Birds FAQs
- I found a baby bird who has fallen from its nest, what should I do?
- My cat has caught a bird…
- A bird has flown into my window…
- There is a hawk flying around my bird feeder attacking songbirds…
- The Canada Geese are pooping all over my lawn, golf course…
- There is a woodpecker who keeps pecking on my house, it’s driving me crazy…
- I have found a duck who is entangled in fishing line…
- There is a bird who keeps attacking its reflection in my window…
- Turkeys are chasing me when I go outside…
- I found a baby bird who has fallen from its nest, what should I do?
- It is a myth that parent birds will reject their young if you touch them, birds have a very limited sense of smell. If you are looking at a newborn bird put it back in the nest if possible. If no nest is visible hang a woven stick basket on nearby branch. Baby birds need to be fed every half-hour throughout day so you need to act quickly.
- If you have found a fledgling bird (fully feathered) look around for parent birds overhead. Many species of birds learn to fly from the ground up and should be left alone. If cats are in the area you can place the fledgling bird in a woven stick basket and place it off the ground where parent birds can still access their baby.
- My cat has caught a bird…
- Look for puncture wounds, since cats saliva contains deadly bacteria. (Other cat victims include baby rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons and opossums.) If it is uninjured follow the above instructions. If the bird is injured call WIC.
- Keep cats indoors! Put at least 2 bells on your cats collars if they must go outside. Purchase an outdoor cat enclosure (call WIC for details). Neuter your cat!
- Remember: songbirds who migrate to the rainforests in winter breed here!
- A bird has flown into my window…
- If it is a raptor (do not touch it) be very careful of their sharp talons, call WIC for help if it doesn’t fly away after 30 minutes. If it is a songbird wait 30 minutes. If it doesn’t fly put in a covered cardboard box in a dark, quiet room overnight. If it still won’t fly away in the morning call WIC for help.
- Make hawk silhouettes out of black contact paper and stick them to the outside of your windows, particularly large contemporary windows (call WIC for details). To cut down on glare draw curtains or hang a flag by window.
- There is a hawk flying around my bird feeder attacking songbirds…
- Plant native bushes and trees for cover and a year round natural food source. Trees: hemlock, white pine, cedar, dogwood, holly, crabapple. Bushes: high bush and low bush blueberry, mountain laurel, viburnum, elderberry, black raspberry, cranberry.
- The Canada Geese are pooping all over my lawn, golf course…
- Spray “Rejex it”- Goose repellent made from concord grapes. Call Bird Barrier at (800) 503-5444 or find it at you local hardware or garden store.
- Border collie dogs have been used successfully to repel geese from golf courses. Call American Kennel Club for a working dog trainer near you.
- There is a woodpecker who keeps pecking on my house, it’s driving me crazy…
- Could be indicative of some sort of insect infestation. Or male may be trying to attract a female, this behavior will only last a week or two in early summer.
- You can hang a blow up balloon with large eye illustration from eaves distributed by Bird Barrier (800)503-5444. Or hang an owl statue, which can be purchased at hardware and garden stores, be sure to move it every few days. Or hang strips of aluminum foil from eaves of house. Or hang a flag that will blow in the wind.
- I have found a duck who is entangled in fishing line…
- This is an all too common occurrence in birds, turtles and frogs. Call WIC if you cannot readily remove the line or if there is a hook involved.
- Mylar balloons (and their ribbon or string tendrils) and plastic bags are also a problem for shoreline birds and marine mammals. Never let balloons fly up into sky.
- There is a bird who keeps attacking its reflection in my window…
- For a few weeks in early summer robins, blue jays and other songbirds may think of their reflection in your window as a marauding competitor invading his territory.
- Use soapy water to blur reflection, draw blinds, hang a flag to break up reflection. Hawk silhouette decals applied to glass are also effective deterrents. Click here to learn about Window Alert decals.
- Turkeys are chasing me when I go outside…
- A simple spray of water from a garden hose, or a tap from a tennis ball or broom will remind them that you are not intimidated by their prowess.
- Turkeys disappeared from the forests of CT in the 1800s. In 1975 22 turkeys were reintroduced, today there are 18,000-25,000 turkeys in CT; a fantastic success story!