Every year, hundreds of birds in East Sussex are needlessly picked up by the public and taken to veterinary centres or wildlife hospitals when they should have been left undisturbed.
It is very easy to assume a bird has been abandoned when you find it on the floor, but quite often it is a fledgling learning to fly. When a fledgling takes its first flight it is going to be unsuccessful, it is natural for them to spend up to 5 days on the floor before they can fully fly. They can often be seen hopping around or flying short distances. The smaller the species the quicker they build up the muscle strength in their wings and can sustain flight. Mum and dad will normally be near by but they do not always fly down to feed every few minutes as they are trying to encourage the youngster to fly. Both the youngster and the parents are good at hiding themselves.
Parent birds urge their offspring to scatter into various hiding spots to continue feeding them. This method helps nature spread the risk of young birds falling prey to predators. If they stayed clustered in the nest, they would be more vulnerable to detection by predators.
The natural process of dispersal has effectively operated for millions of years. Some small garden birds may be preyed upon as they play a crucial role in nature’s food chain, supporting the survival of various wildlife. For this reason, fledgling and juvenile birds should be left alone. However there are some situations of man-made origin that means you should intervene.
As a general rule we do not incubate and attempt to rear eggs unless they are in the very latter stages of development and almost ready to hatch. Rearing wild birds eggs without the right equipment, heat and frequency of turning can result in disabilities, deformities and suffering.
A bird which is bald or has a few tuffs of fluff on its naked body is a hatchling. If the bird is partially bald, covered in just fluff or a mixture or fluff and proper adult flat like feathers then it is a nestling.
All of the above should not be out of the nest (with the exception of Tawny Owl chicks), and will need rescuing. DO NOT attempt to place them back in a nest. This could be classed as illegal disturbance, may cause other youngsters to jump out or cause the parents to abandon their young.
If you find a fledgling (a fully feathered bird – may have a few tuffs of fluff on its head) you should leave it alone unless:
This is a complex issue, some species of baby birds like ducklings and pheasant chicks are able to fed themselves straight after hatching but other species like moorhen and partridge need help.
Bringing a young bird into care and hand-rearing can decrease its chances of survival. Many manage to escape capture by cats and other predators by concealing themselves in bushes and vegetation.
The likelihood of being caught by a predator is often lower than the dangers of providing incorrect food or moisture to the youngster. A mother is best at preparing a baby’s food, as we can only speculate on its preferences and may easily make mistakes.
Every year, we receive calls from individuals who have fed milk to a baby bird. It is important to note that birds do not have breasts nor produce milk. Some birds do produce crop milk, but this is not actual milk. Diary and non-diary milk can be harmful to their digestive system. It is crucial to seek advice promptly in such situations.
Every year, WRAS receives requests to care for birds that have been hand-reared alone or in pairs and have grown accustomed to human contact. It is crucial for birds to be raised with others of their species to acquire essential survival skills and learn to fend for themselves. Minimizing human interaction is key to prevent them from becoming too accustomed to humans and enable their successful release back into the wild. Domestication does not happened if reared correctly.
Many species of bird cope well even if one of the parents is lost. Do not jump to the conclusions that both parents have disappeared. During hot weather parents may stop feeding due the height of the day.
Parents may stop going in and out of the nest or nest box when expecting the young to start fledgling.
If you find a dead parent bird, you also should not assume its is one of the parents to the nest you are aware of.
It is best to watch for at least 3 hours – constantly watch, do not go off to the toilet, do not watch TV or read a book. This is important or it could result in young being taken from a parent unnecessarily.
Once you have done this call WRAS for advice.
It is natural for some species of bird to raid other bird’s nest. Unfortunately, baby birds are low down on the food chain and the as a result species like Blue Tits can have up to 28 young in a year! If they all survived, we would be overrun by them.
Cuckoos will lay eggs in other birds’ nests and as the chick grows it can throw other youngsters out of the nest. It is illegal to interfere with these nests and the young cuckoo must be left alone. Any young birds which are thrown out of the nest by the cuckoo chick should be rescued and WRAS contacted.
Birds of prey will hunt garden birds, if you see a bird attacking a garden bird, please do not interfere.
Not all injuries to legs are as a result of a fracture. Limps are not necessarily an indicator of a fracture. These are often soft tissue injuries which heal naturally given time. If a bird can put weight on the leg then the injuries is often not serious.
Leg injuries can impact a birds ability to fly. Some species need a run up to take off, other species like ducks can take off from standing.
If there is an open wound which is bleeding the bird generally needs rescuing.
If you are able to catch a wild bird, then there is normally something wrong.
Catching birds with leg injuries, which can still fly, can be very difficult, or impossible at times. If you find yourself able to place a box over a bird or trap the bird in a shed, green house, garage or your kitchen do so and call for help. If you are able to easily catch any bird it will need help.
Not all injuries to wings are as a result of a fracture. Dropped wings are not necessarily an indicator of a fracture. These are often soft tissue injuries which heal naturally given time. If a bird can fly then the injury may not be that serious.
If you are able to catch a wild bird, then there is normally something wrong.
Wing injuries are more problematic for birds and put the bird at a higher risk of predation or territorial disputes.
There are different types of fractures, ranging from easily treatable to more complex ones. Various bones require specific methods of immobilization and support. Treatments that are effective for humans and pets may not be appropriate for small wildlife. Our decisions always prioritize the well-being of each individual bird.
Just like humans, wildlife must be in good enough health to undergo surgery or anaesthetic. Factors that may hinder us include the extent of tissue damage near the fracture, the age of the injuries, and the high levels of infection or debris in the wound.
Some fractures can be fixed using pinning or external fixators, but this not suitable for all fractures and not possible on very small birds, where external strapping may be possible.
Eye problems quite often occur along with collision injuries to the head. These birds may need help with feeding as they are sometime uncoordinated. These injuries need to be seen by a veterinary surgeon, in order to recover properly and avoid long term disability or fatality.
Infections and viruses can cause eye problems. Coloured discharges from the eyes are of concern. Pea size lumps by the eye or on the head are going to be problems which needs dealing with.
While Trichomoniosis can affect different bird species, it is most frequently observed in pigeons, doves, and birds of prey. This condition, also referred to as canker, frounce, and roup, involves a protozoa in the mouth and crop that results in the presence of a thick off-white or yellow substance. Birds affected by this condition struggle to feed themselves as their mouths become obstructed by the canker, often leading to respiratory issues due to the same obstruction.
Please refrain from pulling any material away from the mouth/crop as this can lead to tissue damage, bleeding and potentially prove fatal. The required treatment duration may vary from one week or longer based on improvement. Antibiotics and vitamins will be essential for recovery.
Some birds are prone to a fungal disease known as Candidiasis, also referred to as “Sour Crop.” This ailment affects the upper digestive tract, manifesting as greyish-white lesions in the mouth or pharynx. Affected birds display signs of lethargy, and may experience diarrhoea and vomiting. Young birds are particularly vulnerable to this condition and may require assistance with feeding until they regain their strength. It is crucial to differentiate Candidiasis from Trichomoniasis or Vitamin A deficiency, although it is possible for a bird to have both Candidiasis and Trichomoniasis simultaneously, meaning treatment needs to be adjusted appropriately.
There are several reasons why birds may experience damage to their beaks. This damage can range from the inability to close their mouths properly to the lower jaw being misaligned or having missing sections of the beak. Without a thorough examination or an x-ray, determining the exact nature of the issue can be challenging. These conditions are typically painful and distressing for the bird and necessitate prompt veterinary assistance if the bird can be safely caught.
Certain beak damages can be repaired based on the location and freshness of the injury, but unfortunately, some damages are irreversible.
For years, it was believed that a bird caught by a cat would likely succumb to shock within 48 hours. However, it was later discovered by rehabilitators that the cause of death, termed the “48-hour syndrome,” was actually septicaemia, not shock. This septicaemia was found to be triggered by Pasteurella multocida bacteria, commonly present on a cat’s teeth. Some species of bird can suffer with Capture Myopathy which is a chemical imbalance caused by their unnatural interaction with humans, this can prove fatal and is not reversible.
In general, when birds are caught by a predator, it is advisable to administer antibiotics and pain relief, regardless of any visible external injuries. Internal injuries or tiny puncture wounds, though unseen, can potentially result in the bird’s death days later.
It is crucial to promptly provide a cat-attacked bird with an antibiotic injection. Reputable veterinary centres are usually willing to administer antibiotics and care for the bird until organisations like WRAS can take over.
You may at times come across birds which appear to be swollen up like a balloon. This can be down to two different causes.
1) Bacteria infection giving off gas which inflates under the skin.
2) Damage to the respiratory system causes air to leak out and under the skin.
Both are generally treatable if admitted in a timely manner. Do not attempt to puncture air pockets or remove the air.
Ticks come in different sizes and may look like small pea-like lumps once they appear. If you discover a bird with a tick, please reach out to our rescue line for guidance. Tick bites can be dangerous, so it’s crucial to remove them properly using tick tweezers. Both the tick’s head and body must be removed from the bird. Remember to take note of where the ticks were located on the bird’s body if you remove them and check for any others around the bird. Please get in touch with us promptly as such bites can prove fatal if not treated quickly enough.
As a general rule WRAS does not believe in artificial feeding of wildlife visiting gardens. This can and has led to numerous problems and caused many arguments in residential areas which unfortunately always seems to lead to the wildlife suffering.
For more advice on feeding wildlife and safe and sustainable ways of doing so check out our Feeding Wildlife advice page.
Employing such deterrents can pose a significant threat to garden birds. Netting, string, and wire placed across fish ponds, chimneys, rooftops, fruit bushes, and plants can create serious challenges for wild birds and other wildlife.
Most trapped birds occur in locations where deterrents have been used and not erected or maintained properly. It is best to remove poorly maintained netting to avoid entanglement and the risk of prosecution should unnecessary suffering occur.
For further advice on deterrents please see our Deterring Wildlife advice page.
