More (about birds) index

link to BIRD RESCUE Centres Wingspan, Rotorua
BIRD RESCUE Centres

A list of Bird Rescue Centres in New Zealand by region including contact details.

Every year in New Zealand thousands of birds suffer accidents and sickness and are made motherless.

To cope with these birds volunteers and institutions run rescue centres for birds. To Treat native and endemic birds the Department of Conservation (DOC) requires the volunteer to hold a permit.  Birds handed into DOC are taken to rescue centres or institutions to be rehabilitated.

Injuries may be caused by numerous factors including predators, collision with vehicles or windows or they may have been shot.

Sickness may be due to infection, disease, tumors, parasites, poison, or starvation.

A motherless bird may have been abandoned; it may have fallen from a nest; its mother may have been killed or it may have been uplifted by children.

If you find an injured bird, place it in a cardboard box or enclosed cage and cover the cage. Keep it in a quiet place and take to a rescue centre. If it is a native bird and there is no rescue centre nearby, contact the nearest Department of Conservation office.

Many birds when sick appear to be tame: this is only because they are very ill and most are underweight.  Do not let children play with them as this causes more stress to the bird. Make sure the bird is away from cats and dogs.

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