If you find a dead or injured bird on campus, you can make an important contribution to Audubon Minnesota's conservation work by submitting the information through D-Bird.
*For injured birds see info and tips below to help
This helps Audubon determine problematic areas or structures, then develop and propose a solution.
*If you don't know the species of a found bird that's ok. Take a photo of the bird and submit it with your D-Bird report.
*For injured birds see info and tips below to help
This helps Audubon determine problematic areas or structures, then develop and propose a solution.
*If you don't know the species of a found bird that's ok. Take a photo of the bird and submit it with your D-Bird report.
*A Songbird or Waterfowl Hit My Window. What Should I Do?
Instructions from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, MN
Bird strikes are startling and traumatic to watch. But, oftentimes the bird is simply stunned and will fly away in as little as 15 minutes to as long as a couple hours. We recommend the following steps, to help you and the bird reduce stress and save time. We should note that if there is any blood, or an obviously broken wing that's limply hanging, bring the bird in right away.
1. If the bird is near a low bush, pick the bird up and place it at the base of the bush.
2. If it's cold outside or you're worried about feral cats, you may place the bird in a shoe box and put the shoe box in your garage or unused room. Be sure to close the door and keep the room quiet to help reduce stress on the already stressed bird.
3. After one hour, take the shoe box outside and lift the lid. At this point, hopefully the bird will fly away. If not, the bird has either died from extreme internal injuries (which we could not have done anything to reverse) or it's evident that the bird has an injured wing, etc., at which point you should bring it into:
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
2530 Dale St. N. Roseville, MN 55113
9am-8pm M-F
9am-6pm Sat and Sun
Open every day including holidays!
651-486-9453
When picking up an injured songbird place index and middle finger gently on either side of the head, allowing the bird's body to rest in your palm. Ensure wings are tucked into the bird's body before gently enclosing with thumb.
*Tips for Handling Injured Raptors ( birds of prey)
Instructions from The Raptor Center in Falcon Heights, MN
1. Please do not attempt to rehabilitate a raptor on your own. Always contact a licensed professional. If you are unsure of who to notify, you can contact The Raptor Center, or appropriate agencies in your area:
- The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Your state's Department of Natural Resources or Department of Game, Fish, and Parks
- Your local sheriff's office
3. The best way to transport a raptor is in a plastic dog or cat kennel, or in a sturdy cardboard box with the top closed. Avoid bird or wire cages, as these can cause feather and soft tissue damage. The carrier should have plenty of ventilation holes and should only be slightly larger than the size of the bird. The less room an injured bird has to move around, the less likely it is to cause more injury to itself. However, on the flip side, if a container is too small, a bird can sustain extensive wing and feather damage.
4. Never feed an injured raptor unless you have been instructed to do so by a licensed rehabilitator. The dietary needs of raptors are more delicately balanced than people realize. Even the juiciest steak imaginable will not provide a raptor with what it needs. Also, most injured birds are suffering from dehydration, and attempting to feed them or give them water orally may worsen their condition. If a bird has not eaten for a while, its digestive system shuts down and it cannot handle any food. At the Raptor Center, these patients are given a special fluid therapy for a day or two to jump-start their systems before any type of food is provided.
5. Handle an injured raptor as little as possible. Stress resulting from human contact can reduce a bird's chance of recovery.
6. Until the bird can be transferred, provide it with a dark, quiet, calm, warm environment. Darkness has a calming effect on birds. Extra care should be taken to keep the bird away from children and pets.
7. Do not keep a raptor any longer than is necessary to get it to a veterinary professional, raptor rehabilitator, or state/federal wildlife representative.
Call The Raptor Center when in doubt that a raptor needs help
During business hours, staff members are available to explain how to help injured raptors. Our main phone number is 612-624-4745.
During the spring/summer, we admit injured raptors daily between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
A Raptor Center clinician is available by phone for injured raptor consultations until 9:00 p.m.
After hours and on weekends please call 612-702-9924.
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
1920 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108