What To Do With Injured Bird?
The following are some things that one can do when one encounters an injured bird.
Reduce Stress: Whether or not it shows signs of physical injury, a bird that has suffered from an impact is bound to be traumatized. It will appear stunned and scared. The first approach of a human being for injured bird treatment is to call a veterinarian or a local animal rehabilitation center. If help arrives on time, nothing like it. However, till then your priority should be make the bird’s environment as stress free as possible. Keep children, pets and stray animals away from an injured bird.
Calm the Bird: Gently pick up the bird, with your hands over the wings, pressing the wings close to the bird’s body. However, do not press the bird hard, just hold it firmly. You could put a towel around it and then handle it. To help it breathe comfortably, hold the bird up erect while picking it up and then place it in a cardboard box which is large enough for it to fit in comfortably. Make holes in the box for it to breathe, beforehand. Also line the insides with some soft material. Ensure that the box is well ventilated and place it in a dark corner. Keep the bird in this box for an hour or two. In the absence of any stimuli, the bird will calm down on its own. After this, take the bird out to an open space and remove the lid of the box. If the bird hasn’t suffered any injury and has recovered from the trauma, it will fly off on it’s own. Read more on building bird boxes.
Be Careful: One word of caution though. The injured bird that you have encountered could be of a wild variety. It is best to let them be where they are. However, ensure that the place is free of any distractions. You could also cover it with a perforated box without moving it away from the place. In many states, it is illegal to treat wild birds. Be sure of the state laws before you treat any bird. If you have to pick it up, then for your own safety wear gloves while handling the bird. Read more on bird identification. Read the rest of this entry »
