Diane Scarazzini - Helping Orphaned or Injured Wild Birds

Diane Scarazzini

Many of us have had some experience with trying to save an orphaned or injured wild bird. Perhaps you rescued a baby sparrow you found sitting helpless on the ground. Or maybe you even tried to incubate eggs after your kids knocked a nest out of a tree. If you feed birds, youve likely known the awful feeling of having one of your avian visitors slam into a window after mistaking the glass for sky, perhaps stunning himself temporarily and needing your help to keep him out of harms way while he regains his equilibrium. Yearly, many people rescue Red-tailed Hawks that have been injured by cars along highways. And I once met a Golden Eagle whose life had been saved by a passerby after it had flown into a wire, partially severing a wing from its body.

When faced with a bird in need, most people want to help but dont know how and also fear doing more harm than good. This bulletin offers some helpful guidelines plus some basic bird knowledge so that you can learn not only how to assist birds in trouble but also which ones really need assistance. As individuals, our best strategy is to ascertain if a bird does indeed need help, and then to do what we can to keep him alive until we can transfer him to a qualified wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian.

The information presented here is not intended to replace doctoring by a professional. Whenever possible, emergency care and handling of wild birds should be limited to individuals who are experienced in treatment protocols for each particular species. Almost every region of North America has at least one licensed and certified wildlife rehabilitator, whose job (as the name implies) is to nurse wild creatures back to health for the purpose of returning them to the wild, and most veterinarians have at least basic emergency skills for helping wild birds. Youre merely a way station, a first line of defense and sometimes a birds best hope. But always remember: Its a jungle out there, and Mother Nature isnt always kind... or pretty.

In the wild or in your backyard, birds face many dangers every day.

The first thing you should know about birds is that they fall into two broad categories based on their development at birth. Knowing whether an orphaned bird is altricial or precocial will help you identify his age and species, which in turn will help you ascertain the best method for helping him.

A bird that is altricial is hatched into a nest naked, eyes closed, unable to do much besides keep his mouth agape for food. Altricial birds must wait for their primary wing feathers to grow which on average takes about three weeks before they can leave the nest. Perching birds such as sparrows and chickadees, doves, hummingbirds, crows, and woodpeckers are all examples of altrical birds.

Altricial birds pass through predictable development stages as they mature. If youre involved in rescuing an altricial bird, its important that you be able to determine his development stage.

Young altricial birds are completely dependent on their parents for survival.

Days 1 through 4: Mostly naked, feathers develop, mouth gapes for food, has no control of body temperature.

Days 5 and 6: Weight increases rapidly, feathers develop along tracts, eyes open, starts to preen feathers, has some control of body temperature.

Days 7 through 9: Has better motor coordination, fans his wings, flutters feathers, shakes and scratches head, begs for food.

Days 9 and 10: Has control of body temperature, preens, starts to become independent of the nest, responds to parents.

Days 10 through 15: Sleeps in adult position, pecks at food, catches insects, fully feathered, stays apart from siblings.

Days 15 through 28: Preens, may fight with siblings; fledges at any time around this period.

Precocial birds develop much differently from altricial birds. The word precocial comes from a Latin root meaning already knowing. While precocial hatchlings arent yet able to fly, they are born with down, their legs are fully functional shortly after hatching, and theyre even able to forage for some if not all of their own food. Many precocial birds are ground nesters, including quail, pheasants, and most types of ducks.

Precocial birds are able to leave the nest a day or two after hatching and follow their parents on their daily routine.

Even though precocial birds have downy feathers, control of their body temperature isnt fully developed until theyre at least one month old, so chilling can be a problem if they are away from a parent for too long. Young precocial birds, known as chicks, leave the nest within a day or two after hatching and follow the parents. From the ninth week on, they gain their physical independence and flight ability, though they may be socially dependent on the family throughout the first full year of life.

Many wild birds you come across that appear to be in trouble may in fact not need any assistance at all. They are probably doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing for that species in their natural environment at that stage in their development. For instance, many fledglings begin the process of learning to fly after they leap or, often, are pushed from their nest. Depending on the species, birds often dont return to their nest once theyre out of it, so they may spend several days on the ground literally testing their wings. A well-meaning, concerned individual who tries to rescuethese birds will in fact create a problem instead of solving one.

Of course, there are instances when birds truly are injured or orphaned. Baby birds die from predators, from abandonment, and from exposure after being dislocated from their nest by a high wind or storm. Even when theyre successfully off on their own, they can sustain any number of injuries, ranging from gunshots to collisions with cars or windows. Having some information about the normal growth, development, and social interactions of different species may help you determine if a wild bird needs your help.

Know Your Bird Words

Altricial: Birds that are born naked and helpless (for instance, songbirds).

Precocial: Birds that are born with down feathers and the ability to walk (for instance, ducks).

Hatchling: A newly hatched bird.

Nestling: