Waterfowl refers to birds which live on ponds and lakes such as Swans, Geese, Ducks and their smaller cousins such as Coots and Moorhens. This page covers adult birds. If you need advice on baby water fowl, please see here.
Living on water affords them some protection from natural predators but unfortunately they are commonly affected by fishing line, pollution and dog attacks.
When to Rescue #
Birds hit by a car or attacked by a dog
The bird should be treated for shock and properly assessed for injuries.
Any bird with an obvious injury
If you can see a wound, or a wing or leg is visibly damaged, the bird will need help.
Birds with fishing line wrapped round them or in their mouth
There’s some more information on this here.
A domestic duck or goose abandoned in the wild
This is unfortunately common. These can often be distinguished from wild birds by their colouring (wild ducks aren’t usually white) or shape (heavy in the body with small wings meaning they can’t fly). They won’t survive in the wild and need to be rescued.
When to take other action #
A bird with a deformed wing
This is a relatively common condition where the part of the wing or wings grow at right angles to the body rendering the bird flightless. Whether they should be rescued depends a lot on their age and the environment they live in. There’s more information here.
Birds on an oiled body of water
See here for more details of when to help
A duck nesting in a garden or other unsuitable location
See the advice here
When to leave alone #
A bird standing on one leg or tucking its leg up on to its body
These are normal postures for waterfowl. Unless you see the bird limping, or the leg has a visible wound, this isn’t a cause for concern.
Next Steps #
Once you’ve established that an animal needs help, small casualties can be contained and taken to a wildlife rescue. You’ll find detailed advice on catching them, keeping them safe, and getting help from a wildlife rescue at https://helpwildlife.co.uk/advice/practical-advice-for-finders/
However, you should not attempt to capture large birds such as swans and geese yourself. Whilst tales of swans breaking your arm are somewhat exaggerated, these are big, powerful birds who could certainly cause a few bruises and should only be handled by experts. In these cases you should telephone a wildlife rescue and, if possible, wait with the animal until they arrive so that you can provide them with an up to date location.
If you are unsure whether to intervene or you have difficulty finding a rescue who can help, you can contact us via helpwildlife.co.uk/helpdesk and our volunteers will give you advice and support.
