Found a sick, injured, or orphaned wild bird?

We are grateful to be part of a community of caring people who are eager to help wildlife in need. As much as we would love to help, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance is not licensed to provide care for sick or injured birds. Here is some useful information on what to look for in a situation like this and who to contact to ensure the best possible outcome for the bird you’ve encountered.

Wild animals with any of these signs or conditions likely need the assistance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator:

  • Evidence of bruising, bleeding, or injury

  • Apparent broken limb

  • Emaciated, very weak, shivering, cold, or wet

  • Circling, rolling, staggering

  • Eyes are crusty, red, swollen

  • Attacked or brought in by a dog, cat, or other predator

  • Collided with a window

  • Young animals that appear healthy, but are:

    • Vocalizing and wandering for extended periods

    • Repeatedly approaching people or pets

    • Known to have parent(s) that are no longer present or deceased

Contact your local wildlife rehabilitator

 

Additional information about specific scenarios

You found a bird that has collided with a window.

A Bird Collision Corps volunteer helps an injured bird. Photo by Beth Workmaster

A Bird Collision Corps volunteer helps an injured bird (photo by Beth Workmaster/BCC volunteer).

A bird that survives a window collision may be stunned and need a little time to regain its senses before flying away.

*Note: birds are very sensitive to their surroundings, and can even die from shock. For this reason, it is very important to be extremely gentle with the bird when you move it.

  • Carefully put the bird into a cardboard box with a towel draped over the top. Ensure the bird has access to air, and place it in a cool, safe place away from people and pets. Do not give food or water to the bird.

  • Every 15 minutes, remove the towel to see if the bird is able to fly away. If after an hour or two it hasn’t flown away, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.

Luckily, window collisions are very preventable—check out these resources to prevent future collisions.

You found a baby bird.

If the bird is displaying any signs of illness or injury, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
If the bird appears healthy, determine whether the bird is truly orphaned before you intervene:

  • A nestling will have bare patches of pinkish skin and perhaps some patches of wispy feathers, but do not yet have fully developed feathers. They are unable to stand or hop on their own. Nestlings that are healthy and feel warm to the touch should be returned to their nest to be cared for by their parents, which will give them the best chance to grow and thrive. Read the Wildlife Center’s guide to assessing and reuniting nestlings here.

  • Fledgling birds have grown in most of their feathers (like adult birds), but might have some wispy feathers and short tails. They can hop around on their own and are learning to fly. Parents are still keeping an eye on them and providing food, so fledglings should be left where they are. If they are in a very dangerous spot (such as near a road or bike path), you can move them a short distance away to a safer location (such as off the path or under the cover of a nearby bush or plant). Bring pets indoors so they do not harm the fledgling and leave the area so the parents are comfortable returning to feed. Read the Wildlife Center’s guide to fledgling birds here.

Click here to read a blog post with guidelines to other common wild bird scenarios.

If you are ever unsure about how to handle a situation with a wild bird or don’t feel comfortable, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

 

A note about reporting sick or dead wildlife

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains active in Wisconsin. For more information, read our latest post.

If you have found a sick/dead bird, you can also report it to the Wisconsin DNR, which relies on public reports to monitor some disease outbreaks in wild animals. Of particular interest are instances of five or more sick or dead birds in one area; any banded loons, eagles, Osprey; Trumpeter Swans with leg bands or neck collars; Peregrine Falcons; Greater Prairie-chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse.

The Wisconsin DNR requests the following information in your message: the number of animals, the species (if known), if they were sick or dead, the specific location where you saw them (including the county), and your contact information (in case they need to follow up for more details). You can make a report in one of the following ways:

 
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