Please do not feed a wild bird in need of help. While it can be well-meaning, birds have very specific diets and grow quickly, so every meal is important. Rehabilitators are trained and knowledgeable about how and what to feed a raptor so it can successfully return to the wild.

 

Songbird/Dove/Pigeon

After songbirds hatch, they go through 3 phases: 

Nestling – they are newly hatched and are pink with very few feathers

If you find a nestling on the ground, it needs to be returned to its nest if possible. If you cannot reach the nest, you can create a makeshift nest out of fruit carton and some grass and secure it as high up in the tree as possible. If you cannot find the nest, please bring the bird to a rehabber.

 

Fledgling – they are able to move around, their feathers are coming in, and they are learning to fly. This is a very important phase in a bird’s journey to becoming an adult. Most will spend up to a week on the ground learning to fly and feed themselves, and their parents will care for them from the ground.

If you find a healthy, alert fledgling, please leave it alone. If it is in a dangerous area, you can gently pick it up and move it to a safer location nearby where mom can still find it. We understand this is a dangerous time for the bird and there are lots of predators, but this is the only way the bird will learn from its parents.

If the fledgling is injured, or has flies or ants on it, please bring it to a rehabber.

 

Adult – birds have all of their feathers, and can fully fly and feed themselves.

If you find an injured bird, please bring it to a rehabber.

Birds often fly into windows and become stunned. Give the bird an hour to recover before trying to help. If the bird has not flown away after an hour, please get it into a rehabber.

 

Raptor (Hawk/Owl/Vulture)

If you find an injured hawk or owl, please contact us for help. Raptors have very strong talons (claws) and can cause serious damage if handled. 

 

Nestling – baby hawks with few feathers need to be returned to their nests. If you cannot reach the nest, please contact a rehabber for help.

 

Fledgling – juvenile hawks will occasionally spend time on the ground while they learn to fly. Their parents will care for them from there.

 

Adult – if you find an injured hawk, please contact a rehabber for help.

 

Owl

Nestling – baby owls with few feathers need to be returned to their nests. If you cannot reach the nest, please contact a rehabber for help.

 

Branchling – owls with some down (fluffy feathers) and some feathers will venture out of the nests and sit on branches nearby. If one falls, they can usually use their talons to get back up the tree. If a young owl has been on the ground for more than 2 days with no sign of the parents, please contact a rehabber.

 

Fledgling – juvenile hawks will occasionally spend time on the ground while they learn to fly. Their parents will care for them from there.

 

Adult - if you find an injured owl, please contact a rehabber for help.

 

Vultures

Vultures are nature’s best clean-up crew! In Central Texas, we have Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures. They lay their eggs on the ground, so while they may look abandoned, they are not. If you find baby or juvenile vultures, they need to stay where they are if they look alert.

 

Injured adult vultures can be very difficult to catch since they are still quick on their feet and can find food without flying.

 

Waterbird

There is a wide variety of waterbirds in Central Texas. If you have a question about a specific species, please give us a call.

 

Ducks - If you find ducklings, and the parents are in the area, please do not pick them up or bring them in for help. The parents will get them safely to water, even if they seem like they may be in a dangerous area. We don’t want to take babies from their parents, because their parents will always do the best job raising them.

 

We cannot accept domestic ducks including Muscovy ducks.

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Other Birds

There are variety of bird species who do not fall under the above categories. We are happy to help with ID and figure out if the bird needs help.

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