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Found an injured bird?

If you have found an injured bird, you may bring it to our facility for care any day of the week between 9 AM and 5 PM.

We have set up an admit station in our vestibule to drop off patients to minimize social contact.

If you need assistance with or have a questions about an injured bird, please call 302-737-9543 and follow the prompts as directed. If AFTER following the prompts you are unable to reach a live person, you may leave a message on x103. Please note that this is the ONLY voicemail checked regularly regarding injured or orphaned wild, native birds. We will return your call as soon as we can. Thank you.

Click the photo to learn more and to see who is attending!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes of a wildlife rehabilitation center! All are welcome to join us for a day of fascinating tours, exciting exhibits, local artisans, activities for children, local agencies, great food trucks, and a fun community atmosphere!

Get Involved

Donate

Your gift allows our patients to receive a second chance. Your generosity provides the food, housing, and medical care they need to return to the wild!

Become a member

Your support matters! Every day, a wild bird in need is given a second chance thanks to our donors. Join our flock today!

Volunteer

Our professional staff consists of 150 active volunteers who donate more than 20,000 hours annually to care for birds and keep the center running smoothly.

find upcoming events

Check out our calendar and join us for an upcoming event. All supporters are welcome and help our patients and programs.

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Our programs

Oiled wildlife response

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research has been responding to wildlife affected by oil spills since 1976. Tri-State has a trained, dedicated staff on call 24 hours a day to respond to wildlife contaminated by oil spills anywhere in the world. Tri-State is one of only a handful of organizations in the country that can professionally manage a response to a major spill. Rehabilitation of oiled wildlife is a complex, crisis-oriented endeavor. Tri-State takes a teamwork approach to oil spill training and response, emphasizing the need for regulatory agencies, responsible parties, state and federal wildlife professionals, colleagues in wildlife care, and concerned citizens to work together both in preparations for and response to oil spills.

Wild Bird Clinic

With more than 40 years of experience, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research is one of the premier wildlife rehabilitation centers in the United States. Operating under federal and state permits, the staff and volunteers in our Wild Bird Clinic provide expert medical care, housing, and diets to injured, orphaned, and oiled native wild birds.

EXCITING Release Stories

A Thick-billed Murre makes it back to the wild

Found stranded in Brooklyn, NY (yes, THAT Brooklyn) after a storm, this Thick-billed Murre was rescued and transported all the way to our clinic by our colleagues at Wild Bird Fund in New York City. It was very unusual for this second-year seabird not only to be on land, but also to be in a city! They are a pelagic species and spend most of their lives on open ocean waters, gathering in colonies on land in the arctic only to breed and raise their single chick each year. Once in our care, we performed a thorough examination and found that the wayward bird was generally debilitated. With proper care, nutritious meals, and pool exercise, the young murre soon grew strong and well. It gained weight, its waterproofing became stellar, and it dove expertly for food—ultimately demonstrating it was ready to go back to the sea. One of our volunteers, along with the expert help of Delaware Bay and River Cooperative, released the healed and healthy bird back to the open sea. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in helping this penguin-looking beauty return to where it belongs!

a bald eagle soars once more

This beautiful female adult Bald Eagle was discovered on the ground, along a road, and unable to fly. Animal Control in that state transported her to our facility for care. We have the permits, expertise, and facilities to rehabilitate species of her size. In fact, we admitted 103 Bald Eagles for care last year! This particular eagle was impacted by a vehicle, and lab tests indicated that she had elevated levels of lead in her bloodstream. Lead poisoning affects the brain, and it very likely altered her perception and coordination, contributing to her being hit by a vehicle. She also had eye trauma and significant wounds. She had a lot of healing to do. For six weeks, we provided professional care until she was healthy and demonstrated strong flight; we then released her to continue her life’s journey. While biologists recognize general similarities within a species, we are privileged to experience the individual traits of each bird in our care. Initially, this particular female was dull and quiet in care. As she slowly healed, however, she became more bold and aggressive and even exhibited specific food preferences. We are fortunate to be able to closely observe each patient as its own individual!!

carolina chickadees gain a second chance

Chicka dee deedeedee! A kind woman discovered five Carolina Chickadee nestlings on the ground, too young to be out of their nest. She noticed that their nest had been destroyed and one of the five baby birds was deceased. She placed the other four siblings in a box and brought them to our clinic. They were determined to be healthy and we proceeded to care for them, giving them medical care, feeding them a nutritious diet, and keeping them safe and warm. Since there was no sign of their parents in the area, we raised them until they were able to care for themselves without parental or human help. After close to three weeks in care, they were self-feeding and demonstrating strong flight. We’ve slowed down the release portion of the video so you can clearly see their very first flight back to the wild. Thank you to everyone who helped save these lives!