Pie-billed Grebe swimming in silhouette across golden water
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Birds in Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri

Birds at Riverlands Community Science
Pied-billed Grebe, Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Iowa Photo: Greg Courtney/Audubon Photography Awards

Why Birds? 

A love for birds often starts in subtle ways: the thrill of an eagle flying overhead, the joy of little birds visiting your feeder, or the anticipation of seeing your favorite bird along the Mississippi River.

Birds inspire us to take action, from advocating for environmental policies to participating in community science. At Audubon Upper Mississippi River, birds inform all of our work. Situated along a key stretch of Mississippi Flyway, we are working on large-scale habitat, science, and climate change mitigation to endure that the hundreds of bird species that migrate through or call our states home can survive and thrive.   

Help! What do I do with an injured bird?

If a bird hits your window and is alive but dazed:  

  • Place it in a paper bag or small box with a lid and ventilation
  • Put the container in a dark, quiet place, away from pets and children, close the door and leave the bird alone for 20–30 minutes
  • If you hear it scratching around in the bag or box, it’s probably time to release it outdoors
  • If the bird is injured, you can try to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation organization if there is one near you. 

 

Rehabilitation Services

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
2530 Dale St. N., Roseville, MN 55113

Open every day of the year 10am-6pm.   
Including all holidays.

The Audubon Center at Riverlands does not provide care for injured or orphaned wild birds. However, the St. Louis Region has several great resources that can help.

Please call one of the below rehabilitation centers before handling any injured or orphaned wild animal.

Bi-State Wildlife Hotline

Provides information of the closest rehabilitation center based on the animal in question. Accepts most Missouri and Illinois native wildlife. 

Open 24 Hours a Day

Phone: (855) 945-3435

Missouri

Wildlife Rescue Center

1128 New Ballwin Road, Ballwin, MO 63021

Accepts Missouri native small mammals, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians.

Phone: (636) 394-1880

World Bird Sanctuary

125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road, Valley Park, MO 63088

Accepts Missouri birds of prey.

Phone: (636) 255-4390

Wild Bird Rehabilitation

9624 Midland Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63114

Accepts all native songbirds and other small backyard birds.

Phone: (314) 426-6400

Illinois

TreeHouse Wildlife Center 

23956 Green Acres Road, Dow, IL 62022

Accepts most native Illinois wildlife except raccoons, skunks, bats, baby songbirds, and adult deer.

Phone: (618) 466-2990

Bird News
Scarlet Tanager perched, singing
Minnesota Proclaims Lights Out Week for Migratory Birds
March 17, 2025 — Audubon Upper Mississippi River and partners requested the proclamation to help reduce light pollution
240 Acres of Important Bird Habitat Now Permanently Protected in Northwest Minnesota
January 14, 2025 — Yellow Rails, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Upland Sandpipers, American and Least Bitterns, and many other birds will benefit from these lands.
Bird Protection Law Severely Weakened by New Rule
January 14, 2025 — 100-year-old bipartisan conservation law undermined by new policy changes