What to do with injured or orphaned wild birds
Manx BirdLife is not equipped or licensed to take injured or orphaned wild birds into care. If you find a wild bird in trouble, please follow the advice below.
4 points of action
Special notes about birds requiring help
Sick garden birds
If you have birds around your bird feeders or bird bath with swollen or untidy puffed-up faces,it may be Trichomonosis, a common disease of many birds including some of our garden favourites.
You can find out more about the disease – the signs to look out for and methods for disease prevention and control – at https://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org/portfolio/trichomonosis-in-garden-birds/.
It is very important to try to reduce the spread of this infectious disease which is mostly transmitted when birds congregate to feed together. Should you continue to observe signs of ill health in your garden birds and, especially when multiple birds appear affected, it is strongly recommended that you:
- Leave bird baths empty until no further sightings of sick or dead wild birds occur;
- Temporarily stop feeding for a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks. This is because feeding stations (such as bird tables and hanging feeders) encourage birds to congregate, sometimes in large densities, thereby increasing the potential for disease to spread between individuals when outbreaks occur. Stopping feeding will encourage birds to disperse, thereby minimising the chances of new birds becoming infected at the feeding station.
- When re-introducing feeding, provided you are no longer seeing birds with signs of ill health:
- Gradually reintroduce food to your bird tables and/or hanging feeders, whilst closely monitoring for further signs of ill health;
- Consider using a broad range of food types, and avoid using foods that will attract large numbers of finches (eg. sunflower hearts);
- If you see any birds with signs of ill health, once again stop feeding.
- Ensure optimal hygiene at garden bird feeding stations, such as frequent disinfection, can help to prevent disease transmission as a routine measure.
Found a Sick, Injured, or Stranded Seabird?
You’re most likely to find a stranded seabird in autumn, when many are on the move. If you come across one, here’s what to do.
Observe First:
Watch from a distance before approaching. Some seabirds may simply be resting. However, if it’s a pelagic bird (one that usually lives at sea), being on land is a red flag.
Look for Signs of Distress:
- Visible injuries (bleeding, drooping wings, limping)
- Lethargy, vomiting, or trouble standing
- Not flying away when approached
Always Help If You See:
- Oil on feathers: Even a small amount affects body temperature.
- Entanglement: Birds caught in fishing line, netting, or with visible hooks need professional help. Never try to remove hooks yourself.
- Broken limbs: Wings that drag or look uneven, or difficulty walking may indicate fractures.
Please note:
Seabirds can have Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Signs of illness include: head bobbing, balance problems, walking in circles, seizures, and trouble breathing (respiratory issues). These animals should not be touched and should be reported for assistance from a trained professional
Stranded Manx Shearwaters
Here’s some good advice from the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust, especially relevant during September (fledging time):
Its fledgling time for around 300,000 Manx Shearwater chicks from Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey, and they are heading out into a gale.
If you find one please just keep it in a box with as little disturbance as possible. Handle with care, wear gloves and keep the bird away from your face.
Please release it to sea, at dusk, on a sheltered bit of coast. It’s not a problem for the birds to be kept for a couple of days as they will have a LOT of fat reserves, and when the wind drops off a bit they will find it easier to navigate out to sea. Don’t try and release them in the daytime or if its’ flat calm.
Grounded swifts
1. Feeding
There is a great deal of widely disseminated misinformation about caring for injured or orphaned Swifts.
Swifts are entirely insectivorous. Hence they must be fed only on insects. Despite advice to the contrary – even in otherwise authoritative publications – feeding meat, cheese, cat food, dog food, eggs or other non-insect food to Swifts is ultimately fatal.
If you are trying to rehabilitate a ‘fallen’ Swift please feed it insects, for example crickets, moth larvae, mealworms.
2. Releasing
If you are are attempting to help a rehabilitated or grounded Swift back into flight, do not throw it into the air. During fine weather, find a large open space, hold the bird in the palm of your hand, raise it high and it should go of its own accord.
A grounded Swift that refuses to fly when you try to release it should be put it in a box on some fabric, kept quietly in a warm dark place while you get in touch with a specialist in this field.
3. Swift contacts
Further advice is available at:
The MSPCA or your nearest wildlife hospital may be another source of help, but make sure they know that Swifts are insectivores.
For the UK, there is a list of people who can rehabilitate Swifts at swift-conservation.org/SwiftFirstAid.htm.
We wish to acknowledge that the information above about Swifts above has been sourced from the excellent Action for Swifts blog site, which we recommend you visit.
Racing pigeons
Enquiries about lost or injured racing pigeons found in the Isle of Man should be directed in the first instance to the Cumbria region of the Royal Racing Pigeon Association (which includes coverage of the Isle of Man):
- Telephone: 01900 62346
- Website: www.rpra.org/about-rpra/rpra-regions
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