What do I do if I find a sick or injured bird?

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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

Email

Information

ACT

Canberra

ACT Wildlife

ACT Wildlife

0432 300 033

ACT Wildlife Email

Injured kangaroos call: 13 22 81

NSW

Statewide

WIRES

WIRES

1300 094 737

WIRES Email

 

NSW

Mid North Coast

FAWNA NSW

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

Wild Carers

0408 966 228

  

NSW

Northern Tablelands

Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers

Northern Tablelands Carers

1800 008 290

  

NSW

NSW South Coast

Wildlife Rescue South Coast

Wildlife Rescue

0418 427 214 (N of Batemans Bay) 0417 238 921 (Batemans Bay to Vic Border)

  

NSW

Hunter Valley

Hunter Wildlife Rescue

Hunter Wildlife Rescue

0418 628 483

Hunter Wildlife Email

Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock and Lake Macquarie local government areas

NSW

Sydney

Sydney Wildlife Services

Sydney Wildlife Services

02 9413 4300

Sydney Wildlife Email

 

NSW/ACT

Queanbeyan

Wildcare Queanbeyan Inc.

Wildcare Queanbeyan

02 6299 1966

Wildcare Queanbeyan Email

Areas surrounding the ACT

NT

Darwin

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary

0473 992 581

Darwin Sanctuary Email

 

NT

Darwin

Wildcare Inc

Wildcare Inc

0408 885 341

  

NT

Katherine

Wildcare Inc

Wildcare Inc

0412 955 336

  

NT

Alice Springs

Wildcare Alice Springs

Wildcare Alice Springs

0419 221 128

  

QLD

SEQ

Wildcare Australia SEQ

Wildcare SEQ

07 5527 2444

Wildcare SEQ email

 

QLD

Brisbane

Kerry's Wildlife Rescue and Care

Kerrys Rescue


0431 674 016

  

QLD

SEQ

A.R.R.O.W Wildife Rehabilitation

ARROW

0430 904 415

  

QLD

Gold Coast

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

Currumbin Sanctuary

07 5534 0813

  

QLD

Sunshine Coast

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Australia Zoo

1300 369 652

  

QLD

Wacol

RSPCA Wildlife Hospital

Qld RSPCA

07 3426 9910

  

QLD

North Qld

North Queensland WildLife Care

NQld Wildlife Care

0414 717 374

  

QLD

Far North Qld

Far North Queensland WildLife

FNQld Wildlife

07 4053 4467

  

SA

Adelaide

Fauna Rescue of SA Inc

Fauna Rescue SA

08 8289 0896

Fauna Rescue SA

KOALA HOTLINE: 1300 562 527, Bats incl. Microbats & Flying Foxes Rescue hotline (24 hours) 0475 132 093

SA

Statewide

Wildlife SA

Wildlife SA

0402 734 555 or 0403 269 953

  

SA

Statewide

RSPCA South Australia

SA RSPCA

1300 477 722

  

VIC

Melbourne

Wildlife Victoria

Wildlife Victoria

03 8400 7300

 

Covers all of Victoria

VIC

Dorreen

Help for Wildlife

Help for Wildlife

0477 555 611

Help for Wildlife Email

 

VIC

Bendigo

Wildlife Rescue and Emergency Service

Wildlife Rescue

0427 301 401

  

VIC

Melbourne

Wildlife Rescuers Inc

Wildlife Rescuers

0417 506 941

 

Based at LaTrobe University

WA

Perth

FAWNA WA

FAWNA WA

0438 526 660

FAWNA WA Email

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

Pilbara Carers

0438 924 842

Pilbara Carers Email

 

WA

Perth

Native Animal Rescue

Native Animal Rescue Perth

08 9249 3434

 

Their website recommends numerous vets in different suburbs

WA

Perth

Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Kanyana Wildlife

08 9291 3900

  

WA

Broome

Native Animal Rescue

Native Animal Rescue Broome

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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