What do I do if I find a sick or injured bird?
Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/11/2011 - 20:23
Birds are very good at hiding illness and so when we find a sick bird it usually means it is very sick. Sick birds often look; fluffy and hunched when it isn’t cold, weeping, puffy eyes, or crusty eyes, dirty and matted or missing feathers, visible wounds or injuries.
A healthy bird will generally be behaving as others of the same species do, however birds that are behaving oddly might be unwell or injured. They may be unable or reluctant to fly, making shallow, rapid breaths, head tilting, limping, not moving when approached or sitting in unusual, open places. Often other birds will also attack an unwell bird.
If you do find a bird that is sick or injured, contact your local Wildlife Rescue group and, depending on resources, they may be able to come and collect the bird themselves directly or will provide you with advice based on the situation you are describing. Being captured is a very stressful experience for a bird and so steps need to be taken in order to minimize that stress.
A bird must be handled gently but firmly (and wear gloves where ever possible). For small birds, use one hand and hold the bird so its head is between your index and middle fingers. The rest of your hand will wrap about the body. For medium sized birds you will need two hands – one over each wing. Large birds like raptors and owls have large beaks and claws so avoid handling birds of this size if at all possible.
Put the bird into a well ventilated box and keep it dark and quiet while you get treatment for it. This reduces the stress and shock for the bird and is the best treatment you can give it. Don’t feed the bird or give it water. Only people with the appropriate wildlife carers licence are legally allowed to look after wild birds so the next step is to get it either to a carer or to a vet – preferably one who has experience with wildlife and/or birds as soon as possible. A vet will not charge you to bring in wildlife.
Here are some contact details for Wildlife Rescue Groups:
State | Location | Organisation | Website | Phone | Information | |
ACT | Canberra | ACT Wildlife | 0432 300 033 | Injured kangaroos call: 13 22 81 | ||
NSW | Statewide | WIRES | 1300 094 737 | |||
NSW | Mid North Coast | FAWNA NSW | 02 6581 4141 | south from Bulahdelah to the northern part of the Kempsey Shire and west to Stroud and Gloucester | ||
NSW | Mudgee | Wildlife Carers Network Central West | 0408 966 228 | |||
NSW | Northern Tablelands | Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers | 1800 008 290 | |||
NSW | NSW South Coast | Wildlife Rescue South Coast | 0418 427 214 (N of Batemans Bay) 0417 238 921 (Batemans Bay to Vic Border) | |||
NSW | Hunter Valley | Hunter Wildlife Rescue | 0418 628 483 | Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock and Lake Macquarie local government areas | ||
NSW | Sydney | Sydney Wildlife Services | 02 9413 4300 | |||
NSW/ACT | Queanbeyan | Wildcare Queanbeyan Inc. | 02 6299 1966 | Areas surrounding the ACT | ||
NT | Darwin | Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary | 0473 992 581 | |||
NT | Darwin | Wildcare Inc | 0408 885 341 | |||
NT | Katherine | Wildcare Inc | 0412 955 336 | |||
NT | Alice Springs | Wildcare Alice Springs | 0419 221 128 | |||
QLD | SEQ | Wildcare Australia SEQ | 07 5527 2444 | |||
QLD | Brisbane | Kerry's Wildlife Rescue and Care |
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QLD | SEQ | A.R.R.O.W Wildife Rehabilitation | 0430 904 415 | |||
QLD | Gold Coast | Currumbin Wildlife Hospital | 07 5534 0813 | |||
QLD | Sunshine Coast | Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital | 1300 369 652 | |||
QLD | Wacol | RSPCA Wildlife Hospital | 07 3426 9910 | |||
QLD | North Qld | North Queensland WildLife Care | 0414 717 374 | |||
QLD | Far North Qld | Far North Queensland WildLife | 07 4053 4467 | |||
SA | Adelaide | Fauna Rescue of SA Inc | 08 8289 0896 | KOALA HOTLINE: 1300 562 527, Bats incl. Microbats & Flying Foxes Rescue hotline (24 hours) 0475 132 093 | ||
SA | Statewide | Wildlife SA | 0402 734 555 or 0403 269 953 | |||
SA | Statewide | RSPCA South Australia | 1300 477 722 | |||
VIC | Melbourne | Wildlife Victoria | 03 8400 7300 | Covers all of Victoria | ||
VIC | Dorreen | Help for Wildlife | 0477 555 611 | |||
VIC | Bendigo | Wildlife Rescue and Emergency Service | 0427 301 401 | |||
VIC | Melbourne | Wildlife Rescuers Inc | 0417 506 941 | Based at LaTrobe University | ||
WA | Perth | FAWNA WA | 0438 526 660 | This number is recommended by several smaller wildcare groups in WA alternative number: DBCA Wildcare (08) 9474 9055 | ||
WA | Karratha (N. WA) | Pilbara Wildlife Carers Association | 0438 924 842 | |||
WA | Perth | Native Animal Rescue | 08 9249 3434 | Their website recommends numerous vets in different suburbs | ||
WA | Perth | Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre | 08 9291 3900 | |||
WA | Broome | Native Animal Rescue | 0407 773 258 |
These organisations will give you advice on what to do until a trained rescuer comes to take the animal to a vet or foster carer. The foster carer will look after the animal until it is ready to be returned to the wild.
Download our PDF on what to do if you find a sick or injured bird
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