Bird Health and Safety

Birdfeeders and Bird Health

One occasionally reads alarming stories about bird diseases and bird feeders. It is important to clean your feeders. It is also important to know the facts. Learn what to be aware of and how to keep your backyard birds healthy in our Birdfeeding Safely article.

Pine Siskin

Threats at the Birdfeeder: Myths and Solutions

Feeders don't create dependent birds, prevent migration, or disturb the ecological balance. And while hawks and cats are real threats regardless of feeding stations, there are steps you can take to make sure the birds in your yard are as protected as possible. Dispel the rumors and find the answers in our Birdfeeding Myths and Solutions article.

Cooper's Hawk

Photo by H. Gilbert Miller from Wikimedia Commons

Preventing Window Collisions

Collisions with windows are a major cause of bird deaths that we can reduce around our homes, whether or not we have feeders. Read our article covering feeder placement, window stickers, and other things you can do to prevent these unnecessary deaths.

Window

Found an injured bird?

WildCare

Located in San Rafael, WildCare provides care for ill, orphaned or injured wild animals, environmental education, and wildlife advocacy. If you find a sick or injured bird, call them at 415-456-7283 (or at 415-300-6359 in the case of after-hours emergencies). More information on how to respond to common wildlife scenarios can be found on the WildCare website.

Local Bird Rehabilitators

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue

Located in Petaluma, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue helps care for injured wildlife, including larger birds. For small songbirds, see below. They also engage in nature education, including tours of their hilltop campus featuring their non-releasable animals (including mountain lions!).

Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County

The Bird Rescue Center rehabilitates all native bird species at its Santa Rosa location as well as conducting educational presentations throughout the North Bay. 

Native Songbird Care & Conservation

Formerly known as the Songbird Hospital, this Sebastopol organization cares for smaller songbirds (not including crows, jays, ravens or non-natives such as starlings, pigeons and house sparrows).