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Living With
Songbirds in Dupage County
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 There are a variety of native & migratory songbirds that can be seen in DuPage County. Migratory species can be seen in spring and fall as they are on their way to their summer or winter homes. This information provides a variety of general songbird information. If you have questions regarding a specific species, please call or visit us.
Birds Flying Into Windows
Birds commonly fly into window in homes or businesses and it can happen for several reasons. A migratory bird may see a reflection of the landscape and mistakenly fly into the window. A bird may see its own reflection in the window and mistakenly initiate a territorial battle with itself. This behavior usually indicates that there is a nest nearby. (Unfortunately, millions of birds die each migration by flying into man made objects.) There are several preventative techniques people can use.
- Place brightly colored strips of material or curling ribbons on the outside of the window so they move in the wind.
- Bend Post-It Notes® in an “L” shape and place on the outside of the window.
- Place black paper bird silhouettes on inside or outside of windows.
- Mark windows with soap to remove any reflection.
- Place a bright light in the window to remove the reflection. Check from outside the window to make sure the light is bright enough to remove the reflection.
- Cover the entire outside of the window with newspaper. This technique is usually only recommended when a nesting bird continually to flies into the window. We recommend leaving the newspaper up for 5 to 7 days.
Injuries sustained from flying into windows:
- If a bird has sustained obvious injuries such as, bleeding, obvious wing/leg fracture, or a head rotation of 180º, bring it to Willowbrook. We suggest to call first at (630) 942-6200 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily.
- If the bird appears stunned or unable to fly, give it some time to recuperate. Place the bird out of direct sun or under a bush. Wait 2 hours to check on the bird and if at that time it still is unable to fly, bring it to Willowbrook. We suggest to call first at (630) 942-6200 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily.
Feeding Birds
The only benefit to feeding birds is to the people doing the feeding, not to the animals. Birds that feed at feeders only get about 25% of their food from bird feeders. Feeding in fact can cause difficulties for wildlife. When birds are concentrated around feeders, they may attract predators such as sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks, which have easy hunting in such places. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as the people doing the feeding expand their attitude of helpfulness to include the hawks as well as the smaller birds.
Diseases at feeders:
- Diseases are easily spread from one bird to another at feeders. A recent example is the rapid spread of an infectious eye disease among house finches. That ailment is often fatal without treatment. Other potentially fatal diseases which can spread between birds at feeders include: salmonella, a bacteria; trichomoniasis, a parasite which especially affects doves; aspergillosis, a fungus which attack birds’ lungs and can grow in damp food and seed shells on the ground under feeders; and avian pox, wartlike growths caused by a virus, common locally in mourning doves. People who feed birds should recognize their responsibility for keeping the feeders clean (scrub, and use bleach as a disinfectant).
When to feed:
- Feeding should stop in warm weather months, April through October. Young birds could become dependent on feeders, if that is the only food source they learn to use.
Alternatives to birdfeeders:
- Planting flowers, shrubs and trees, which produce seeds or fruits, can provide a natural food source with fewer risks for the birds. See Willowbrook’s Back Yards for Wildlife exhibit and brochure for additional information.
Deterrent Techniques for Birds
Perching:
To deter birds from perching in a specific area, such as a ledge, window air conditioner, balcony railing, or specific area of a roof, try one of the following:
- Stretch a Slinky® or bird coil over the space you want to deter the birds from. The Slinky® or bird coil stretched out is an unstable surface and the birds will not attempt to perch.
- For a more permanent deterrent, glue or fasten porcupine wire. Porcupine wire can be purchased at a local home center.
Nesting:
- If birds are starting to build a nest in an unwanted place, play a radio near the area to scare off the birds (talk show or hard rock music will be most disruptive). Hang bright colored streamers, strips of material, windsocks, or curling ribbon to keep birds from continuing to build their nest. Note: All native birds are protected by law, it is illegal to destroy/remove the nest once it is completed. See the “What NOT To Do” section for additional legal information.
- Place hardware cloth around outside dryer vent to prevent birds from nesting or roosting inside.
Nest Has Been Destroyed
- If a windstorm, etc. have destroyed a nest, a make- shift nest can be made out of a hanging planter or plastic dish. Lay white tissue or paper towel inside the plastic container, put eggs or young back in the make-shift nest, place the new nest as close as possible to the old nest and watch for the parent birds to return. Birds know where their nest is visually; if moved any farther than a couple feet they will not be able to locate the new nest. If the parent birds do not return within a 24-hour period, call Willowbrook at (630) 942-6200 between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily.
What to do When You Find a Baby Bird
- If you find a featherless, downy or incompletely-feathered young bird, called a nestling, locate its home and place the bird back in the nest. Birds have a poorly developed sense of smell and can’t detect a human scent on any of their young handled by people. If you find that the nest has been destroyed, refer to section “Nest Has Been Destroyed” for further information.
- If you find a young bird on the ground that looks healthy but is unable to fly, leave it alone. These birds, called fledglings, are out of the nest and live on the ground for approximately 2 weeks (depending on the species). The parent birds are still feeding and caring for them, and during this time the fledglings are learning how to fly. If you watch, you may see the parents make their presence known by squawks or swoop attacks when you approach the young. It is always in the best interest of the bird to be raised by its parents. Remember to leave the fledgling alone, unless a neighborhood dog or cat is attacking it.
- If you have a fledgling bird in your yard and you are concerned about neighborhood pets, turn on a sprinkler in the yard to deter pets from the fledgling.
Bird Loose in House
- Confine bird to one room, turn off lights and open a door or window. Leave the room, the bird will instinctively fly towards light and escape.
Public Health Concerns
- The Illinois Department of Health has shown that a small number of birds in DuPage County do carry equine encephalitis viruses. These are transmissible to humans through mosquitoes. Humans are not at risk simply due to the presence of birds in your area, but the presence of mosquitoes is a risk factor. It is recommended that mosquito repellent be worn during outdoor activities in the summer months.
What Not To Do
- All native birds are protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal for any person to possess nesting material, egg(s), feathers, bones of a bird, dead or alive, without the proper permits from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the State of Illinois. It is also illegal to harm or kill a protected bird species, and it is
illegal to remove or destroy nesting material from a completed nest. The law does not protect three non-native birds: Pigeon (rock dove), English house sparrow and the European starling.
- Please remember that it is illegal to keep wild animals even for a very short time and that they have specialized nutritional, housing, and handling needs that you are unlikely to be able to provide. Inexperienced individuals who attempt to raise/treat them inevitably produce an unhealthy, tame animal that cannot survive in its natural habitat
- Never move young from the nest. Contact Willowbrook Wildlife Center for advice at (630) 942-6200 between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily.
- Do not use poisons. They are inhumane and may be illegal. They can result in secondary poisoning of raptors, wild scavengers and neighborhood pets.
When to Call Willowbrook Wildlife Center
- If you come across a wild animal and are concerned, leave it alone. Call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200 for advice 9:00 AM – 4:40 PM daily. Young wild animals are not like human babies. Their parents do not constantly watch them, and they spend large amounts of time alone or with brothers and sisters.
- If you find a bird with visible wounds, please call Willowbrook Wildlife Center before bringing an animal to the center 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily. Call (630) 942-6200.
- Willowbrook is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- If you find an animal with visible wounds and it is after Willowbrook’s business hours, please follow the instructions below (Willowbrook does not recommend these techniques for raptors.):
- Throw a towel over the entire bird. Pick it up with a firmly but carefully. Make sure the wings stay properly tucked in.
- Place the animal in a box or animal carrier using heavy gloves. We do not recommend using a birdcage; feathers can be damaged from the wire.
- Keep in a dark quiet space, away from people & pets.
- Place a heating pad on low underneath ½ of the box/carrier.
- Do not feed. Improper food or drink can harm them.
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