The Abilene Zoo has been an important part of local conservation for several decades and proudly cares for hundreds of birds each year. Birds are brought to the zoo by guests, animal control, and even game wardens. These sick, injured, or orphaned birds receive quality veterinary care with the goal of releasing them back into the wild as soon as possible.
The Zoo receives no federal or state funding towards this cause. Your donations help save local birds and fund the care, medicine, and food needed to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. Please consider donating and help save a wild bird today.
You find an injured or sick bird in your backyard- she’s still breathing and needs help. What should you do? Here are three steps:
During intake, please give as much information as possible concerning the location you found the bird, any possible predators in the area, and how quickly you were able to bring the bird in. These will help the veterinary staff give the best care possible.
So, you’ve spotted a baby bird on the ground and it doesn’t appear sick or injured. What do you do next?
Nestlings – A baby bird with no feathers
Fledglings – A baby bird with feathers that sometimes hop around on the ground
The zoo holds state and federal permits that allow it to legally hold wildlife during treatment. A full check-up from our veterinary team is performed. Our goal is always to release an animal back into the wild; rarely the animal will be kept in a zoo or other licensed facility as an ambassador for its species to be used for educational purposes. Sometimes, because of an untreatable injury, an animal is deemed “non-releasable” and is humanely euthanized.
If you have brought a bird to the Bird Rehabilitation Center and would like to check up on it, you are welcome to give us a call at 325-437-4941. Please note: It may take up to 7 days to get a response.
