Right now, tonight
Found one on the ground?
Four things, in order. Doing them right takes ten minutes and roughly doubles the odds that this particular bird flies again.
01
Do not chase it
A frightened bird burns energy it does not have. Approach slowly, from the side, and put a towel or a jumper over it before you pick it up.
02
Box, dark, quiet
Any cardboard box with air holes. No water, no food, no radio, nobody talking to it. Stress kills more of them than injuries do.
03
Call us the same night
Ring +262 692 00 00 00. Someone answers between sunset and sunrise for the whole season. If it goes to voicemail, leave the road and the box location.
04
Never release it yourself
A bird that cannot take off from flat ground will not manage from your balcony either. It needs height, wind and a check for burns first.
Frequently asked
The five we get every season.
It looks fine, can I just put it back outside?
No. A fledgling on the ground is there because it could not stay in the air, and putting it back on the same road gives it the same night again. Even birds with no visible injury are usually dehydrated and need a check.
I found one in the middle of the day.
Unusual and more serious. Daytime groundings normally mean the bird has been down since the night before. Call straight away rather than waiting for the evening.
Do you take other species?
We are set up for seabirds. For anything else, call us anyway and we will point you at the right people rather than leave you with a bird in a box.
Can I keep it overnight and bring it tomorrow?
Yes, and often that is the best option. Box, dark, quiet, somewhere the cat cannot reach. Tell us on the phone so we expect you.
Is there a cost?
No. Not for you and not for the bird. It is paid for by members, donations and a lot of unpaid evenings.
How to reach us.
Emergency line
+262 692 00 00 00
Answered from sunset to sunrise, January to April.
contact@petrel.re
For membership, donations and anything that is not a bird on the ground.
Care centre
12 rue des Pétrels, 97436 Saint-Leu
Drop offs by arrangement only. Call before you drive.