Found Live Birds

The following information comes from Avian Haven, a truly heroic wild bird rehabilitation center in Freedom, Maine, that has cared for more than 20,000 birds in the last 20 years. To find them on-line, click on Avian Haven.

"If you are unsure whether a bird you have observed is in need of rescue, feel free to discuss the situation with us. If you have retrieved a bird that is obviously in distress, it should be placed in a safe, quiet, dark place such as a box with a towel on the bottom and a lid on the top until you can get the bird to us or another licensed avian rehabilitator, remembering to keep the bird away from pets and children whose curiosity can often lead to problems. Please contact us prior to bringing the bird to our facility, so we can be sure to have someone available.

If you have retrieved a hungry baby bird, do NOT feed it bread, milk, cereal, hamburger or any other meat. As a stop-gap only, until the orphan can be transported to us or to a closer licensed rehabilitator, most species can safely be fed kitten chow, cat chow, puppy chow or dog chow (listed in order of preference) broken into small pieces and soaked in water until soft. These products are not complete diets, but will do no harm for short periods. It is a violation of federal law for an unlicensed individual to hold most species of birds in captivity. Improper diet and/or medical care can quickly do permanent damage; orphaned or injured birds should be turned over to a rehabilitator with a federal permit as soon as possible.

Birds that have been caught by cats need help immediately. Cat saliva contains a bacteria that is usually fatal to birds unless the appropriate antibiotic is administered. Cats kill a million songbirds a day in the United States; along with habitat loss, cat predation is a major threat to bird populations. Please keep your cats indoors -- for the safety of both your pets and the birds. This address www.abcbirds.org/cats/catsindoors.html will provide you with more information about keeping cats indoors.

There are no state licensed rehabilitators in the Bangor area. Avian Haven is often in need of volunteers to ferry birds to their facilities in Freedom. If you would be interested in volunteering, contact Avian Haven.

Last updated: 06/28/2008