2nd Chance Wildlife Care Center
A Bird Just Hit Your Window...
What Should You Do?
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE A BIRD THAT HIT A WINDOW TO GET MEDICAL HELP BEFORE RELEASING IT, EVEN IF IT SEEMS FINE:
#1- It is instinctual for wild animals not to show if they are hurt. If an animal shows it is hurting, this makes them a target for predators. People are predators to birds and other wildlife. (By the time a wild animal shows that something is wrong, it is often already too late. This is why wildlife rehabilitation is not for everyone.)
#2- Think about this: If you ran into a wall with your head or your face while you were running... What would happen? You would fall down or at least stumble. You would feel pain where you impacted the wall. If you were knocked out, once you "came to"/regain consciousness, you would get up off the ground and walk home or to a doctor, because you would have a concussion, and therefor you would "take it easy" until the swelling in your brain subsided. The same is true for a bird that flew into a window.
#3- Birds can often die a day or two after hitting a window from a blood clot or severe swelling in the brain. A simple steroid shot from a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitation center and a brief observation period afterward can prevent this from happening and the bird can be released within a couple days time with little to no risk of death.
If a bird flies into / hits your window, you should follow these steps to ensure that the
bird has the best chance of a full recovery both short-term and long-term after the impact.
* Pick the bird up using a washcloth or pillow case to cover its head so it cannot see you (this is to keep the bird more calm)
* Put the bird in a ventilated container (shoe box or similar) and close the lid and secure it with a piece of tape (or something of the sort) so that the bird cannot escape during transport if it comes out of shock... This will also ensure that the bird will be less likely to stress itself out than it would be if it were not secured safely (like in a bucket without at least a towel covering the top of it).
* Contact and transport it to your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center ASAP!
DO NOT LET IT GO!!!!!
Even if it seems like it is alright after a couple of hours!
* Please read section below for information about why it is not a good idea to let a bird go after it hits a window...