First aid for birds

What to do with a wounded bird?

If you find a wounded bird, check if has broken limbs.
Turn these in a way that the blood flow is not cut of. If the blood flow is cut of, the limb will die.
Tape the bird with masking tape in such a way, that it is impossible to move the broken limb. Usually one piece of tape around the shoulder and one halfway around the tail, including his legs, is enough.
Put the bird in a box, which is not too large, filled with hay or some old rags. Make some holes for air in the top before you close the box. Put the box at a quiet and warm place (to prevent under cooling) and wait for the arrival of the animal ambulance. Or take the bird to a veterinarian or bird shelter yourself.
Leave the bird alone as much as possible. A lot of birds die because of stress and not of their wounds.

Some useful tips:

• Take care of your own safety when handling or releasing a bird.
• To capture a bird of prey, use al large cloth or coat. Be aware of its claws! Cover the head of the bird of prey to keep it quiet.
• The beak of the blue heron is like a dangerous dagger, that can move very quickly towards your face!.
  Cover the bird with a cloth a hold its neck, just behind its head!

Protect the animal and put it in a quiet place, that is free of draft. For instance in the garage or garden shack.

Don't overheat a full-grown animal by making it to warm. Young ones should be kept warm. (For instance place the animal in a towel.)

Place the animal in a dark place. You can do this by placing it in a small box made of carton, as we described earlier.
Don't use a birdcage: it can hurt a bird if it wants to escape.

Don't feed the animal and don't force it to drink.

Don't give the animal medication.

Birds from the nest:

Bald young birds that are found on the ground have almost no chance of survival. Often these are sick chickens, that are thrown out of the nest by their mother.
On the ground the chicken will die swiftly through super cooling. We understand that it is hard to let nature take its course, you can take these young birds to a bird relief centre. Helpers will do their best to help these (still bald) young birds and place them at a bird shelter, but their chances of survival are small.
Professionals will try to raise these birds, but it will be very difficult. If a chicken has feathers, it will be easier to help them, although you should not interfere to soon.
Bird shelters have a lot of experience in raising young birds. With some species it is possible that you do this yourself, but always ask advice first at a bird shelter or an expert.

Bird against a window:

If you hear a dull noise against the window, check this immediately. It is possible that there is a bird on the ground that flew into the window. Sometimes the bird is dead, but more often than not it is only unconscious.
It is difficult to see the difference. Take the bird inside to prevent a cat from eating the bird. Put the bird in a box and leave it alone for a while. Birds that are unconscious wake up after a half hour or so. The bird will fly away as if nothing has happened if it was only unconscious.
If that does not happen or if something does appear to be wrong with the bird, contact the animal ambulance or take it to a bird shelter.

Frozen bird:

Especially with glazed frost birds will often freeze their legs onto the ice. Check first if the bird is really stuck, by putting some crumbs of bread just out of its reach. If everything is alright the bird will walks towards the food. If the bird is really stuck, call the animal ambulance as soon as possible.
If you have to help the bird yourself, don't pull on the bird's legs.
Don't use any tools to try to free the animal. Saw, drill or cut through the ice around its legs. Take the bird, with the ice still on his legs, back home. Let the ice melt in a cool room. Don't put the bird in a warm spot or near heating. If a bird is frozen onto the ice, when there is no glazed frost, it is possible that this bird is sick.
Bring it to the animal ambulance or a bird shelter.

Oil victims:

If you find birds covered in oil at the beach, leave the dead birds there. The birds that are alive can be taken to a shelter near the coast. Do this only if you can catch the birds easily. If that is not possible don't hunt them down, this will only hurt them more. Don't grasp a bird by a leg or wing, but pick it up with both wings as close to the shoulders as possible. Take care that the bird does not cool down during the trip.
The insolation of its feathers is partly gone, because of the oil. Bird shelters near the coast have a lot of experience in cleaning birds that are covered in oil. With them these animals have a reasonable chance of surviving.
If there is no shelter in the neighbourhood, alert the police. Cleaning the bird yourself is not recommended!

Botulism:

Botulism is a food poisoning, from which a lot of ducks and other water birds die every year.
Especially after times of warm summer weather (with high water temperatures) the decease spreads quickly. Gradually the birds get paralysed, they cannot stand by themselves anymore, their wings are hanging and eventually they can no longer keep their heads above water. Get sick birds out of the water. However don't swim towards them, because also humans can get infected. Although there is only a small chance that this happens.
Don't touch the animals if possible with your bare hands. If it is necessary to touch them, to get them out of the water, wash your hands with disinfectant soap afterwards.
If there is no immediate danger for the bird, warn the animal ambulance. They will get the bird out of the water and bring it to a bird shelter, where there is a good chance that the infected bird will heal.
Dead birds have to be taken out of the water too, because they spread the decease. Municipalities are obliged to get the dead animals out of the water by law. Check if this happens because this is not a priority for all municipalities.

Pictures:
Top picture: young common kingfisher
Second picture: a nest of young blackbirds
Third picture: a gray heron
Last picture: bathing young ducks at the shelter