- If it's a bird of prey (hawk, eagle or owl), as with all wildlife, keep pets and children away.
Make no mistake; understandably, a frightened adult and the young are well equipped with strong feet and sharp talons.
- Prepare the box as described on the transport page.
- If the bird is on it’s back in a defensive posture, wait until the bird rights itself and is standing.
- Wearing welding gloves, place a blanket or other material over the entire bird including the head. (For smaller birds of prey use, a pillow case.)
- Firmly press down on the bird’s back in one move, causing the bird to lower to the ground.
- From behind the tail area, feel for the bend of the legs and grasp the legs firmly, being careful of feet.
- With the cloth still over the bird, cradle the bird with the other arm to hold the wings in.
- Still keeping the cloth over the head, place the bird in the box and quickly pull your gloved hands out of the box.
- Then pull the cloth off the bird, after the box is partially closed.
Water birds such as grebes, loons and herons, have strong sharp bills and can be dangerous to handle. Gloves and eye protection should be used during capture. The legs of the long legged species of these types of birds are delicate and should be handled with care. The bill should be the first thing to get control of during capture.
NON-RESCUE RESCUE
If the bird is in the hot sun, rain, or in danger and you decide to assist but are not comfortable with capture. Cut plenty of holes approx. the size of a quarter on two to three sides of the box. More holes will be needed for the heat of the summer and less in the cold winter months. If you feel safe to do so, you may place a box upside-down over the bird until rescue can be completed, to help protect the bird from the elements and to keep the bird calm and in place. Place the box with the holes so they will be on the shaded side during the summer months.
Refer to, Transporting Wild Birds
Stress kills!
A bird that may seem tame (lets you approach or handle it and may even sit on your hand) is most likely starving, stressed and even in shock. As mentioned earlier, place the bird in a box, in a dark, and quiet area. Keep children and pets separate and avoid peeking in the box. Calming music may sooth us but does not help wildlife, so find the most quiet area possible.
Heat kills!
Living in the southwest part of the nation, we know how dangerous heat can be for our pets and ourselves. The same is true for wildlife, even though they live outside. Please remember not to put wildlife in the sun, a hot garage or hot car while getting help.
Cold can also be a danger, take care when putting them in air conditioning or when helping wildlife during the cold winter months.
Orphaned
If it is a small or very young bird, feel to see if the body is cold. Nestlings and birds in shock need an outside source of warmth. Place a soft cloth on the bottom of the box and place the box half on and half off of a heating pad with the temperature on low. Check the cloth to be sure that the heating pad is not making the bird too warm. Add layers until the bird is safely warm. Place the bird in a dark, quiet and warm area, away from drafts until you are able to deliver the bird to the rehabilitator. |
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Precocial Birds
These are birds that can walk soon after hatching (ducks, quail, chickens, etc.) Please do not remove these chicks from the parents and siblings. They stress and dehydrate quickly when separated from their family.
If it has been removed already, take it back as soon as possible and try to locate the family. Usually the parents make a circuit and will return to the area at intervals. Place the chick in a container where it can be easily heard by the parents and visa versa. Once you see the chick become excited and calling to others, let it out of the box. If the parents see you they will stay hidden so it’s best to observe from an area that you do not pose a threat.
If you are sure the birds cannot be re-united with the parents or it is ill or injured, then you must bring it in for rehabilitation. If you must wait to bring it in, please take the following steps; place the bird in a box with a light about six to eight inches from the bottom. The light should have a 40-watt light bulb and should be placed safely away from the sides of the box. Place sand on the bottom of the box and mound the sand so it gives the chick options for how close to the light it would like to be. Water should be placed in a shallow container i.e., mayonnaise lid filled with marbles or clean pebbles. This will keep the chick from soaking itself or drowning by putting its beak in too deep of water.
For more information about orphaned refer to, When to Help.
General information for Injured and Orphaned PLEASE READ
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