What to do if you find an injured bird?
What to do?
Finding an injured bird of prey is thankfully not something you would expect to do very often but it’s always good to be prepared. Follow the points below to help:
Your safety is paramount. If you see an injured Bird of prey on a road, find somewhere safe to stop or contact either the highway agency or police on 101 if it is not safe for you to help the bird. DO NOT put yourself or other road users in danger.
If you can approach the bird on the floor to within touching distance it will either be a fledgling or an injured/sick bird. Approach slowly and use a towel/jumper/coat to place over the bird (as you can imagine an injured bird might be defensive). Raptors can bite and will use their feet/talons to grab when threatened.
If the bird is dead and you suspect it to have been poisoned (Poisoned bait might be nearby) DO NOT touch the bird or the suspected poison bait. Many poisons used to target raptors and other wildlife are incredibly toxic and can kill humans & domestic pets. Please use this link and report the incident immediately.
If you suspect a bird has died or is suffering from Avian Influenza please use this link. Do not touch the bird especially if you have poultry or other birds at home as it is highly contagious.
When you can pick the bird up, gently wrap it up in the towel or jacket and place it in a cardboard box. Keep the box in a quiet, dark place
Don’t try and treat or check the bird over or feed and provide water; this is the job of a trained individual. Stress is a big killer of an injured wild bird of prey, so leave it in a dark cardboard box.
We recommend a cardboard box as pet carriers and crates let in light and the bird can further damage feathers through gaps in the sides and it can be incinerated after use if soiled.
Take the bird to a reputable rescue centre* or vet*. Please check out the Help Wildlife page for your nearest rescue.
If there is nowhere local take it to a vet. Not all vets have the expertise, but despite some vets saying over the phone they can’t take in wild animals, they all have a duty of care if you take them an injured wild animal*.
BEWARE Some rescue centres are not all they seem, we have seen so many rescue centres with poor standards and very little expertise when it comes to rescuing wild animals.
Also, please remember many rescue centres including the RSPCA are incredibly busy with limited resources, if they can’t help it won’t be because they don’t want to but because they can’t - please be respectful.
*Please note since the rise in cases of avian influenza in the UK many vets and rescues have stopped taking in birds and those that do may have a policy to euthanise birds admitted to their care.
Finding Owl Chicks
Every year, depending on the breeding season, young Tawny owls are found on the floor by the general public and taken into rescues. The reason Tawny owl chicks are found like this is part of their natural development; Tawny owl chicks at the age of 3 weeks old will branch which means they climb from their nest site and spread out in the woodland. This is part of their survival strategy; they are still balls of down and some will inevitably fall onto the floor, but they are very adept climbers and the parents will carry on providing for them. We as humans see these owlets on the floor and automatically think they are orphans and/or injured so pick them up and take them into rescue centres. This puts a massive strain on such places when it’s not necessary. If you find a Tawny owlet and you’re worried it may be vulnerable move it into a bush or tree nearby, but be careful as the adults can be very protective and could be watching.
If you’re not sure what a tawny owlet looks like then take a look at the gallery below below. The other species of British owls can be used as a comparison guide.
Barn owl chick
White down with black eyes, prominent facial disc starts to show.
If found on the floor must be returned to the nest site or nestbox as can’t fend for itself and the adults won’t feed it. Take them to a rescue/rehab centre.
Long eared owl chicks
Grey/brown down with black facial disc and orange eyes. Feather tufts starting to show.
Very unusual/rare owl chick to find on the floor in many parts of the UK. More common in Ireland. If found on the floor and not injured lift onto a low branch or bush somewhere safe. Often fairly mobile at a young age and parents will feed away from the nest site.
Little owl chick
Small in size, grey down and yellow eyes
Very mobile at a young age. If found on the ground needs to return to nest site or nest box wherever possible. Take to rescue/rehab centre if not possible.
Tawny owl chick
Grey/brown down with black eyes and a distinct pink rim.
Branches at this age and often found on the ground or low down. Leave in peace or move somewhere safe. Parents will continue to feed away from the nest site. Only take to a rescue/rehab centre if injured.
Not found in Ireland.
Short eared owl chicks
Light/dark brown down with dark facial disc and orange/yellow eyes.
An unusual/rare chick to find but most likely to be found on the ground in remote upland habitats as a ground-nesting species. Chicks will wander from the nest site at a young age so leave in peace unless injured.
If there is anything you want to learn about raptors, this is a great place to start!
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