Injured Birds

If a bird has hit your window and appears injured/stunned, place it in a box/container with a lid, be sure there are air holes. Place the box/container in a quiet area and monitor for a few hours. In many cases (if stunned) the bird will be ready to fly away in an hour or two. If a bird has been attacked by a cat or dog, take it to a treatment center as soon as possible.

Baby Birds

If you find a baby bird out of the nest, very attempt must be made to return an uninjured baby to the nest. Or to create a “nest” for the bird off the ground and safe from cats. Parents will continue to feed their young, even though they have been handled by a human. If you cannot assure the young bird's safety, or if the baby is injured, or if the parent is clearly dead, then the baby should be taken to a wildlife rehab center. 

If you are willing and able to handle overnight care, here are some tips:

1. The most important thing is to keep the baby warm and in a quiet place.  Babies without feathers cannot thermoregulate.  Even when they have feathers, they rely on their parents and siblings to stay warm.  The simplest thing is to place a heating pad under the box or critter carrier, on “low”.  Do not put the bird directly on the heating pad.  The quickest way to warm up a baby is to place it next to your own skin, under your shirt.
2. Do not feed immediately. All wild creatures are traumatized and stressed by being handled and transported. Wait at least a half hour until the bird is stable and shows signs of being hungry. Feeding before this may cause death, due to the shunting of blood away from the brain and other vital organs to the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Feeding a baby bird water can be risky, and result in the death of the bird if the water goes down the airway. Instead, fluids may be provided as small bits of watermelon or berries or grape halves.  Water in this form also provides a little sugar.
4. Do not overhandle the baby.  Extreme fright can kill.  Also, do not move your hands around while holding the baby, or turn it upside down, as rapid changes in posture can also kill.
5. Identifying the age of the baby: HATCHLINGS are tiny baby birds with no feathers, unable to stand, eyes closed; age newly hatched to one week.  NESTLINGS have feathers, eyes open and can hop, but are not standing up; age 2-3 weeks.  FLEDGLINGS are feathered, standing, hopping, and flying, but NOT self-feeding; age 25 to 28 days.
6. If the baby is still being fed by its parents it will “gape” when you move your finger over its head, or if you gently tap the container or the side of the mouth.  If the baby does not gape, but still appears very young, the beak may need to be gently pried open to feed it.  Baby birds that are fully feathered, and trying to fly, and do not gape may be fed adult food for that species, along with a small shallow container of water.  (Too much water may result in drowning.) At this age, it is essential to know the species of the bird in order to provide the correct food. (Seed eaters vs insect eaters, such as Robins and Starlings, vs omnivores, such as crows)
7. Temporary diets: Feed hatchlings every hour from 7 AM to 7 PM.  Feed nestlings every hour from 7 AM to 7 PM, and fledglings, every 2 hours during the same time period.

Emergency food:  May feed in tiny bits, either dry dog or cat food soaked in warm water until completely softened, or mushy canned dog or cat food, or strained baby-food beef.

More complete formula:  Mix together the following ingredients:

½ cup of good quality canned dog food

2 Tablespoons of high protein baby cereal

Moisten with warm water, or fruit juice, not milk.  Add enough liquid to make a slurry and feed with a dropper, or “diabetic” unit syringe (without the needle!).  Make sure the tip of the syringe or dropper is far enough down the throat to miss the airway.  Any food going down the airway will kill the bird.  Be gentle!  For older birds, add less liquid, and put tiny bits of the food just inside the beak.

For fledglings or adult birds:

1 part canned dog food, or, dog chow, soaked and softened in warm water

1 part high protein baby cereal with wheatgerm

Applesauce

Make a mush of these ingredients, and offer small bits just inside the beak, if the bird still gapes sometimes.  For an adult, provide the food in a small shallow dish, such as a jar lid.

Do NOT feed bread to wild birds.  It fills them up with empty calories.

It is not legal to keep a wild bird, and you should consider these suggestions as TEMPORARY only, until you can get the bird to a wildlife rehab center. 

Please, use common sense if you need to contain the bird. Raptors and owls are large, strong birds and it's first priority is to protect itself. This is a natural reaction, they don't know your trying to help them. Don't consider the bird to be vicious, it's very very scared.

If you're going to transported the bird for rehabilitation, take the following steps:

Prepare a container-put a soft cloth in a cardboard box or cat/dog carrier. If in a box make sure there are air holes.

Protect yourself- wear heavy leather gloves if possible. Some birds may bite or scratch to protect themselves, even if sick or injured. Remember they are terrified of you.

Cover the container-with a light sheet or towel. You want to keep the bird warm and calm. Keeping the container dark will help keep the animal calm.

Gently pick up the bird and put it in the prepared container. For larger birds, it's important to pick them up from the back and secure their wings in one motion. A towel will help in this process.

This is worth repeating - Keep the bird warm and calm.
Note exactly where you found it.

Please do not give the animal food or water, keep it away from children and pets.

All migratory birds are protected by federal and state laws and there are stiff penalties for violations. It is illegal to shoot, trap, or otherwise harm any Bird of Prey. It is illegal to have possession of a Bird of Prey, even if it's one that was injured or orphaned. It is even illegal to possess an egg or feather of one of these birds without a special federal permit. These laws are intended to protect our valuable Birds of Prey, so that they will continue to play their vital role in maintaining the health of the natural ecosystems.

Adapted from, I Found A Baby Bird, What Do I Do?, Basic Manual, Wildlife Rehabilitation, by Dale Carlson, 1997.

Local Wildlife  Rehabilitation Centers and Other Resources:

There are several large and small wildlife rehabilitation services throughout Western Washington. These centers depend on the generosity of others who share their appreciation for our natural world. Please consider giving a cash donation when you call a rehabilitator, or taken in an injured bird or animal.