birds connect seattle logo
DONATE
Photo features a Sandhill Crane, a large bird, standing on one leg with wings open.
Pine Siskins | Cynthia Raught, Great Backyard Bird Count
Home 5 Learn 5 Birds of WA State 5 Bird Facts 5 Sick or Injured Birds

Sick, Injured, or Dead Birds

Unfortunately, just like all species, sometimes birds can become sick or injured. There are a few things that people can do in these scenarios to help keep people and other birds safe.

Home 5 Learn 5 Birds of WA State 5 Bird Facts 5 Sick or Injured Birds

Sick Birds

Birds Connect Seattle defers to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for guidance on the transmission of all wild bird diseases including Salmonellosis, West Nile Virus, the Avian Flu, House Finch Eye Disease, and other pathogens that can effect wild birds. Please consult their website for current outbreak information and instruction. 

Feeding Birds During an Outbreak
Depending on the recommendation from WDFW, it may be required to temporarily remove any wild bird feeders or increase cleaning frequency. To properly clean and disinfect your feeder and decrease the risk of transmission of disease between wild bird populations follow these steps:

  • Clean your feeders with warm, soapy water. Disinfect with a 10 percent bleach solution to kill any bacteria. Rinse the feeder and allow it to dry completely before using it again. Disinfect birdbaths as well.
  • Clean your bird feeding area by washing all structures holding your feeders and raking the ground surrounding the feeders.
  • Do not reinstall your feeders until WDFW recommends doing so. 

Varying location of your feeder and removing feeders that allow for contact between fecal material and food (like platform feeders) will also help reduce large concentrations of wild birds and discourage the spread of disease. 

You should not attempt to catch or handle a diseased bird. Only veterinarians or federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators can legally treat wild birds. 

Injured and Dead Birds

1) Contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for treatment
If you encounter a bird that has been injured it may be a result of a window collision, poison, vehicle strike, domestic cat, or other natural predation. In the Seattle area, PAWS is our local wildlife rehabilitation facility. If you have questions about wild animal behavior or injury, visit the PAWS website or call the center at (425) 412-4040. They can provide guidance on how to best treat the bird or capture it to transport to their rehabilitation facility. 

2) Report for science
Birds Connect Seattle gathers data about injured and dead birds from community members like you to help us understand hazards that birds face. Take one minute to record your observations on dBird.org.

If you suspect the death was caused by disease, report it to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.  

3) Carcass disposal or donation
We generally recommend leaving bird carcasses in place to decompose naturally or be consumed by scavengers. If you must move a carcass, always use appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, when handling to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

If the carcass is fresh and in good condition, consider donating it to an institution with a valid US Fish and Wildlife Service Salvage Permit, such as:

  • Burke Museum: The Burke Museum accepts bird carcasses in good condition for their scientific ornithology collection. Call (206) 543-7907 to confirm if it is a species of interest and to arrange a drop off.
  • Snoqualmie Indian Tribe: If you find a raptor (hawk, owl, eagle) or a hummingbird, contact the Tribe at (425) 888-6551. They may accept some species for cultural and ceremonial uses. 

Due to freezer space limitations, Birds Connect Seattle no longer accepts bird carcass donations.

If the carcass cannot be left in place or donated, King County recommends double-bagging the carcass in plastic bags and placing it in the landfill bin.

4) Prevent future injury
If you know the cause of the injury or death, take steps to ensure that does not happen to another wild bird. This could include treating a reflective window, removing a bird feeder, or transitioning a cat to live inside. 

Baby Birds

If you have found a baby bird it is important you observe before your intervene. Follow PAWS instructions on what to do next to support the young bird.
https://www.paws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/wild-baby-bird.pdf