Call our
Bird Rescue Hotline
What to do if you find a bird that appears to be sick or injured, or in distress and in need of help:
Call our Rescue Hotline at 727-391-6211, extension #1!
Upon calling the Rescue Hotline, you will receive a text message from our dispatcher requesting the information we will need to send a volunteer rescuer out to help.
Injured Bird Rescue
For the fastest response time, please respond to the text message in text even if you have already left a voicemail. If needed, our dispatcher will call or message you to request any further information or details. When our dispatcher has all the necessary information, we will forward the information along to our Rescue Team volunteers.
As soon as a Rescue Team volunteer is available, they will call you to provide their ETA!
Injured Bird Hotline: 727-391-6211
What to do if you find a baby bird alone on the ground:
STOP! Baby birds rarely require human intervention unless they are physically sick, injured or otherwise in need of immediate medical attention. The best way to help a baby bird is to keep in the wild where it can stay with its parents and family.
In most cases if the bird is a hatchling or nestling (little-to-no feather development, eyes unopened or partially opened, still too young to stand/perch, limited mobility) the best way to help is to return the bird to its nest or to put the baby up in an artificial nest container.
If the bird is a fledgling (mostly feathered, very active and mobile, hopping around and/or taking short flights), the bird should be left alone! It is normal for fledglings to be on the ground during this stage of their development.
For more information, see this handy flow-chart! If you have questions or need assistance, call our Rescue Hotline before taking any action. Click here to download a printable version.
What to do while you are waiting
for the rescuer to arrive:
If possible, please stay with the bird and keep your phone on you for when the rescuer calls.
To avoid any added stress or further risk of injury to the bird (or to yourself) do not try to touch, pick up, or handle the bird. Do not give the bird any food or water. If the bird still appears to be flight capable, keep an eye on the bird from a safe distance so as to not startle it into flying away.
If you are in a public area or somewhere where there a lot of people (such as on the beach, in a parking lot, apartment complex, etc.) please try to keep other people from approaching or crowding around the bird.
After Hours Drop-off
Our facility closes to the general public at 4pm. However, our rescue operations continue through sunset. If you find a sick or injured bird overnight or after-hours, you can still call our Rescue Hotline for assistance!
Our dispatcher may walk you through what to do if you are holding the bird overnight, or can provide instruction on how to safely contain the bird for transport to the sanctuary. At our facility, we have an after-hours drop off location where birds can be brought in 24/7!