I’ve got a bird, what happens to it now?

Have you ever wondered what happens when you make a call into Iowa Bird Rehabilitation (IBR) because you found an injured, sick, or orphaned bird?  Your call is the first step to help this bird in need.  When you call, there’s an IBR Volunteer on the line who will ask you questions about where is the bird, what happened to the bird, do you know what kind of bird, can you take a picture of it?  They have to understand what you’re dealing with.  They will talk you through what you can do for the bird.

​If the bird should come to IBR for evaluation and help, the fastest and best way is for you, the Caller to bring it in.  You know more about what happened to it, where it was and so on.  If that’s not possible, an IBR Rescue and Transport Volunteer can come to you.  Bear in mind, sometimes your call may come outside of operating hours.  Don’t feel bad, work it out with the IBR contact as far as if you need to bring in the bird or keep it overnight. 

Every bird case is unique.  At times, you’ll be instructed how to care for your ward overnight.  I’ve run into cases like that and have to say the new bird parents are usually quite proud of their new found skills.  If there are children in the house, it’s a great learning opportunity for them too.  IBR is glad that you care about the bird you found, and that you called us to learn what to do.  

In some cases an IBR Rescue and Transport Volunteer comes out to pick up the bird.  For some Callers it’s difficult to let it go.  We’re bird people, we get it.  Then here comes the questions.  “What will you do with it?”  “What happens next?”

Here’s what we do and what happens next. The IBR Rescue and Transporter Volunteer takes possession of the bird.  We keep it as comfortable as we can as we take it to IBR on 49th Street in Des Moines.  

From there, another IBR Bird Care Volunteer who’s been trained and has experience with caring for birds takes it in to be evaluated.

Some birds have an obvious injury, like a hurt wing or leg.  Some birds hit a window or other solid object.  That’s called a bird strike.  When found, they could be laying dazed on the ground and don’t look like they are injured, but could have internal injuries, cuts, and bruising.  

You may not know what happened to the bird.  People find them laying in their yard or in the street and the bird hasn’t moved much or at all.  

Even little hatchlings (just out of the egg with no feathers, depending on the variety of bird), and fledglings (a few more days old and have feathers coming in, but still too young to be on their own) can have injuries from being blown out of their nests.

Of course there are orphaned babies too.  You might  find them in many different places like under trees, in the yard, in the street, sewer, or in dryer vents. 

All these birds are checked over and evaluated for what the most appropriate care will be for them.  

Efforts depend on different aspects such as injuries, type of bird, and age.  The injured birds are cared for by performing medical procedures like setting its wing or leg, picking out barbed wire, or other metals, and giving them pain relief medications.  All depending on the unique needs of the bird.  Remember injuries, just like with people, don’t always heal overnight.  Injured birds could find IBR as their home for weeks or months.  

The good news is that some birds just need to rest up and get their bearings again.  They are given a peaceful individual private resting place.  When appropriate they join other birds of their feather.  There is an entire coop of pigeons and morning doves and another area has a  small flock of pelicans!

Small baby birds, if they are hatchlings or fledglings, are put into little knitted nests together according to age and species. Goslings and ducklings could be together by  age and species in the most adorable playpen group ever.  They keep each other company and stay warm.  Any singular needs are still taken care of and they are fed appropriate food on a regular and frequent schedule.  Baby robins, starlings, sparrows for example are fed every half hour.  Baby humming birds are fed every fifteen minutes.  You can probably see why we need more volunteers to feed the birds, clean their spaces and food bowls, and make their food.
 
When larger raptors like large owls, eagles, and hawks come in, they are sent to SOAR.  SOAR stands for Saving Our Avian Resources.  They rehabilitate over 300 injured and orphaned raptors every year.  They are experts with these types of birds and have the facilities to attend for their particular needs.

Speaking of experts.  IBR has other places and expert individuals that care for specific breeds.  Geese, ducks, and swans can find themselves in a waterfowl rehabilitation.  Bats go to another expert.  Yes, Iowa BIRD Rehabilitation does take in bats too, and yes we know they aren’t birds. 

All are cared for in the most conscientious of ways. When birds are releasable, they are taken to proper spaces for the species, age, and migration timings.

Ideally a bird will be released in the area it was found. IBR does keep records when the bird comes in where it came from.  Sometimes it isn’t possible to release them where they originated.  In those cases, the IBR team releases them in the most suitable areas.  

Remember one of the main goals of Iowa Bird Rehabilitation is to address the immediate needs of sick injured or orphaned wild birds with the goal of returning them to the wild.  Everything we do is for the birds.

If this article makes you feel like you want to do more for IBR, there are plenty of ways to help.  Check out ways to volunteer, on the IBR website.  Not all volunteer jobs need to be at IBR in Des Moines.   We need people all over the state.  Rescue and Transporters are needed in and outside of the Des Moines area.  It’s nice for the Rescue and Transporters to meet midway in route Pony Express style, handing off a bird or birds until they get to IBR. Another option is to look into our Swift Project to help identify roosting locations of chimney swifts.

If you can make it to Des Moines once a week, consider feeding all these birds.  Got other ideas?  Maybe hold a garage sale and send IBR the proceeds.  Donations of money, gift cards, and supplies are always welcome.  Look over the wish lists on Amazon and Chewy sites.  There are links to the wish lists on the IBR website under Donations..

Keeping up with us on social media, our newsletter, website, and other forms of communication helps too.  Keep us in mind, spread the word about IBR.  The process of helping birds starts with you.

Author: Sandy Briggs, IBR Volunteer

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