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How To Handle An Adult Injured Bird

WHEN FINDING AN INJURED BIRD, YOU HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO BRING IT TO A FEDERALLY LICENSED REHABILITATOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO LONGER THAN 24 HOURS AFTER YOU FOUND THE BIRD. KEEPING A WILD ANIMAL IN YOUR POSSESSION WITHOUT A FEDERAL PERMIT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

You will need:

•  Quietly approach the bird from behind, directly opposite the way its beak is pointing. This will put you in the bird's blind spot, making it less likely to be startled. (A startled bird can fly into a window again and re-injure itself.)

•  Quickly cup your hands around the bird and tuck it into a brown paper bag. The bag should have 2-3 holes for better air circulation. A light cloth can be put over the bird when picking it up. To prevent escape, use your free hand to close the top of the bag around your wrist as you withdraw your hand from the bag. Fold over the top of the bag once or twice and clip it shut with a clothespin or binder clip. - Put the bag in a dark, quiet spot and let the bird rest for at least an hour, a few hours is best. Do not open the bag--the bird could escape and hurt itself again.

•  If possible, provide the bird with water. NEVER use an eyedropper to give a bird water. Water can be placed in a shallow dish or dip your finger in the water and drop it on the side of the bird’s beak.

•  After a few hours, carefully peek into the bag through the dime-sized breathing holes, or listen for signs of activity. If the bird is alert, it can safely be released. Robert F. Wagner Park, south of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, is a good spot to release birds. Central Park, Battery Park, Prospect and Inwood at the northern tip of Manhattan are also good. Go as far away from buildings as possible and open the bag to let the bird fly away. Never "toss" a bird into the air.

•  If the bird has not recovered, or appears to be severely injured, it should be taken to one of the care centers listed below.

 Contacts:

    Dr Guesenbery     838-8100 ext 8622
    Dr. Hess     838-8100 ext. 8619
    Dr. Wyre     838-8100 ext. 8761
    Dr. Kottwitz     838-8100 ext. 8806

*Client Service Manager is Gladys Quiles 212-329-8637

•  They will accept all injured wildlife. No charge.

•  No follow up phone calls to find out how bird is doing.

•  MUST tell them you are from NYC Audubon and make sure that they write this information with your name on the form.

•  Will accept injured animals at their shelter but will only do some triage and not real veterinary work. Will be kept in cage/box until they can field it out to a rehab person from the state list.

•  Their field operators are only available to pick up animals 8am-8pm and their prime responsibility is cats and dogs, not birds, so chances are they will not be able to help.

•  The CAC is a last resort if you can find no one else to help. They can take and transport migratory birds, but they do not respond for starlings, pigeons, seagulls and squirrels, although you can bring those to the shelter.

CAC (Center For Animal Control) This is the last resort if all else fails.212-788-4000

•  Quietly approach the bird from behind, directly opposite

•  Their field operators are only available to pick up animals 8am-8pm and their prime responsibility is cats and dogs, not birds, so chances are they will not be able to help.

•  The CAC is a last resort if you can find no one else to help. They can take and transport migratory birds, but they do not respond for starlings, pigeons, seagulls and squirrels, although you can bring those to the shelter.

He works with Bob Zinc the rehabber. Will take anything, but please call first. He is overwhelmed.

They will take any birds, orpahned squirrels, injured animals that need to be euthanized. Please cfall first to explain the situation and the aninmal. No cost to volunteers but donation is always welcome. Doctors are there Monday thru Thursday 10-9, and on Friday 10-3. But if you get a bird after hours or on weekends call anyway and they either take the bird or refer you to someone who can.

Not difficult to get there by ferry and bus if you are in Manhattan. So it is an option.

•  Will take migratory birds, or any other birds.

•  Rosemarie Curcio one of our rehabers works there on Sunday and can bring birds there.

•  Huntington is a one-hour ride on the Long Island Railroad. If you want to take the bird there call first. One of the interns or volunteers will pick you up at the station.

If you have no way of going to either of these places, please call to arrange a pickup.

To arrange a pick-up call:

(Weekdays) Dr. Joan S. Zofnass at 917-513-3126 or 212-752-2203
(8:30am until 10pm Mon-Fri)

(Weekends) Denise Trezza at 646-283-4192 or:

New York City Audubon office at: 212-691-7483 (Weekdays)

Do not handle or look at the bird any more than is absolutely necessary. Human contact is stressful for birds... and stress kills!

If you find a dead bird:

•  Approach the bird as if it were alive. (Sometimes "dead" birds are just stunned and fly away when you try to pick them up.)

•  Put the bird into a freezer Ziploc bag. Do not pick the bird up with your bare hands.  

•  If you think the bird has died as the result of a collision with glass, please report the species (if known), time, date and location where you found it to NYC Audubon for our records.

•  Dispose of the bird in the garbage or store it in a cool dry place if a NYC Audubon representative has informed you they will pick it up.

•  Always be sure to wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, mouth, etc., after handling a bird -- whether dead or alive.