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4 Hand-Rearing Birds

­ Legal­Considerations

The chapters in this book make the assumption that any reader applying the knowledge
contained herein to protected species possesses the appropriate permits. See local, state, pro -
vincial, or federal wildlife permit offices, and regional wildlife rehabilitation associations for
information regarding rules. For example, in the United States, both the general public and
veterinarians are prohibited from keeping migratory birds without valid permits from both the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and applicable state authorities, which may have additional rules
regarding possession of birds. The vast majority of wild orphans found are protected by this
ruling. In the U.S., as Good Samaritans helping a wild bird in need of care, the public is required
to transfer the bird to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Wild birds requiring
medical treatment may only be kept by veterinarians who do not possess rehabilitation permits
for 24 hours after the bird’s condition has been stabilized, after which time it must be
transferred to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator (50 CFR 21.12: Code of Federal Regulations
2018). If a veterinarian is unable to locate a permitted migratory bird rehabilitator, the Regional
Migratory Bird Permit Office must be contacted for assistance, see https://www.fws.gov/birds/
policies‐and‐regulations/permits/regional‐permit‐contacts.php. Many states maintain lists of
currently permitted rehabilitators within websites of state Fish and Game, Parks and Wildlife,
or Division of Natural Resources Departments. For example, Texas Parks and Wildlife lists all
permitted Texas rehabilitators by county at https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/rehab/list
and a California list is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife‐
Investigations/Rehab/Facilities.
There are several nonnative species found throughout the United States that are commonly
encountered as orphans, such as Rock Pigeons (Columba livia), Eurasian Collared‐Doves
(Streptopelia decaocto), European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), and House Sparrows (Passer
domesticus). Their care and possession is not regulated in some states, but may be illegal in oth-
ers. European Starlings and Rock Pigeons make excellent pet birds and starlings can even learn
to speak words. However, identification must be verified because native wild chicks may appear
quite similar. Release of nonnative species into the wild is discouraged by most wildlife biolo -
gists and natural resource managers, and may be illegal in some areas because many nonnative
species have deleterious effects on native bird populations. In other parts of the world, these
species may be protected in their native ranges and possession may require permits from regu-
latory agencies.

Record Keeping

Most wildlife regulatory agencies have minimum standards for record keeping that require track-
ing individual wild animals undergoing rehabilitation, and permanent captives may also require
permits for possession. Check with regulating agencies for further information. At a minimum,
the following information should be kept for the sake of the individual: species, age, location and
date found, reason for hand‐rearing, medical problems, final disposition, release location, and
release date. Detailed information on the location where the chick was found will serve as a
guide for suitable habitat for release and in some circumstances may place the bird back with
relatives that may still recognize it. For permanently captive birds being hand‐reared, information
regarding parentage also may be pertinent; for example, to avoid inbreeding, especially when
hand‐rearing endangered species.