Tri-County Humane Society: News - A Guide to Assisting Orphaned Birds

August 19, 2008

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News: A Guide to Assisting Orphaned Birds

A Guide to Assisting Orphaned Birds

Introduction: Every spring and summer hundreds of young, orphaned birds are brought to licensed wildlife rehabilitators and facilities. Often these birds are not true orphans. Here is some information of identifying, caring for and transporting orphaned birds. Be sure to contact a licensed rehabilitator for instructions, (contact information available at the end of this text) or to answer your questions before proceeding.

Orphan Identification: An orphaned bird is a young bird whose natural parents are known to be dead and who is too young to survive on its own. Before rescuing a bird, make sure it really needs your help. Each spring, many young birds are mistakenly taken from their parents by well meaning humans.

Surprising as it may seem, few young birds need human intervention in order to survive. In many cases, the most successful strategy is to leave young birds alone. However, if they appear ill or injured, or you have witnessed the death of the parents, a call to a wildlife rehabilitator will help determine the best action to take. Please read on to see how best to handle infant birds.

Nestlings: Nestlings are infant birds having little or no feathering. They may be pink or covered with soft down or needle like projections called pin feathers. These are the most helpless of young birds and require intensive care. They have specialized needs and whenever possible it is best to return these delicate birds to the care of their parents. The best course of action, if you have found the nest, is to safely return the infant to it.

Birds have a poorly developed sense of smell and do not reject their young after human handling. However, this does not mean that a bird would not abandon a nest site that is constantly being disturbed by humans.

If you find an entire nest on the ground, which often happens after windy storms, replace it in the nearest tree, high enough off the ground so it is not vulnerable to dogs, cats or human interference. Secure the nest is place with heavy twine or wire. The calls of the young birds should then attract the parent's attention.

If the birds nest has been destroyed or is too high to reach, young birds frequently can be returned to their parents by creating an artificial nest. Select a container, which is appropriate to the size and number of birds you are rescuing. Drill a few holes in the bottom to allow drainage in case of rain. Line the inside of the container with soft material like finely shredded paper or crushed, dry leaves. Never use fresh grass clippings, because the moisture will chill the nestlings. Do not use materials that retain moisture, such as toilet paper, mud or cotton. Then drill holes in the side of the container, thread with heavy twine or wire, and fasten your nest securely to a high tree branch. Place the young inside and watch from a distance to see if the parents return. If all goes well, parent birds should begin feeding the young within 2 hours. However, if it does appear that they have abandoned the nest, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If they are truly orphaned, it is best that they are brought to a place where they can be raised with other wild birds.

Try to assess whether orphans are injured, thin or cold. If they are, they need to be carefully warmed, and require veterinary treatment as quickly as possible. Some injuries require immediate attention, such as cat bites, which can be lethal to a young bird if not given the proper care. For these cases, immediately contact a rehabilitator or rehabilitation facility.

Fledglings: Fledglings are slightly older birds with almost complete feathering except for flight feathers. These birds are frequently found hopping around on the ground under the watchful eye of a parent. Fledglings cannot fly yet, so the parents must call to locate and feed them. These birds only need a few more days before they are able to fly out of harm's way. If dogs, cats or children are in the area, presenting possible danger, move the young bird to safety in a shrub or tree, then leave the area so the parents can resume feeding. If you think the parents may be dead, you can wait out of sight for their return. If they do not return in a few hours, contact a licensed rehabilitator for further instructions.

Ducklings and Goslings: Ducklings and goslings are different from other birds, because they are hatched with downy feathers and have the ability to walk and eat. However they still need parents for warmth and protection. It is sometimes possible to introduce a young, orphaned duckling into another family with similarly aged offspring. But it is important to know what species of duck you have before this is attempted. The young duckling may be attacked by an unwilling adoptive family. Be sure to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for instructions before attempting this process. Never place an infant duckling in water. Although they may initially float, their feathers are not yet waterproofed and they could drown.

Orphan Care and Transport: Once you have determined that the bird you found is orphaned, you must work quickly to place it in the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. It is important to call before you make arrangements to capture and transport, so that you understand the best way to handle the situation.

From the time you rescue the orphan until you turn it over to the appropriate rehabilitation facility, you must keep the young bird warm and in a quiet place. Poke several small holes in an empty cardboard box with a lid. Line the bottom with clean, un-frayed cloth to make a nest and then place the orphan inside.

If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and set the box halfway on the pad if the bird is able to move. If the bird cannot move itself, place the entire box on the heating pad with a towel between the box and the pad. Keep the box in a warm, dark and quiet room. It is important that the orphan have no further human contact. Especially, keep the bird away from pets and children, because of the potential for the spread of disease. Do not feed the orphan, but transfer it immediately to a licensed rehabilitator or facility to be given appropriate attention. When transporting the bird in a vehicle, refrain from listening to the radio, talking loudly, smoking or using the air conditioner.

More about Orphan Care: Do not try to raise the bird yourself. It is illegal to keep wild birds without a wildlife rehabilitation license, and with good reasons.

1. Wild birds NEVER make good pets. Captivity is a constant stress to them.

2. For health reasons, it is important that wild birds be housed away from humans to avoid the spread of diseases.

3. Orphaned birds need to be examined and treated by a veterinarian specializing in wildlife medicine.

4. Orphaned birds require professional supervision of their specific behavioral, social, environmental and nutritional needs.

5. Orphan birds must be raised with others of their species in order to develop the skills to live in the wild, such as bird songs. If they grow up unafraid of humans, they will have no chance of surviving in the wild once released.

Remember: wild birds are meant to be wild. Working together, we can offer many young birds a second chance at the life in the wild they so richly deserve.

Always remember: a young bird's best chance for survival is to be raised by its natural mother. It is important to make every effort to try to return the young to its mother. Only after all efforts to reunite them have failed should the orphan be removed from the wild.

If you find an orphan bird, be sure to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or facility to help you determine:

1. if the bird is truly and orphan; if not, LEAVE IT ALONE;

2. methods to ensure the safety of the bird and yourself;

3. techniques to properly transport the bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or facility.

Techniques on Preventing Injuries to Wild Birds:

" Educate your children to respect wild birds and their habitats. Teach children that wild birds should be allowed to go about their lives undisturbed by humans. No one should destroy nests or wildlife havens.

" Each year, many nests are unintentionally destroyed by people doing yard work. Make it a point to walk through your yard and garden before beginning any work such as pruning trees and shrubs. If a tree poses no hazard, try to leave it standing. Dead trees provide homes and food for many wild birds such as wood ducks, chickadees and woodpeckers. Also identify any ground nests so as not to disturb them while working.

" Place caps over all chimneys, vents and window wells to prevent birds from taking up residence and becoming trapped. Make sure you do this BEFORE nest making time in the spring.

" Do not remove eggs from unattended nests. Many birds lay their clutch over a period of days and do not begin incubation until all of the eggs have been laid.

" Do not allow your pets to roam. Keep cats in the house and dogs well attended. This not only protects wild birds and animals, but also keeps your pet safe from harm.

" Explore alternatives for your landscape. Provide an environmentally friendly yard (toxin free) and consider landscaping to increase wildlife habitat.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities You May Contact:

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota- Roseville: (651) 486-9453 www.wrcmn.org

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release- Golden Valley: (612) 822-7058
Wild Again- St. Cloud: (320) 685-3365

Audubon Center of the North Woods- Sandstone: (320) 245-2648

Wild and Free Wildlife Program- Garrison: (320) 692-4180
www.wildandfree.org

Minnesota Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitators:

A Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer or the Regional Nongame Specialist can connect you with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area:

Northwest: Bemidji, MN (218) 755-2976

Northeast: Grand Rapids, MN (218) 327-4267

Central: Brainerd, MN (218) 828-2228

Southwest: New Ulm, MN (507)359-6033

Southeast: Rochester, MN (507) 280-5070

Metro: St. Paul, MN (651) 296-6157

Reprinted with permission from the Minnesota Wildlife Assistance Cooperative (MWAC). For more information on other species of injured or orphaned wildlife; or for general information on wildlife rehabilitation or MWAC visit www.mnwildlife.org

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