How do you help an injured hummingbird?

What to do if you find an injured hummingbird

If you find a hummingbird that appears to be injured, here are some quick steps you can take to help:

• Assess the situation – is the bird unable to fly? Does it appear to have an injury or broken wing/leg? Is it trapped somewhere?
• Carefully contain the bird so it doesn’t fly away or injure itself further. You can use a towel, box, or bird cage.
• Call a local wildlife rehabilitation center or humane society for guidance. They may be able to take the bird and provide medical care.
• Do not try to care for the bird yourself unless instructed by experts. Hummingbirds have very specialized nutritional and medical needs.
• Avoid excess noise, bright lights, and other stressors that could further injure the bird. Keep it in a quiet, dark place.

Acting quickly but cautiously is important when dealing with an injured hummingbird. They are very delicate creatures. Calling an expert right away gives the bird the greatest chance of survival and recovery.

Why is it important to help an injured hummingbird?

Helping an injured hummingbird is important for a few key reasons:

• Hummingbirds are special – They are the smallest birds in the world, unique to the Americas, and special pollinators. Their dazzling colors and flying skills make them a joy to watch.
• They are vulnerable when injured – Their small size makes injury particularly life threatening. An injured hummingbird likely won’t survive long without expert human intervention.
• Rehabilitation is often successful – With proper, prompt care, many injured hummingbirds can fully recover and be successfully released back into the wild.
• Hummingbird populations are declining – Habitat loss and other factors have caused some hummingbird species to decline over the past decades. Each individual matters for the overall population.
• It’s simply ethical – When we have the ability to help injured wildlife, most people agree we have a responsibility to do so.

Saving individual hummingbirds through rehabilitation contributes to the wellbeing of the broader species. Plus, it’s rewarding to know our actions can make a real difference for these special birds.

What do you need to help rehabilitate an injured hummingbird?

Caring for an injured hummingbird requires specialized supplies and knowledge. Here are some key things you’ll need:

• An appropriate enclosure – This may be a small bird cage, ventilated box, or wildlife carrier designed to safely contain small birds in a climate-controlled, quiet space during rehabilitation.
• Nectar formula – A hummingbird’s diet consists of nectar, which can be replicated with specialized commercial mixes or homemade recipes of sugar water with electrolytes.
• Tiny feeders – The feeders must be small enough for a hummingbird to access while in its enclosure.
• Insect supplementation – In addition to nectar, an injured hummingbird will need protein from live insects or commercial substitutes.
• Perching sticks -hummingbirds prefer to perch while eating and resting.
• Veterinary care – An expert vet will need to assess and treat any injuries, and monitor the bird’s recovery.

Providing appropriate food and housing while coordinating veterinary care gives an injured hummingbird its best shot at recovery. Most individuals do not have the specialized tools and expertise to rehabilitate hummingbirds on their own. Getting the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center quickly is critical.

What are the most common injuries and illnesses in hummingbirds?

Some of the most common medical issues that may afflict an injured hummingbird include:

• Broken wings or legs from collisions – These fractures and sprains make it impossible for them to fly.
• Starvation – Hummingbirds have a very high metabolism and will weaken rapidly without adequate nutrition.
• Flystrike – Fly eggs laid on an external injury can lead to deadly maggot infestation.
• Internal bleeding from trauma.
• Nestlings falling from nests.
• Cat attacks – Cats often inflict serious claw and bite injuries.
• Collisions with windows or cars.
• Entanglement in string, hair, or fibers – This restricts their movement.
• Ingestion of insecticides or pesticides.
• Diseases like avian malaria.

Any injury that impacts a hummingbird’s flying ability or foraging puts the bird at imminent risk. Seeking prompt professional wildlife rehabilitation is their only hope for surviving most injuries. Internal issues also eventually prove fatal without care.

What should you NOT do when trying to rescue an injured hummingbird?

Though the intent to help is good, there are some actions that can inadvertently harm an injured hummingbird further. Here are some things to avoid:

• Do not give it food other than nectar or medicinal products a vet prescribes.
• Avoid handling the bird as much as possible, as this stresses the bird further.
• Do not try to splint broken limbs yourself – leave this to the experts.
• Refrain from giving water, which can be easily aspirated.
• Never attempt to pull out protruding bones, stop bleeding, or perform other medical procedures.
• Do not confine the bird to an open-air box or cage – it must be climate controlled.
• Never release an injured hummingbird before it has fully healed and received clearance from a rehabilitation expert.

The mantra should always be “First, do no harm.” Wait for professional guidance, and resist the temptation to interfere too much, as hard as that may be! Doing less until you reach an expert is often better for the bird.

What’s the best way to capture an injured hummingbird for transport?

Capturing an injured hummingbird takes finesse and care. Here are some tips:

• Use a lightweight mesh butterfly net if able to safely trap the bird inside it.
• Otherwise, a towel or sheet can be gently draped over the bird.
• Scoop the bird into a ventilated box or bird carrier covered by a cloth for transport.
• Avoid handling the bird with your bare hands to reduce stress and possible transfer of pathogens.
• Minimize noise and jostling movements during capture and transport.
• Keep the bird in a warm, dark, quiet space like a closed box or kennel.
• Transport the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation expert as quickly as possible.

The goal is to contain the hummingbird securely with minimal stress and additional injury as you move it to a more controlled setting for professional care.

What are the chances a rehabilitated hummingbird can be rereleased successfully?

The prognosis for a rehabilitated hummingbird being able to be released depends on factors like:

• The severity of the initial injury or illness.
• How long the bird was in a compromised state before rescue.
• If the bird is still a juvenile or an mature adult.
• The availability of any veterinary treatments needed.
• The quality of rehabilitation care and time invested.

In general, adult hummingbirds with minor injuries who receive quick treatment have the best chances. However, rehabilitation specialists can still achieve great outcomes even with more severe cases through dedicated care.

According to one study, about 25-60% of hummingbirds brought to a rehabilitation facility survive and are later released. Of course, this number would approach zero in the wild without human intervention. With proper rehabilitation, the birds often fully mend, regain flight ability, and have an excellent chance of surviving back in their natural habitat after release.

What are some basic facts about hummingbirds relevant to rehabilitation?

Here are some key facts about hummingbird biology that are useful to understand for rehabilitation purposes:

• High metabolism – A hummingbird’s metabolic rate is incredibly fast. They can starve remarkably quickly without adequate nutrition.
• Nectivores – Hummingbirds exist primarily on nectar from flowers, getting most of their calories from sugars in this nectar.
• Need protein – They get protein from small insects and spiders, which aids regeneration and healing.
• Smallest birds – Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, with the Bee Hummingbird weighing only 2 grams total.
• Rapid heart rate – Their hearts beat up to 1,200 times per minute while in flight.
• Precise flight – They can precisely hover in place and fly in all directions rapidly.
• Migrators – Many hummingbird species migrate remarkably long distances each year.
• Cold torpor – Hummingbirds can enter a hibernation-like state to conserve energy overnight.

Understanding these adaptations helps us better meet the needs of injured hummingbirds in our care, including nutritional needs, ideal enclosure conditions, and their inherent challenges and resilience. The more you learn about hummingbirds, the better you can aid in their recovery journey.

What are the telltale signs a hummingbird is injured and needs help?

Here are some common signs that a hummingbird may be injured or unwell and need rehabilitation:

• Unable to fly or flying in an obviously erratic manner.
• Sitting on the ground or low to the ground for extended periods.
• Ruffled, drooping feathers or an overall fluffed up look.
• Visibly wounded or with blood on its body.
• One drooping or dangling wing.
• One dangling leg.
• Emaciated or weak appearance suggesting starvation.
• Labored, rapid breathing.
• Feathers sticky with blood or other secretions.
• Loss of control and balance while perching.

Any of these signs suggest the hummingbird desperately needs medical intervention to recover. Catching issues early vastly improves the prognosis. Don’t assume an injured hummingbird will just heal on its own – seek expert assessment and care right away.

How can you avoid injuring hummingbirds in the first place?

Prevention is always preferable to rehabilitation. Here are some tips for avoiding harming hummingbirds:

• Keep cats indoors – Cats inflict severe injuries when they catch hummingbirds.
• Reduce use of insecticides that diminish food sources.
• Install bird tape or decals on windows to prevent collisions.
• Be cautious trimming trees and shrubs where hummingbirds may nest.
• Keep wires, strings, netting, and other entanglement hazards trimmed.
• Choose hummingbird feeders with safer designs to avoid trapping birds.
• site feeders away from windows and high traffic areas.
• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides near hummingbird gardens/feeders.

Hummingbirds face many human-created hazards from buildings to chemicals. Being mindful of their presence and needs greatly reduces harm. Educating others helps spread awareness and create a safer environment for hummingbirds to thrive.

How can you create an optimal rehabilitation enclosure for a hummingbird?

An ideal enclosure for a recovering hummingbird should include:

• A small wire cage or ventilated plastic carrier, approximately 1-2 feet on each side.
• Plenty of natural, sterile perches for the bird to rest on.
• Feeders made for hummingbirds, filled with nectar solution.
• Access to live insects if the bird is strong enough to catch them.
• Misting spray bottle to maintain preferred humidity levels.
• Paper lining for easy cleaning.
• Dim lights to avoid stressing the bird.
• Some foliage decor to provide security and enrichment.
• A quiet space free from other pets, noise, and excessive activity.

The enclosure should allow the hummingbird to perch, forage, and move around comfortably as it recovers in a protected, low-stress environment. Professional input helps optimize the habitat for rehabilitation.

What emergency first aid can you provide an injured hummingbird while transporting it?

If transporting an injured hummingbird to a wildlife rehabilitator, there are a few emergency first aid measures you can provide en route:

• Warmth – Protect the bird from hypothermia with a heating pad on low or hot water bottle wrapped in a cloth.
• Nutrition – Offer commercially available hummingbird nectar in a small dropper or feeder.
• Hydration – If the bird seems extremely lethargic, provide misted water on its beak in tiny amounts to avoid aspiration.
• Security – Minimize excessive noise, jostling, and exposure to potential stressors during transport.
• Darkness – Keep the enclosure dimly lit and partially covered to avoid overstimulation.
• First Aid – If bleeding, apply direct gentle pressure with a cotton ball to clot.

The goal is to stabilize the hummingbird and prevent any additional decline before it receives professional veterinary care and rehabilitation. Do not try anything further than these basics – leave medical procedures to experts.

What are some common amateur mistakes in attempting to rescue or care for hummingbirds?

Some common mistakes made by well-intentioned people trying to rescue hummingbirds include:

• Using incorrect food like honey or sugar water – hummingbirds require specialized nectar.
• Force feeding with an eyedropper incorrectly, causing aspiration.
• Housing the bird in an indoor environment that is too cold.
• Failing to contain the bird in any type of enclosure.
• Letting children handle or interfere with the injured bird.
• Attempting to splint broken bones with household items.
• Pulling out impaled objects like porcupine quills.
• Neglecting to provide supplemental insect protein.
• Attempting to give it medications or home remedies.
• Waiting too long before seeking professional help.

While the intent to help is admirable, amateur rehabilitation attempts can often do more harm than good. Seeking licensed wildlife rehabilitator guidance right away prevents many mistakes.

Can hummingbirds recover from a broken wing or leg?

Hummingbirds can often recover fully from a broken wing or leg with proper professional veterinary care and rehabilitation, including:

• Stabilization – Immobilizing the break with a bandage or tiny splint.
• Alignment – Carefully manipulating the bones into proper alignment for swift healing.
• Pain management – Administering avian-safe analgesics to control pain and inflammation.
• Physical therapy – Gradual exercises to rebuild strength and range of motion.
• Adequate nutrition – Providing nectar formula and insects to facilitate healing.
• Caging rest – Keeping the bird restricted from flight while the bones mend.
• Follow up x-rays – Checking for complete bone fusion and recovery.

With this comprehensive medical and rehabilitative care, most hummingbirds make a full recovery within a few weeks to months. The key is getting the bird stabilized and under professional care as quickly as possible after injury.

Conclusion

Caring for an injured hummingbird requires knowledge, dedication, and specialist supplies to successfully rehabilitate the bird for return to the wild. While challenging, the effort is absolutely worthwhile to save these unique pollinators and fascinating creatures. With some basic emergency care followed by professional wildlife rehabilitation, injured hummingbirds can often make remarkable recoveries and be rereleased to continue their vital ecological roles.