I FOUND A BIRD, NOW WHAT?

STEP 2: DETERMING IF THE ADULT BIRD IS SICK OR INJURED

How to Tell if a Bird is Injured/Common injuries
Depending on the type and severity of the injury it can sometimes be difficult to determine if a bird is injured. If you are able to approach the bird and get close to it this is generally a good first indication that something is wrong with the bird.

External injuries are more obvious. A bleeding wound, blood from the beak or misalignment of the beak, a leg twisted or bent at an unnatural angle, a wing held either extremely high or extremely low in comparison to the other wing, feathers missing- especially from the wings, all indicate that immediate medical attention is needed. Please contact Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and proceed to step 3:Rescuing an injured bird.

Internal injuries are more difficult to diagnose but indications that something might be wrong are as follows: open mouth breathing, unwilling to fly, lying on side, or acting ‘tame’ as in a stupor or trance. Bleeding from the beak or vent can also indicate a life threatening internal injury. If you have observed any one or more of these behaviors please contact Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and proceed to Step 3: Rescuing an injured bird.

Even if you do not see an injury you can assume that a bird has sustained an injury if you have observed it in any of the following situations: hit by a car, in a dog or a cat’s mouth, being attacked by humans or other birds, or hit a window and does not revive and fly away within 45 minutes of impact. In any of these situations please Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and proceed to Step 3: Rescuing an injured bird.

How to Tell if a Bird is Sick/Common illnesses
Depending on the type and severity of the illness it can sometimes be difficult to determine if a bird is sick or not. If you are able to approach the bird and get close to it this is generally a good first indication that the bird is sick.

Generally an ill bird will exhibit behaviors that are atypical. These may mirror an internal injury making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Common symptoms and behaviors displayed by an ill bird are as follows: open mouth breathing, lying on side, acting disoriented or ‘tame’, poor or matted feather condition, extremely thin, or unwilling to fly. If you have found a bird exhibiting any of these symptoms please contact Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and proceed to Step 3: Rescuing an injured bird.

Birds suffer from bacterial infections, parasites, viruses and infections just as mammals do. West Nile Virus is one of the most prominent diseases effecting bird populations in Colorado. Some of the common symptoms of this disease include: disorientation, fever, dilated pupils, and lying on side or lack of coordination to fly or move normally.
If you believe that you have found a bird suffering from West Nile or any other disease please contact Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and proceed to Step 3: Rescuing an injured bird.

Helpful hint: Bird feeders and birdbaths can be a vector for the spread of disease among birds. Take the extra steps to keep your feeders and birdbaths clean and disease free by rinsing them out with a dilute bleach solution (30:1) every two weeks. Remember to rinse feeders and baths extremely well after using any cleansing product and letting them air-dry fully before filling with seed or water.

Signs of External Injuries:
      • Wounds that are bleeding.
      • Blood from the beak.
      • Obvious distortion of the beak.
      • A leg that is twist, bent or at an unnatural angle.
      • A wing that looks different from the other wing.
      • Missing feathers-especially from wings.

Signs of Internal Injuries:
       • Open mouth breathing.
       • Staying on ground, inability to fly.
       • Lying on side.
       • Approaching humans.

If you have an injured bird of prey please call The Birds of Prey Foundation at (303) 460-0674 or visit http://www.birds-of-prey.org/.

Continue to: Step 3

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