Will it give me rabies? No. Birds do not carry rabies.

How can I catch it? It is almost impossible to catch a bird that can still fly. If it seems weak and you would like to try to catch it, use a pool net or a makeshift net such as a wire coat hanger bent into a circle and run through the hem of a pillowcase. This will provide adequate control.

A sick or weak bird that is on the ground can easily be caught by throwing a towel over it. If possible, approach the bird with the towel between you and the bird so that it does not see your face. Once it is in the dark, it will be easy to handle.

Why does it keep running into or attacking my window and how can I stop it? There are generally two possibilities for repeated window strikes:

1. Territorial birds who see their reflection in a shiny surface (window, car windshield, even shiny car surface) will attack the reflection believing it to be an intruder. Generally, they do not seriously hurt themselves when they do this, and fly away immediately. This generally happens during the spring mating season. The solution is to eliminate the reflection for several days. Drawing drapes or putting paper inside the house is not good enough as there will still be a reflection. The paper must go on the outside of the window.
2. Some birds seem to be particularly persistent, particularly when a car is involved. In that case, another alternative might be to hang a mirror from a nearby tree to distract the bird’s attention for a few days while covering or moving the car.
3. Birds may also strike windows (with more force, frequently hurting themselves) because they can see through the window to green space and do not realize the window is there. Sheer blinds or closing doors to eliminate the view, strips of tinfoil, hawk silhouettes, stained glass decorations, tape strips and other tactics may be necessary to eliminate this risk. It may also help to plant bushes in front of the windows.

Bird trapped in house. Birds will always fly toward the light. Walk through the following rescue steps:

1. Confine the bird to one room if possible. Cover mirrors and close curtains in that room.
2. Open windows and doors and turn off the lights.
3. Keep people and pets out of the room until the bird goes out.
4. If there is no way the bird can get out, lead it toward a door or window by closing off or darkening the house, except for a path to the exit.
5. If the bird is hurt and hiding in the room, give it an hour or so (staying out of the room) to come out in the open. Try putting out birdseed, water, or a piece of apple to tempt it. If it can’t be reached or cornered, call a licensed rehabilitator in your area. for advice.
6. A healthy bird should be released in its own neighborhood. If the bird is obviously injured or won’t fly away, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Bird trapped in store. Occasionally large grocery or department stores call about birds (usually a starling or sparrow) is trapped. This is extremely difficult because frequently the suggestions you offer cannot be done (particularly in a 24-hour store). You can offer suggestions, but if they cannot turn out the lights and open a door to the outside, they may need to call a local wildlife company with proper equipment and pay a fee to have the bird caught and released.

Birds trapped in ductwork or tight spaces. A bird that has fallen into a deep or tight place may climb out on a rough branch or knotted cloth rope carefully lowered to it and fastened at the top.

Birds do occasionally get trapped in oven and dryer vents, heating and cooling systems, walls, or between chimney and chimney flashing. Sometimes (as in the case of between the chimney and flashing or behind a built-in microwave) there is nothing that can be done to rescue it unless the homeowner is willing to have a handyman cut into the wall or vent, or remove a piece of the ductwork or equipment.

A bird behind an oven may be rescued by pulling the oven away from the wall. The bird, if not injured, will most likely fly into the room. It will then have to be moved to the outside. If nestlings are rescued uninjured, they can be renested outside using a milk jug near the opening that led to the nest. Fledglings can be put in a shrub nearby. Weak or injured birds must go to a licensed rehabilitator in your area.

After rescue, any nest debris should be cleaned out and the hole in screen or vent should be repaired using ½ – ¾” hardware cloth.

Bird with oil or sticky material on its body. Birds that have oil or sticky material on any parts of their body are severely hampered and may be unable to fly, eat, or breathe properly. Sometimes birds in their search for insects may become attached to insect or mouse pest strips; in their struggle to get free, they can become seriously injured. Although sometimes the manufacturer will recommend removal techniques, removal of any of these materials is a delicate, lengthy process and must not be attempted by anyone other than a federally licensed rehabilitator.After the material is removed, the removal process may actually destroy the bird’s waterproofing, and it may have to be re-waterproofed before it can be released.

Any large oil or chemical spill or a spill of any size in progress should be reported to 911 immediately. Established, non-active spills of any size should be reported to the local jurisdiction’s Fire Marshall Hazardous Materials section.

Late migrating birds. In general, birds follow their own timetable and will migrate when they feel the time is right. Many waterfowl no longer migrate. If the situation seems very unusual, such as an individual bird that did not migrate when others of its species did, refer to a licensed rehabilitator in your area.

Birds with eye problems. Sparrows and finches may be seen around the feeder with conjunctivitis, a crusty-looking eye condition that eventually closes the eyes and blinds them. This is highly contagious to other sparrows and finches. Although in the early stages of the disease the bird is not ill enough to be caught. At some point, however, an infected bird will no longer be able to fly and can be easily caught. Conjunctivitis is not known to be contagious to humans, but a towel or gloves should still be used to handle the bird. The bird can be successfully treated by a licensed rehabilitator. Remove the bird feeder for several weeks to stop the spread of the disease and follow a rigorous cleaning protocol.

Birds with fishing hook, twine, or other debris twisted around them. This is a potentially lethal situation, but in most cases the bird cannot be caught until it is too ill or weak to fly any longer. If it can be caught and is in poor condition, the bird needs to be examined carefully by a rehabilitator or veterinarian before it is released, and possibly receive supplemental feeding for a few days to regain its strength. Sometimes birds get caught in a tree, and tangled in string. This is usually because string has been used as a nest-building material, although sometimes kite string (frequently fishing line) is caught in the tree. If the bird can be safely reached with a ladder, try the following instructions to free the bird:

1. Hold the bird or put a light towel or cloth around it so it can’t fly away, then cut the string.
2. Immediately place the bird in a covered box in a warm, dark, quiet place until it has rested and is less stressed, about an hour.
3. Take the box into a confined area (powder room is good) where the bird has no place to go if it escapes.
4. Cover the bird with a towel and gently pull out the string-wrapped limb. Cut the string off with the smallest scissors (nail scissors are good) possible. If the flesh is broken or swollen, or the string will not come off, is imbedded or has a hook attached, contact a rehabilitator immediately.

If you cannot reach the bird with a ladder, there may be nothing that can be done unless you are willing to hire someone to reach the injured animal such as your local Animal Control agency. Anytime a raptor is in distress, it should be referred immediately to animal control and/or a raptor rehabilitator.

Escaped or released pet birds. We receive a lot of calls about pet birds, particularly in the fall. You may wish to find a local pet bird club who usually has someone specializing in retrieving pet birds. This is not something with which we are generally able to assist.