Quick answers
If you find an injured bird in Los Angeles, here are some quick things you can do:
- Assess the situation – is the bird safe or in immediate danger?
- Contact a wildlife rehabilitation center for advice and assistance – there are several options in the LA area that can help
- If the bird appears ill or has an obvious injury, carefully contain it in a box/carrier to transport it to a wildlife center
- Do not try to treat or feed the bird yourself – this should be done by trained wildlife rehabilitators
- Keep children and pets away from the injured bird to avoid stressing it further
The key is getting the bird professional help as soon as possible. Read on for more detailed information on what to do if you find an injured bird in the Los Angeles area.
Assess the situation
The first step when encountering an injured bird is to quickly evaluate the situation to determine if the bird is in immediate danger.
Look at the surroundings – is the bird located somewhere unsafe like the middle of a busy road? Is there a predator animal nearby that could further harm the bird?
If the bird is in imminent danger, you may need to gently move it (using gloves/towel) to a safer temporary location. However, keep in mind that further manipulating an injured bird can cause additional stress and harm.
Move the bird only if absolutely necessary to prevent further injury from its unsafe surroundings. Avoid excess handling.
Contact a wildlife rehabilitation center
Once the injured bird is stable, the next priority is contacting an experienced wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance and advice.
There are several options for bird rescue and rehabilitation centers in the Los Angeles area, including:
- International Bird Rescue – (310) 514-2573
- Wildlife Learning Center – (818) 222-2658
- Lindsay Wildlife Experience – (916) 429-2224
- Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center – (714) 374-5587
When you call, be ready to describe the species of bird, its condition and any obvious injuries, as well as your location. This will help the center determine the best plan for capturing, transporting and treating the bird.
Follow any guidance provided closely – the goal is minimizing stress and harm to the injured bird until wildlife rehabilitators can take over its care.
Carefully contain the bird if needed
If the injured bird is unable to fly and there is no imminent danger, you may need to temporarily contain it in a pet carrier, box or other ventilated container until it can be transported to a wildlife center.
Use the following tips when containing an injured bird:
- Line the container with a soft cloth or towel
- Wear thick gloves to carefully pick up the bird and place it inside
- Cover the container to provide a dark, quiet space which helps reduce stress
- Keep the container in a warm, quiet area away from people and other animals
- Avoid keeping the bird contained longer than necessary before transportation
The goal is keeping the bird in a calm, stress-free environment until the rehabilitation center can take custody of it. Avoid excess noise, disturbance and contact when containing an injured bird.
Do not attempt first aid yourself
It is strongly recommended that you do not attempt any type of first aid or treatment of the injured bird yourself unless specifically directed by the wildlife rehabilitator.
Here are some things you should avoid without guidance from the experts:
- Do not try to give the bird food or water
- Avoid trying to wash or clean its feathers/wounds
- Do not apply any salves, ointments or bandages
- Do not attempt to splint broken wings or legs
- Do not administer any medications or supplements
Improper first aid attempts often do more harm than good. Leave treatment to the trained wildlife rehabilitation staff.
Transport the bird carefully
Once proper temporary containment is in place, the next step is carefully transporting the injured bird to the wildlife rehabilitation facility or designated meeting location.
Use the following precautions when moving a contained injured bird:
- Move the container slowly and avoid jerky motions
- Moderate your speed if driving – no sudden accelerating/braking
- Maintain comfortable temperature control inside your vehicle
- Keep radio/music off and speak softly to minimize stress
- If needed, loosely drape cloth over the carrier to provide darkness
The goal is providing a smooth, stress-free ride to get the bird into professional care as soon as possible.
What wildlife rehabilitators will do
Once you hand off the injured bird to wildlife rehabilitators, here are some of the steps they will take:
- Examine the bird to assess its condition and determine any injuries/illnesses
- Conduct diagnostic tests if needed, such as x-rays, bloodwork, etc
- Provide emergency medical treatment such as wound care, IV fluids, etc
- Address any dehydration/malnutrition with specialized feeding formula
- Isolate and monitor the bird in climate-controlled housing while recovering
- Eventually transition bird to outdoor aviaries for strength training before release
The goal is stabilizing the bird initially and then providing proper treatment to nurse it back to full health for successful release into the wild.
Understanding common bird injuries
Knowing a bit about some frequent bird injuries can help you assess the bird’s condition initially to support the rehabilitators. Here are some common issues:
Broken bones
Birds have hollow, fragile bones that are susceptible to breaks from collisions, predators, etc. Signs can include dangling legs, limp wing, swollen areas or protruding bone.
Concussions
Head trauma is common after crashing into windows or vehicles. Signs include disorientation, inability to fly/walk straight, lethargy.
Dehydration
Dehydration is dangerous for birds. Look for sunken eyes, lethargy, wrinkled skin and panting/gaping beak.
Dislocated joints
Shoulder and other joints can pop out of place after falls/collisions. Look for limp wing, dangling foot or awkward bending of limbs.
Eye damage
Birds have very fragile eyes. Signs of injury include excessive tearing, swelling, scratches and vision trouble.
Feather damage
Missing or broken feathers make flight difficult. Especially monitor for broken blood feathers which can cause bleeding.
Beak/mouth injuries
The beak and inside of the mouth are highly sensitive and prone to damage. Look for bleeding, chipping, swelling, alignment issues.
Being able to identify the bird species and any visible injuries will optimize the rehabilitation center’s ability to help the bird recover.
Wildlife rehabilitation success rates
Many injured wild birds can make a full recovery when they receive prompt professional treatment from wildlife rehabilitators.
According to data from wildlife centers, success rates for rehabilitating various species of injured birds include:
- Songbirds: 60-70%
- Seabirds: 50-60%
- Raptors: 40-50%
- Waterfowl: 30-40%
Recovery depends on factors like the severity of injury, species type, age of the bird and how soon rehab is initiated. Providing rapid transport to rehabilitators improves outcomes.
Can I transport wildlife without a permit?
In many cases, no special permit is needed for good Samaritans to transport an injured bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center in California.
However, it is advisable to check regulations for your specific area. And only move the animal if absolutely needed for its safety.
Some other tips for legal transport:
- Directly transport to rehab facility without unnecessary delays
- Do not take unnecessary detours or stops during transportation
- Follow best practices for safe containment during transport
- Never keep the animal in your possession longer than needed for transport
When in doubt, contact your state wildlife agency or local animal control office for guidance on any transport rules for your specific area.
Alternatives if you cannot transport
Ideally, you should be able to safely contain and transport an injured bird to a wildlife rehabilitation facility yourself. However, this is not always possible.
Here are some alternatives if you cannot personally transport:
- Call animal control to request pickup assistance
- Contact a wildlife center to see if they can dispatch a transport volunteer
- Carefully monitor on site while having a friend/neighbor transport
- Use a ride share service, taxi or public transportation if no other option
Getting the bird secure professional help should be the priority, even if you cannot directly provide transportation yourself. Explore any available options within reason.
Avoid interacting with migratory birds
It is crucial to avoid unnecessary interaction with any healthy migratory birds you encounter in the wild.
Migratory birds are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Their natural behaviors and migration should not be disrupted.
Unless the bird is clearly debilitated, sick or injured, maintain a safe distance and do not approach, feed or capture migratory bird species.
Leave healthy birds that are just stopping to rest and refuel during migration undisturbed and observe from afar. Only provide emergency care to birds in clear distress.
Prevent bird collisions/injuries
While rescuing injured birds is important, it is even better to prevent harm in the first place. Here are some tips:
- Install bird-friendly window solutions to prevent collisions
- Keep cats indoors to protect local birds
- Drive cautiously in migration seasons to avoid car strikes
- Keep trash secured so birds are not entangled or poisoned
- Dispose of fishing gear properly to avoid wildlife entanglement
Simple actions like these can make a big difference in reducing unnecessary bird injuries and fatalities. Being proactive helps support local ecosystems.
Injured raptors require special care
Birds of prey like hawks, eagles, owls, falcons require some extra precautions if you find them injured, compared to smaller songbirds.
Here are tips for assisting raptors:
- Be especially cautious of huge talons clawing in self-defense
- Use welding gloves or multiple layers of heavy towels/blankets when containing
- Securely close the beak and cover the head to reduce biting/pecking
- Transport in a covered pet carrier labeled “Raptor – Do Not Open”
- Never approach nests/fledglings – monitor from a distance
Raptor talons and beaks are capable of severe injury, so take extra steps to avoid harm to both yourself and the bird when handling injured birds of prey.
Special care tips for baby birds
It is common to find baby birds out of nests that appear injured/abandoned but often are not. Here are tips if you encounter fledglings or nestlings:
- Wear gloves – baby birds can carry parasites and bacteria
- Gently contain in ventilated box on a heating pad set to low
- Never try to return to nest yourself – monitor from a distance instead
- Keep handling to a minimum to avoid imprinting
- Rehydrating with oral fluids may help stabilize before transport
Getting orphaned babies into rehab quickly gives them the best chance of being able to eventually return to the wild.
Protect yourself from disease transmission
When handling any injured or ill wild animal, protect yourself from potential disease transmission:
- Wear thick leather/rubber gloves
- Do not touch your face during rescue
- Wash hands thoroughly after contact
- Shower and change clothes after transportation
- Seek medical care if any symptoms develop
Use common sense hygiene and infection control practices when assisting injured wildlife. Do not jeopardize your own health in the process.
Obey all laws/regulations
It is crucial to follow all federal, state and local laws and regulations when dealing with injured wildlife. Key things to know:
- Do not capture or handle species designated as threatened/endangered
- Avoid excessively disturbing other nearby healthy wildlife
- Never remove birds from public parks or protected refuges
- Obtain any necessary permits for transport/possession
- Promptly release any releasable animals at direction of authorities
Act in the animal’s best interest but also follow legal protocols. Let authorities handle any protected or dangerous species.
Conclusion
Discovering an injured bird in distress can be worrisome, but there are steps you can take to provide emergency care while getting it into professional wildlife rehabilitation. Remember to stay calm, safely contain the bird, get expert input, and transport as soon as possible. With some basic knowledge and quick action focused on stabilization, an injured bird’s chances of recovery and release can be maximized. Support local ecosystems by learning how to properly intervene when needed and help prevent injuries whenever possible. With care and compassion, we can make a positive difference for local urban wildlife.
