From the US Fish & Wildlife Service:
Q: I found and injured bird. Who do I call or Where can I take it?
A:The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not have rehabilitators here on staff. Call your local veterinarian, humane society, or county or municipal wildlife agency to find the nearest qualified wildlife rehabilitator that can take and treat the bird. Or you could call the Regional FWS Migratory Bird Permit Office to locate a federally permitted migratory bird rehabilitator. You may also access the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) Hotline site or the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) site to help put you in touch with a qualified rehabilitator. While you are locating a suitable rehabilitator, keep the bird in a dark box in a warm, quiet spot. Do not disturb it or offer it food. Let it rest.
I'm not sure that's always going to be the answer. These things get bureaucratic quickly. There will be lots of concern for any migratory bird, but you're probably dealing with House Sparrows, Starlings, Pigeons, or Mourning Doves, which are considered lower class citizens, and are treated about as well as we treat the homeless, so maybe you know best. I would be careful with any bird you think is really sick, as opposed to injured. Most avian diseases are not directly communicable to humans, but as we've seen with West Nile Virus, there can be secondary transmission through insects. I'm not going to rag on Rex, but as long as he's on patrol you'd better be prepared for more…
are you saying me not to kiss any hurt sparrow??
Well, you could give it a peck.
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I'm not sure that's always going to be the answer. These things get bureaucratic quickly. There will be lots of concern for any migratory bird, but you're probably dealing with House Sparrows, Starlings, Pigeons, or Mourning Doves, which are considered lower class citizens, and are treated about as well as we treat the homeless, so maybe you know best. I would be careful with any bird you think is really sick, as opposed to injured. Most avian diseases are not directly communicable to humans, but as we've seen with West Nile Virus, there can be secondary transmission through insects. I'm not going to rag on Rex, but as long as he's on patrol you'd better be prepared for more…
- alex 6-13-2002 6:30 pm
are you saying me not to kiss any hurt sparrow??
- Skinny 6-13-2002 9:56 pm [add a comment]
Well, you could give it a peck.
- alex 6-13-2002 9:59 pm [add a comment]