One of the best ways to tell if a bird is dead or just stunned is to see if it is actually breathing. In addition to checking to see if the bird is still breathing or beating, there are other clear signs that the bird is stunned but still alive. If the bird is still breathing or you hear a heartbeat, it is best to leave it alone for about ten minutes to see if it gets better on its own. However, in most cases it is better to leave the bird alone for a while, as this will give it the time it needs to recover from injury and shock.
It is possible that the bird is in shock and will recover soon, so it can be released. Instead, listen to the birds begin to move, which will be the best sign of his recovery. If the bird's condition is not too bad, follow the protocol below which will give them the best chance of surviving a window strike. If the bird is not dead but badly injured, you may need to help it recover.
Make sure you handle the bird very carefully to avoid further injury. Don't try to deal with a stunned or shocked bird, as newborns are more likely to die if abandoned by their parents, and adult birds can do a lot of damage with just one attack. In fact, even if the bird recovers from being stunned or electrocuted, it most likely won't survive as predators will easily spot it when they can't fly properly. After reading this article, you will be able to easily tell a stunned or shocked bird from a dead bird.
Hopefully, now you can tell if the bird you found on the ground is stunned or dead. If you find a stunned or shocked bird, contact your local rehabilitator as soon as possible and inform them of your find so they can go and retrieve the bird from where it is. If you happen to find a stunned predator, call rescuers or wildlife rehabilitation specialists immediately, as they are trained to handle these birds. More importantly, if the bird has the injuries you see, or you find a stunned predator, call a wildlife specialist who knows how to safely handle the bird and bring it back to its native habitat.
Unfortunately, if an injured bird has died, you will need to call a rehabilitator to see if they can take it in for an autopsy (animal autopsy). Take the poor animal to a shelter or shelter, he will be able to help the bird more than you. If the affected bird is simply stunned, injured or electrocuted, you need to take him to a shelter and try to help him. Although many birds will start to fight back if they are stunned enough to be picked up, they are unlikely to be alert enough to fend for themselves, so it's best to keep them in cover for a while.
However, if the bird was stunned, it was most likely under a window or very close and unable to be alert or move. The bird could have landed right under the window, or it could have been a few feet away. If it has no obvious injuries but is too dazed to perch on a branch, you can protect the bird by placing it in a dark box with a lid. Many birds are able to fly away after hitting windows, but if they are stunned or stunned and on the ground, they should be carefully picked up and placed in a warm, dark, sheltered area for at least two hours.
Be sure to wait a few minutes while watching potentially seriously injured birds. It takes at least ten minutes to observe a bird and find out if it is dead. Some birds will be stunned for about 5 minutes, some may be stunned for 15 minutes, and some will be stunned for hours. If the bird is simply stunned, you will notice that it will appear weak and unresponsive, but it may end up breathing very slowly, sometimes very quickly.
The leg and foot muscles of dead birds will be stiff, while freshly stunned birds will still have relaxed leg and leg muscles. As long as you check the bird's breathing, heart rate, leg stiffness, and visible injuries, you will have a clear idea of what happened. This video can give you an idea of how to perform CPR on a very weak bird. If the bird falls asleep after about five minutes, gently lift it (gloves optional) while holding it vertically so it can still breathe.
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