator so that the nurse can get the wild bird back to health.
Expert Suggestion :
Be cautious, and don’t try to force-feed the bird. If you are not an expert, you might further aggravate the situation. You can keep a bit of water, around 3 to 4 drops, near the bird.
So, if the bird is thirsty, it can drink the water but keep in mind often, birds, due to their weakness, can drown in shallow water, so avoid keeping excess water near the tray.
How to Catch an Injured Bird?
If you are determined that the adult bird needs to be rescued, then you can follow the instruction below:
- If the bird is in the mouth of a dog or cat or in the fence: Release the bird as fast as possible but carefully. Maintain your grip on the bird so that you can treat the bird and its injuries.
- If the bird on the ground is unable to fly: Go near the bird from behind but quietly and slowly, and then reach down quickly and pick the bird up. Pick the bird up while putting the hand around the bird’s shoulder. If you cannot pick the bird in the daytime, then try again at night or evening when it’s almost dark.
- Bird is able to run, walk or hop: Maneuver and try to put the bird in the corner; it will help you to pick it up easily. But if you find it hard, you can ask two or more people to help you. Or you can use a bird net.
- The bird can fly a little: You may be able to catch the bird after dark or by manoeuvring her into a corner. Again, a bird net may help. If the bird can fly well, you may be able to catch her the next day, when she may be weaker from her injuries.
- The bird is flying well but has an injury that you can see: It may not be possible to catch the bird. Do not get into a situation in which you are chasing the bird with no possibility of catching him. That will accomplish nothing, and the bird may die of stress.
Legal Considerations for Helping Wild Birds
Catching any adult wild bird who is not injured is illegal. If you find a bird, it’s wise to take the bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In this way, you could avoid any kind of legal issues.
How to Transport the Bird to the Wildlife Rehabilitator
Transporting sick or injured birds to a wildlife rehabilitator requires special care. The ideal goal is to transport the bird as soon as possible, ideally within an hour. To transport the bird safely and with comfort, you should follow some steps :
- Use a small, sturdy cardboard box or pet carrier to transport the bird. Ensure that the cardboard is large enough for the bird to move around but not as big that the bird can fly or jump around.
- For some added cushioning, you can line the box with clothes, towels, or straws.
- Carefully place the bird in the box and make sure that the bird is lying flat and not in a crumpled or twisted position.
- Cover the box with a lid or towel and keep the bird calm.
- Maintain the temperature of the box within 85 to 90 degrees. A too-hot or too-cold temperature could distress the bird further.
- Place the box in the back seat of the car and dont let young children hold or sit near the box as they may not be able to hold the box at level, and they are also not steady enough to hold to avoid re-injuring the bird.
- You can play soothing music at low volume. There is much downloadable music available for soothing the bird; however, avoid taking sudden stops or twists or turns.
- Make sure to drive directly to the wildlife rehabilitators as quickly and as safely as possible. Don’t waste time by showing the bird to others or taking pictures; this could cause unnecessary stress and delay the treatment.
- If the bird seems to be under stress while transporting it, contact the rehabilitator or local vet for urgent guidance.
- The rehabilitator may have a wildlife center or maybe doing rehabilitation outside of his or her home. Don’t be alarmed by the latter. Many rehabilitators operate out of their homes, and they are just as qualified as those in wildlife centers.
- Be prepared to provide some information, such as your name, your address, the time and the exact location where you found the bird, and a description of the incident, if you saw what happened to the bird. If you wish to, ask the rehabilitator if you can call later to find out how the bird is doing.
What to Do With an Injured Bird in My Yard? : Wrapping Up
Saving the life of an injured bird is a good deed in itself. So once you have turned the bird over, the rehabilitator congratulates you on doing that. Because that’s the best, you could do to help the little innocent bird live and get released back to the wild.
