| A nestling or fledgling’s best chance for survival is
with its bird parents. Click
here for a easy to follow chart explaining when it’s appropriate to
rescue a bird and when it’s not:
WBRH Education Brochure - Front (Decision Chart) And click
here for the life saving steps you’ll need to take after rescuing
the bird:
WBRH Education Brochure - Back
As a general rule, if you find a
bird so young or disabled that it cannot feed or fly, it is in need of
assistance. A bird's primary defense is flight, so a bird on the ground
is a bird in need of help.
Catch the bird and gently hold it in your hands examining it to assess
its condition. If the bird appears weak, cold, or has any apparent
injuries such as an open wound, drooping wing, or broken leg, it
requires immediate assistance.
If the bird is bleeding, apply light pressure to the wound until
bleeding stops.
Weak or injured birds usually need rehydrating. They can be given juicy
bits of papaya, or slowly given sips of a replenishing liquid such as
Gatorade.
A naked baby bird must be kept on heat. Placing a heating pad under half
of the container allows the bird to move off the heat if it chooses.
A sugar water mixture can then be given by running your finger along its
beak so the liquid can slowly seep inside.
Carefully place the bird in a covered container (allow for air holes).
The container should be soft, warm and padded. Keep the bird in a quiet
place, giving it access to heat until you can contact a rehabber or
veterinarian. |
