what to do

We love that our members are very caring and eager to help a bird in need, but we also want to make sure you are educated on how to best approach a situation with an injured bird.

One very common injury that birds experience is a collision with a window. Very often in this case, it may just need a little time to regain its senses and will then be able to fly away. Do not try to force any food or water upon the bird. If this isn't the case, then carefully put the bird into a cardboard box with a lid or a towel over the top of the box. Place it in a cool, safe place.

Birds are very sensitive to their surroundings, and can often die from shock. For this reason, it is very important that you are extremely gentle with the bird and the container when you move it. If you have put the bird in a cardboard box, take it outside every 15 minutes and remove the top to see if the bird is able to fly away. If after a few hours it hasn’t flown away and still needs help, you should try to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.

If you have an orphaned chick, the first step is to determine if the bird is truly orphaned. Chicks that have just left the nest, also known as fledglings, often have weak flight muscles and may be fed by their parents outside of the nest.

If the bird is not yet a fledgling and has fallen out of the nest prematurely, contact the closest wildlife rehabilitator.

If you still are unsure about how to handle the situation, or don’t feel comfortable enough, call a wildlife rehabilitator and they can help provide more information.

** As much as we would love to be able to help every bird, because of our smaller staff we are unable to make site visits to retrieve and care for injured birds. Please contact the appropriate office below for assistance!**

Who to contact


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Banner Photo: American Pipit by Fiona Paton ; Graphic courtesy of Bird and Moon Comics