What Do I Do With An Injured Bird?

Sometimes birders come across an injured bird and are not sure who to call.  Before you do anything, observation from a safe distance may show the animal is neither sick or injured and may need no assistance at all.  If you do determine that assistance is needed, you can refer to the following list for the rehabilitator nearest you.  These people are all volunteers and may have other jobs, so leave a message and they will return calls as soon as possible.

• Eastern Iowa
  • Raptors
    • Macbride Raptor Project @ 319-398-5495 (iowa CIty/Cedar Rapids area)
    • Black Hawk Wildlife Rehab. @319-277-6511 (Waterloo/Cedar Falls area )
  • Non Raptor wildlife
    • Wapsi River Wildlife @ 319-480-1917 (Cedar Rapids and surrounding area)
    • Rachelle Hansen @ 319-848-7463 (Cedar Rapids and surrounding area)
    • Vera Blevins @ 563-355-7831 (Davenport)
• Central Iowa
  • Injured Wildlife
    • ISU Wildlife care clinic @ 515-294-4900 (Ames area)
• Southern Iowa
  • Songbirds and Raptors
    • Beth Brown @ 641-342-2783 (Osceola)
• Western Iowa
  • Raptors, Waterfowl and Songbirds
    • Kay Neumann @ 712-683-5555 (Dedham )
• Northwest Iowa
  • Injured Wildlife
    • Linda Hinshaw @ 712-336-3827 (Spirit Lake)

While you are waiting, you can restrain the sick /injured animal in a pet taxi or cardboard box with some air holes and do not offer any food or water unless instructed to do so by the rehabber. Keep the animal warm or cool depending on the time of the year and wait for a call.

Racing Pigeons

Occasionally birders come across someone's pet racing pigeon that got lost on its way home.  These birds are normally banded with non-Fish & Wildlife Service bands that have some identifying characteristics.  This website appears to be a good place to start to notify the owner.

http://www.pigeon.org/birdreleases.htm