WE CANNOT TAKE IN BIRDS AT THE STORE but will gladly direct you to a local licensed Rehabber

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR BIRD REHABBER LIST

Safely Contain the Bird

Contain the bird in a well ventilated container (such as a box with numerous breathing holes). If it is a hawk or owl use a towel and proceed with caution OR contact a Rehabber Immediately.

Offer Food and Water

Offer a shallow dish of water. Provide food as well. Not all birds eat seed. Diet would depend on what type of bird you have.

Please note the following is intended to help the bird stay alive until it is transported to a rehabber. This food list is NOT INTENDED FOR LONG TERM CARE!

For Birds that are out of the nest (baby birds may have different food requirements):

Sparrows/Finches/Grosbeaks/Buntings/Doves/Pigeons - Sunflower Seed and Millet

Hummingbirds/Orioles - Hummingbird Nectar

Sparrows/Black or Says Phoebe/Kingbird/Warbler/Flycatcher/Mockingbirds - Small Insects, Mealworms

Crows/Ravens - peanuts, sunflower seed, dog/cat food

Jays/Woodpeckers - Sunflower and unsalted peanuts

Hawks & Owls - Contact Rehabber immediately

PLEASE DON'T FORCE ANY FOOD OR WATER unless directed by a rehabber.

Please Note: IT IS ILLEGEAL TO KEEP A WILD BIRD AS A PET! Those who keep Hawks & Owls need special permitting and training to do so. Our aim is to keep WILDLIFE WILD so ALL can continue to enjoy them. Removing birds from the wild decreases their population numbers, removes parents from their mates & young, and with baby birds - removes their source of protection, guidance, and source of food. The baby birds parents are the best able to raise, protect, and teach their young. Human raised birds become used to being provided for by humans alone and are not taught how to live in the wild, find natural food resources, and avoid predators. The best teachers are their own kind in the wild.

If You Found a Banded Wild Bird

Wild birds are occasionally banded by scientists to learn more about the birds behavior and movements. If you find a wild bird that has a band alive or dead please report it to the the U S Fish and Wildlife service Reporting banded birds website.

https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/bird-banding/reporting-banded-birds.php

If You Found a Banded Pigeon

Banded birds can often be traced to the owner or the Pigeon Association that the owner is affiliated with. If you find a banded pigeon and you have it in captivity please take down the band information and contact the groups below. Additional information is provided on the National Pigeon Association website on housing and care of found birds.

The National Pigeon Association http://www.npausa.com/customer_service/found_pigeon.html

The American Racing Pigeon Union https://www.pigeon.org/arpu2021/pages/lostbirdinfo.html

International Federation American Homing Pigeon Fanciers https://www.ifpigeon.com/lost-and-found.html

If You Found a Baby Bird

Many birds (Crows, Mockingbirds, House Sparrows, House Finches, Doves, etc.) leave the nest before they can fly. They are fully feathered and will start to fly within a few days. PLEASE LEAVE THESE BIRDS ALONE!!. The parents are still caring for them. If the baby bird has no feathers, find the nest and put the bird back in it if possible. Otherwise get it to a Wildlife Rehabber. DO NOT TRY TO CARE FOR THESE BIRDS YOURSELF. Keep wildlife wild. It is illegal to have a wild bird in captivity unless you are a licensed rehabilitator. People intend well but do more harm than good in attempting to care for wildlife. Most especially, do not feed a baby bird unless directed by a licensed rehabber. DO NOT FEED baby birds lettuce, milk, fruit, peanut butter or honey. This can be lethal to them. Baby birds, depending on the species, have specific nutrition requirements. Not all baby birds eat worms or seed. Leave it to the experts!

Bird Collided with Window

In most instances when a bird has collided with a window it is stunned. Simply put the bird in the shade under a bush or put it in a box (securely closed and with air holes) for up to 2 hours. Usually the bird just needs time to recover. Then release it where you found it. If the bird has not recovered, get it to a rehabber. Occasionally window collisions are fatal.

Bird Attacked by a Cat or Dog

Get it to a rehabber! Do not try to care for the bird yourself. Cat/Dog teeth and claws introduce infection to birds during attack. If not treated these birds could potentially die even with the best efforts. Rehabilitators are prepared for this.

Bird Stuck on Glue Trap

Put Sand on areas where the bird is not attached to avoid the potential for the animal becoming further entangled in the glue trap. Gently cover the bird and contact a rehabber. Forcibly removing the bird from the trap can cause feather loss, injury to the bird, and the possibility of glue getting stuck to the birds feathers - This can potentially prevent the bird from being able to keep warm and fly. PLEASE LEAVE THIS TO A REHABBER to increase the chances that the bird can be returned to the wild as quickly and safely as possible.

Injured Bird

Do not try to mend any injuries yourself. Attempted mending of injuries can do more harm than good and can cause life long damage to the bird when not done correctly. Leave it to the rehabbers.

Found a Sick Bird

Disease is found in wild bird populations. Not all get sick - typically the old, young, and immune suppressed birds fall ill. If you find a sick bird. Make sure it is not a window collision or baby bird. The best thing to do with a sick bird is to get it to a rehabber. DO NOT LET SICK BIRDS COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY CAGED BIRDS OR POULTRY. Some wildlife diseases can be transferred to pet birds and humans. Handle with care.

If you witness illegal HARASSMENT or KILLING of Native birds

Poaching of native birds, especially Hawks & Owls, is against the law! If you witness any illegal poaching or harassment of native birds please contact the California Department of Fish & Wildlife though their tip line at 1-888-334-2258. Further information can be found at their website .

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Enforcement/CalTIP

To report Wild Bird Mortalities

If you find dead wild birds on your property beyond the normal occasional bird mortality due to natural disease, predation and window strike please contact your State Wildlife Agency, or State Health Department.

California Department of Fish & Game Mortality Reporting

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report

West Nile - Report a Dead Bird

westnile.ca.gov/report.php

Report large scale wild bird die-offs or other unusual signs in wild birds to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

1-866-487-3297

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-hpai-dead-wild-bird.508.pdf

Baby Raptors and Owls

Raptors and Owls do not make good pets. It is illegal to own a Raptor or Owl unless you have special permitting. Please do not try to take in any Owl or Raptor. If you find one sick, injured, or orphaned CONTACT A REHABBER IMMEDIATELY! Often those who try do more harm than good with poor diets (Raptors and Owls cannot survive on meat alone) resulting in nutritional deficiencies and physical deformities in the bird.

LOCAL BIRD REHABBERS

Please Note: Many of these rehabbers rely on donations to fund their rescue operations. Please consider making a donation if you should find yourself in need of their assistance. Donations are not required but is greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Most rehabilitators do not provide services to pick up wildlife. They rely on you to get these animals to them. Most work out of their homes and are NOT ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY. Be courteous and mindful of this when you are calling for their assistance.

NEVER DROP OFF AN ANIMAL AT A LOCATION UNLESS YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE REHABBER.

Wildlife rehabilitators often volunteer their time and efforts to this chosen profession, but have lives outside of it as well. Please respect their capabilities, as rehabilitators often specialize in certain species of wildlife and establish limits on the number of animals they can accept and properly care for.