If you find a migratory bird that seems friendly, is quietly sitting by your building
or lets you approach, this bird is most likely injured !

Do not assume a bird is dead if it is totally still and/or on its back and/or if there is blood.
We now know from our experts that stunned birds can look exactly like dead birds.

Please proceed with directions below unless bird is cold and stiff. If it is a raptor or sharp billed wader, please just call for assistance. Raptors become stiff legged when injured and both raptors and long billed waders such as herons can be dangerous. Woodcocks and Rails are smaller waders and they are not dangerous and can be approached as other birds below.

Contact with wildlife entails the risk of disease exposure and transmission.  We warn all individuals to take any and all precautions they feel are necessary to minimize their risk of exposure and safeguard their health whenever handling birds.  Wear latex gloves when handling birds.  Always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after handling birds.

Thanks for caring enough to help birds in need.

If you have found a stunned bird, please remain calm and:

1. Place a flat folded paper towel in the bottom of an non-waxed paper sack or box. A paper grocery or sandwich bag is ideal, or a box with small holes in it. Most birds will do well in a smaller sack but larger birds such as catbirds, rails, woodcocks, thrashers and woodpeckers should go into a paper grocery sized bag or box.  If you find an injured raptor or heron type bird, call our hotline or one of the rehabbers listed below to get help.
   
2. Gently pick up the bird and put it into the bottom of the bag or box. Try to keep the bird upright. Fold down the top of the bag and clip it, and/or close the box so that the bird cannot jump or fly out.
   
3. Put the bag or box in a dark, quiet and protected location (preferably indoors).  Do not open the bag to check on the bird, this is dangerous the bird may try to escape and cause further injury. If the bird is active, please put another towel or blanket over the box or bag. Light makes them active.
   
4. Please call our collision Hotline Number 773 988 1867 and leave the time, your name, a number where you can be reached and your location. If you cannot rescue the bird, leave the above information and the location and condition of the bird.
   
5. Do not give the bird food or water as this can be very dangerous for a stunned bird. It can even kill the bird.

*IMPORTANT NOTE * We make every effort to call you as soon as we can and try to assist you or arrange a pick-up. In our off season we will also try to assist you as we can but we are not in full force and there may be times we do not have resources to assist you.

Note that we are an all volunteer effort and are most active during these spring and fall migration periods.

If for some reason we are unable to assist you, please follow up by calling a licensed rehabber as soon as possible and try to get the birds to them and follow their advice.  It is illegal to keep a migratory bird without a license.  These birds can lose up to 30% of their body weight in one day without proper care. Please do everything you can to get the bird the care it needs ASAP.

Please keep the stunned bird in the bag even if it becomes active. Just because a bird becomes active or can fly does not mean it is OK! If the bird becomes active please move it to a darker location or cover the bag or box with a towel or sweater. Please do not let the bird out of the bag to see if it can fly, etc. These birds often develop debilitating swelling over the next 24-48 hours after impact regardless of whether they seem OK or not. It is extremely difficult to evaluate these injuries and so we have a conservative policy, treat every bird we can. The treatments do no harm and give them a much greater chance of full recovery from concussion and other injuries.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESCUE RAPTOR OR HERON TYPE BIRDS UNLESS DIRECTED OR TRAINED BY AN EXPERT.

Please call our Hotline - 773 988 1867- or one of the rehabs listed below for help.

We are not a rehab and have no facilities to treat baby animals of any kind. We are an all volunteer, grass roots rescue and risk reduction effort.

If for some reason we are unable to get back to you, or if you have a baby animal, please do not wait.

Please call Willowbrook Wildlife Center (630) 942 6200.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR CHICAGO BIRDS! YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND IT IS APPRECIATED!