When you come across an abandoned bird’s nest with eggs inside, your first instinct may be to try to save the eggs by taking them home and caring for them. However, there are important factors to consider before interfering with a bird’s nest. Handling bird eggs requires specific knowledge, preparation, and dedication to give the eggs a chance to hatch and the chicks to mature. This article will go over the key questions around saving abandoned bird eggs.
Is it legal to take an abandoned bird egg?
The first and most critical question is whether it is legal to take an abandoned bird egg in the first place. In the United States, it is illegal to possess any migratory bird egg according to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This includes the eggs of common backyard birds like robins, blue jays, cardinals, and sparrows. Some native non-migratory species may also be protected under state laws. Taking a protected bird egg is punishable by fines and even imprisonment.
There are a few exceptions. Non-native invasive bird species like European starlings, house sparrows, and rock pigeons are not protected, so their eggs may legally be taken. You may also be able to take an egg if you acquire the proper rehabilitation permit from your state wildlife agency. This permit allows you to temporarily possess endangered animals or their eggs for rehabilitation purposes before releasing them back to the wild. However, the permit application process can be extensive.
Bottom line – possessing any native bird egg is very likely illegal without the proper permits. Only consider taking unprotected non-native eggs.
How can you tell if the eggs are abandoned?
Determining if a nest is truly abandoned is critical. Parent birds will sometimes leave the nest for hours at a time to search for food, so eggs left alone are not necessarily orphaned. It’s advised to observe the nest for 4-12 hours before considering the eggs abandoned. Signs that parents are no longer caring for the eggs include:
- Eggs exposed to the elements without any nest material covering them
- Eggs that are cold to the touch
- No parents visiting the nest for extended periods of time
- Damaged or cracked eggs left unrepaired
Use your best judgment based on observation to determine if eggs have been abandoned before removing them from the nest.
What equipment is needed to incubate bird eggs?
If you determine that taking an egg is legal and justifiable, specialized equipment is needed to properly incubate bird eggs:
- Incubator – Provides stable temperature, humidity, ventilation, and egg-turning. Can be purchased or homemade.
- Brooder – Keeps hatchlings warm and safe. Usually a small enclosed housing with a heat source.
- Heat sources – Heat lamps, heating pads, or other devices to maintain proper warmth.
- Thermometers & hygrometers – Monitor temperature and humidity levels.
- Egg-turning devices – Motorized devices that gently rotate eggs multiple times per day.
Proper incubation conditions vary by bird species. Most backyard birds require consistent temperatures around 99-102°F with 40-60% humidity. The equipment needs to maintain these stable conditions for the full incubation period, usually 10-14 days.
What are the incubation procedures?
Caring for the egg during incubation requires diligent attention and specific procedures:
- Maintain ideal temperature and humidity in the incubator at all times.
- Gently turn eggs at least 2-3 times per day (except for the last 2 days).
- Candle eggs after 1 week to check for viability.
- Do not rotate eggs after 18 days, allow them to hatch naturally.
- Disinfect equipment to prevent disease transmission.
- Keep detailed records of conditions and development.
Not following these procedures exactly can jeopardize the embryo’s development. The incubator environment must stay at the proper parameters continuously with no large fluctuations.
What are the challenges of hand-raising hatchlings?
If eggs successfully hatch after incubation, properly hand-raising hatchling birds presents a whole new set of challenges:
- Housing – Must keep hatchlings isolated, warm, and safe in a brooder.
- Feeding – Require specific diets (species-dependent) provided consistently from dawn to dusk.
- Socialization – Lack of parental interaction can cause imprinting issues.
- Exercise & enrichment – Need opportunities to flap wings and move about to develop muscles.
- Veterinary care – Higher risk of diseases and injuries requiring professional medical treatment.
Raising healthy, well-adjusted hatchlings is difficult and time-consuming. Survival rates are low without extensive experience and dedication.
What are ethical concerns of removing eggs?
Before interfering with a bird nest, consider the ethical implications:
- Taking eggs disrupts the natural ecological process.
- Survival rates for rescued eggs/chicks are typically low.
- Hand-rearing risks improper socialization and domestication.
- Once raised, re-release to the wild may fail.
- Hatchlings have better survival odds with their natural parents.
Removing eggs should only be a last resort. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator is better equipped to care for abandoned eggs.
What are the chances an egg can be saved?
Here are the approximate survival rates of attempting to rescue abandoned bird eggs:
Stage | Survival Rate |
---|---|
Incubation period | 50% |
Hatching | 70% |
Hand-rearing | 40% |
Re-release to wild | 30% |
As you can see, the chances of successfully saving an egg and returning a healthy bird to the wild are very low, around 5-10% total. Attempting rescue as an inexperienced caregiver often does more harm than good.
Are there alternatives to removing eggs?
When coming across abandoned eggs, consider these kinder alternatives to removal:
- Monitor nest and only intervene if parents do not return for 24+ hours.
- Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to assess situation and possibly take eggs.
- If eggs are damaged, create a substitute nest nearby in hopes parents will reincorporate.
- Document location and alert wildlife agencies to find root cause of abandonment.
Letting nature take its course helps preserve delicate ecological balances. As hard as it is, sometimes doing nothing is the most ethical choice when encountering abandoned eggs.
Conclusion
Saving an abandoned bird egg is an extremely challenging process with low success rates. Legal restrictions, specific equipment needs, intricate incubation techniques, hand-feeding demands, and ethical dilemmas make egg and hatchling rescue impractical for the average person. The nest is best left undisturbed when possible. However, if action is absolutely required, reach out to licensed wildlife experts to give the eggs their best chance at survival.