Welcome to Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation. Found an Injured Bird?
Please read the information below about birds in need of rescue. After reading the information, please call Greenwood Wildife at 303-823-8455 if you feel a bird is truly in need of help/
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GIVE WATER OR FOOD to any bird. Birds can aspirate easily on fluids and may drown. Improper food can clog intestines, cause diarrhea or lead to crop infections.
Adult Birds - Basically, if you can catch an adult bird, the animal needs help. No healthy adult bird (with very few exceptions) will allow himself or herself to be handled. Signs of Illness in adult birds that warrant rescue include but are not limited to the following:
Preparing a bird for transport. Please follow these steps:
Please read the information below about birds in need of rescue. After reading the information, please call Greenwood Wildife at 303-823-8455 if you feel a bird is truly in need of help/
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GIVE WATER OR FOOD to any bird. Birds can aspirate easily on fluids and may drown. Improper food can clog intestines, cause diarrhea or lead to crop infections.
Adult Birds - Basically, if you can catch an adult bird, the animal needs help. No healthy adult bird (with very few exceptions) will allow himself or herself to be handled. Signs of Illness in adult birds that warrant rescue include but are not limited to the following:
- Able to pick bird up
- Unable to fly
- Has been in the mouth of a cat or dog
- Bleeding
- Circling, shaking, head tilting, seizures
- Covered with flies, ants or other insects
- Limping, dragging wing or leg, wings held at odd angles
- Vomiting, diarrhea, bright green or watery feces
- Sitting in or on side of road, unresponsive
- Has hit a window
- Cold to touch
- Wet or contaminated feathers
- If a bird is being attacked by a wild, native predator (non-pet animal), leave it alone. Why? Click here.
Preparing a bird for transport. Please follow these steps:
- Prepare a box or paper bag appropriate for the size of the bird.
- Make small holes for ventilation in the box/bag.
- Line the box/bag with something soft so the bird is insulated and does not slip around. Transport without padding can worsen fractures or head trauma. Old tshirts or towels are fine. Please note: if you are transporting a hatchling or nestling bird, please fashion a small nest using a clean soft cloth around the baby to help insulate it - they cannot regulate their body heat at this age.
- Carefully pick up the bird with a soft towel or gloved hand and place the bird in the bag/box.
- Make sure the box/bag is securely closed to prevent accidental escapes.
- DO NOT offer the bird any food, water or medication - the wrong food can kill a bird, fluids when administered improperly can kill a bird, the wrong medication/medical treatment can kill a bird.
- Keep the bird warm, dark and quiet.
- Stress can KILL a wild bird! Talking to the bird, holding it, playing music, noise from pets and children, etc. is very stressful for any wild animal.
Bird Look like this? You have a hatchling . Click here. Do NOT attempt to give any water or food.
Bird Look like this? You have a nestling. Click here. Do NOT attempt to give any water or food.
Bird look like this? Fully feathered but cannot fly? You have a fledgling. Click here. Do NOT attempt to give any water or food.
For more information on when birds needs help read bird superstar Suzie Gilbert's Wild Bird Help 101.
Your cat caught a bird or bat? Because a cat's mouth carries the caustic bacteria Pasteurella multocida, ALL wildlife that has been in a cat's mouth MUST receive antibiotics. We use Clavamox for 14 days, twice a day. This costs us $24.99. We strongly request making a donation in this amount. We are a 501c3 public charity and your donation is tax deductable.
Are you a kidnapper?
NOTE: Without proper licenses from State Departments of Fish and Game and US Fish and Wildlife Services, it is unlawful to possess a live or dead native bird, feather or egg. Please refer to Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife and The Federal Migratory Bird Act for more info.
Wild native songbirds have very specific dietary needs, requirements for housing, care and release back to the wild. The internet is filled with misinformation, even some grossly irresponsible information, and should not be utilized for advice about hand-raising any wildlife. It is also important to remember that raising wild native birds is in no way similar to raising domestic pet birds, regardless of advice provided by a health professional for domestic animals or a pet store. Baby birds that are raised by well-meaning, but misinformed untrained people result in very poor health, disease and often irreversible habituation and/or imprinting. These things will lead to the unfortunate and unnecessary death of the bird. So, if you’ve taken the first step to do the right thing for the bird by rescuing it, please complete the process and bring it to a licensed wildlife facility where it can receive proper medical and supportive care by a trained professional.
Colorado Native Bird is no longer accepting birds from the public. We acquire our patients through Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Longmont, CO. 303-823-8455.
However, we are available via text to help you sort out your wildlife conflict and give advice. Text only: 303-618-0357.
Your cat caught a bird or bat? Because a cat's mouth carries the caustic bacteria Pasteurella multocida, ALL wildlife that has been in a cat's mouth MUST receive antibiotics. We use Clavamox for 14 days, twice a day. This costs us $24.99. We strongly request making a donation in this amount. We are a 501c3 public charity and your donation is tax deductable.
Are you a kidnapper?
NOTE: Without proper licenses from State Departments of Fish and Game and US Fish and Wildlife Services, it is unlawful to possess a live or dead native bird, feather or egg. Please refer to Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife and The Federal Migratory Bird Act for more info.
Wild native songbirds have very specific dietary needs, requirements for housing, care and release back to the wild. The internet is filled with misinformation, even some grossly irresponsible information, and should not be utilized for advice about hand-raising any wildlife. It is also important to remember that raising wild native birds is in no way similar to raising domestic pet birds, regardless of advice provided by a health professional for domestic animals or a pet store. Baby birds that are raised by well-meaning, but misinformed untrained people result in very poor health, disease and often irreversible habituation and/or imprinting. These things will lead to the unfortunate and unnecessary death of the bird. So, if you’ve taken the first step to do the right thing for the bird by rescuing it, please complete the process and bring it to a licensed wildlife facility where it can receive proper medical and supportive care by a trained professional.
Colorado Native Bird is no longer accepting birds from the public. We acquire our patients through Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Longmont, CO. 303-823-8455.
However, we are available via text to help you sort out your wildlife conflict and give advice. Text only: 303-618-0357.