Sick, injured and baby birds

Injured birds

Being handled and treated is a very stressful experience to an injured bird, and before you attempt to catch it, the benefits of treatment should be weighed against this. More...

Outbreaks of disease in finches and other garden birds

Since summer 2005, a disease caused by a Trichomonad parasite has been reported in finch species in gardens. More...

Garden bird feeding can attract unusually high numbers of birds to a confined area, which enables disease to spread easily. Find out what to do if you find a sick bird, information on some of the commoner diseases, and how to minimise the risk of an outbreak. More...

Avian influenza (bird flu)

There are numerous strains of the avian influenza (bird flu) virus, and most pose no significant problems for bird or human health. The unusually virulent strain currently causing concern is referred to as H5N1. Find out more about it here. More...

Baby birds

In spring and summer, it's common to see young birds on the ground without any parents visible. Read on for advice on what to do if you find a young bird... More...

Bird deformities

Deformities among birds have been recorded in a wide range of species and are most frequently seen in species that are readily observable. These deformities can be caused by injury, genetic defect and disease and most noticeably affect the bill and legs. More...

Oiled birds

If you find any oiled bird alive, do not attempt to clean it yourself as it is a very specialised job and you may well do more harm than good. More...