What To Do
Picking Up A Raptor
To report a sick or injured bird, please call our hotline at 813-205-1851
Rescue Tips for Birds We Rescue
Helpful Legal Facts
Is it legal to pick up an injured bird of prey?
Yes, provided your intentions are to take it to a federally permitted wildlife rehabilitator. There is a law called the good Samaritan law that provide
Do individuals transporting birds to rehabilitation need a permit?
The Good Samaritan provision (50 CFR 21.31(a)) allows any person who finds a sick, injured, or orphaned migratory bird to take possession of the bird in order to immediately transport it to a permitted rehabilitator. However, any individual(s) regularly transporting birds directly to your facility or from your facility directly to another facility must either be listed under your permit as a subpermittee or possess their own rehabilitation permit.
Raptor Center of Tampa Bay has provided a few tips on each particular species you may find in need of help in Florida.
Please remember to never place yourself in harms way or a in a dangerous or life-threatening situation to rescue a bird. Get help first.
Once you have determined that a bird is actually in need of assistance, here are some things to know:
Make a donation.
Please consider making a one time donation or recurring monthly donations today! We rescue over 1,000 wild birds and animals each year. We’re all in this together!
You can help with more than money.
Not everyone is in a position to spare money for a donation. If you can help with your time, we would love to have your. Become an RCTB Volunteer today!
Other Rescued Birds
We will rescue any native bird that we receive a call for. Several of our team members can assist you with these types of birds:
Sandhill Cranes
Call the center for assistance.
Songbirds
Since songbirds are easy to pick up and rarely can hurt you we try and encourage people to bring the birds directly to us or to Blue Pearl in Brandon. If you catch them with a net, use a small net like a butterfly net.
Waterbirds
Are aggressive and can stab you in the face. Always wear your safety glasses rescuing or handling them. Keep them at least 18 inches away from your face.