Birds are the group of wildlife most commonly accepted into care and may make up to 75% of all admissions. Yet, because they are not mammals like us, we tend to be unsure of how to handle, care for and treat them.

Unlike any other animal, their greatest difference – their ability to fly, presents to us as carers, the greatest challenge for their rehabilitation. We must often take a severely traumatised animal and rehabilitate it into a magnificent athlete within a matter of few weeks. Birds that come into care, like other wildlife, present for one of three reasons: they have either suffered from trauma, disease or orphaning. Planning for release must begin from the first day to reduce the time spent in captivity.

Development of a rehabilitation plan for the bird will help to organise aviary time, rechecks with the vet and help to ensure that young birds are released at a natural time in their development.

This manual has over 90 colour pages with more than 200 images.