What can I do to help the Egrets? Frequently asked questions.

Is it legal (or safe) for me to handle a sick or injured wild bird?

While it is NOT legal to take a wild animal home to make a pet out of him, it is perfectly legal to help a bird in trouble to get to a licensed rehabilitation center that will treat him and get him back to the wild as soon as possible. One should try to avoid running into the rookery, because it will greatly upset nesting birds and may lead panicky babies to fall out of nests, leading to more trouble than you started with. But if you think you can save a bird who would otherwise suffer or die please do so. As for safety, there is a modest risk of contracting certain diseases from egrets. Furthermore, while baby birds are generally harmless, adult egrets, especially great egrets with injured wings or legs, can do serious damage with their long, very sharp beaks. They are not aggressive by any means, but if you chase them they will be very scared and they will defend themseves. If this sort of thing bothers you, just call any of the certified bird fanatics at the Society.

What should I do with a sick or injured bird?

If you feel comfortable catching the bird, or even giving some first aid as described below, please do whatever you can to stabilize the bird, then carry him to the Rogers wildlife center. You should have a container (usually a cardboard box) that will hold the bird safely. Ideally, the bottom should not have a slippery surface, as these birds have long and surprisingly fragile legs that can be injured from slipping around. If the bird is not too seriously injured, you can hold him until you or someone else can deliver the bird to Rogers, or to any of the Rogers volunteers in Dallas. If you need help with any of this, contact us.

What else can I do to help?

Around the rookery you will find many black tubs, some full of water, usually quite dirty. The society tries to keep these full and clean. Occasionally we even put live minnows in some of the larger tubs frequented by the herons; these disappear very quickly. Keeping as many of these as possible full of fresh, clean water is extremely helpful in preventing dehydration in lost baby egrets.

All rescue birds, whether or not they receive first aid from the society, will be taken to the Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which contains the most wonderful, capable, good hearted humans on the planet. Furthermore, they are licensed to rehabilitate wild animals, and know more about it than all of us ever will. Our role is simply to transport the birds to Rogers, after we give whatever aid we can to improve the bird's chances of arriving alive and in reasonable condition.

Major difficulties that our birds encounter:

1. Dehydration and hunger
2. Parasite Infestations
3. Broken wings and legs
4. Head injuries
5. Internal injuries
6. Orphaned or abandoned babies

There will be a much more detailed first aid section here as soon as I can write it. Be Patient. I have a Regular Job.