Finding a baby bird that has fallen from its nest can be a worrying situation for any homeowner. You want to help the bird, but you also don’t want to cause it any harm by intervening when you shouldn’t. Here are some quick answers to common questions about what to do if you find a baby bird in your yard.
Should I put the baby bird back in the nest?
No, you should not attempt to put a baby bird back in the nest. This is extremely risky for the bird for a few reasons:
- The parents may reject the baby if it has the scent of humans on it.
- You may not locate the right nest, and putting the baby in the wrong nest can jeopardize the lives of the other chicks.
- The disturbance may cause the parents to abandon the nest altogether.
- Climbing up to a nest can disturb other wildlife and damage the tree/plant the nest is in.
While it seems like the compassionate thing to do, attempting to return the chick to the nest often does much more harm than good. It’s better to leave this dangerous task to wildlife rehabilitation experts if a nest absolutely must be accessed.
What should I do if the baby bird is injured?
If you notice any injuries, bleeding, wings drooping unevenly, swelling, or other signs of impairment, the bird needs professional care right away. Here are the steps to take:
- Gently place the baby bird in a ventilated box or paper bag. Make sure there is a soft towel or t-shirt on the bottom so the bird doesn’t hurt itself further.
- Keep the bird in a warm, dark, and quiet space while you transport it.
- Do not try to feed the bird or give it water.
- Contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center and explain that you have found an injured baby bird. Follow their instructions for bringing the chick into their care.
- Drive the bird to the rehabilitation center as soon as possible. If needed, you can keep the contained bird in a garage or shed temporarily, but avoid bringing it into the main living spaces of your home.
Getting prompt help from wildlife experts is crucial when a baby bird is visibly hurt or ill. This gives it the best chance of eventually being released back into the wild.
Is it normal for a baby bird to be hopping on the ground?
It may look worrying to see a baby bird hopping around on the ground, but this is often completely normal behavior. Here’s why:
- As baby birds grow, their muscles get stronger and they start trying out hopping and flapping their wings in preparation for leaving the nest.
- Parent birds may coax chicks out of the nest briefly to help them practice flying.
- Some species of birds, like killdeer, naturally nest on the ground rather than in trees. The babies leave the nest within hours after hatching.
So before you intervene, observe the scene for a while from a distance. If the parents are still feeding and caring for the chick, it’s fine to leave the baby bird to continue developing outside the nest under their supervision.
When is a baby bird in danger outside the nest?
Here are some signs that a baby bird on the ground needs your help:
- No parents come to feed it or sit on it for over an hour.
- It’s making loud, distressful chirping noises nonstop.
- Cats, dogs, or other predators are showing interest in the bird.
- It’s visibly injured or has impaired mobility.
- It’s in an unsafe location like the middle of a roadway.
Use your best judgment based on the species of bird and its exact situation. If anything seems off or dangerous, intervene and contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away.
What should I do if the baby bird is feathered but can’t fly?
When baby birds are fully feathered but not yet flying properly, the best thing to do is create a makeshift nest for them. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Wear gardening gloves to avoid transferring your scent.
- Gently pick up the bird and place it in a small basket, recycling bin, or other container lined with a soft cloth.
- Affix the container to a tree or porch as close to the original nest as possible.
- Watch from a distance to make sure the parents return and care for the chick.
- Once the bird starts flying, remove the makeshift nest so it can fully leave the care of the parents.
This technique gives the fledgling a chance to finish developing while staying safe from predators. As long as the parents approve of the new nest’s placement, they should return and continue feeding and teaching the baby bird until it can confidently fly and function on its own.
Can I give food and water to a baby bird?
Feeding baby birds can easily do much more harm than good. Here’s why it’s best to avoid:
- Baby birds have very specific dietary needs that are difficult to replicate.
- They may aspirate and develop pneumonia if you give them the wrong foods/textures.
- You may accidentally burn or chill the bird if the temperature of the food isn’t just right.
- Feeding the bird can cause dangerous gastrointestinal problems.
- Overfeeding can be fatal.
- Underfeeding can stunt the bird’s growth.
Additionally, offering food and water can prolong the time before the bird is taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. This delays proper care.
It’s understandable to want to nourish a helpless chick, but resist the urge. Leave feeding up to wildlife experts unless it will be 24+ hours until the bird can be brought into care.
When is it okay to offer food/water?
If it will be a full day or more until the baby bird can reach a rehabilitator, temporary feeding may be warranted. Use the following best practices:
- Give room-temperature bottled water via dropper, just 1-2 drops at a time.
- Offer mealworms from a pet store, diced grapes/berries, or wet dog/cat food.
- Feed only once per hour and stop when the bird loses interest.
- Do not force-feed or pour water into the bird’s mouth.
This minimal nutrition can help sustain the baby bird for a day or so until full-time care is available. But avoid feeding altogether if the bird will reach a wildlife rehabilitator sooner than that.
Can I keep the baby bird and raise it myself?
It’s extremely difficult—and often illegal—to properly raise a baby wild bird without professional training. Here are some reasons you should always turn the bird over to experts instead of keeping it:
- The chick will have the best chance at survival and eventual release with experienced wildlife caretakers.
- Specific diets, feeding techniques, and housing are required to raise different bird species.
- Babies require socialization from their own species which you cannot replicate at home.
- Many places prohibit keeping and raising wild animals without permits.
- Habituation to humans through captivity can prevent successful release later on.
The hard truth is that good intentions are not enough for giving orphaned wildlife the specific, dedicated care they need. Let trained pros provide the baby bird its best opportunity to thrive and return to freedom in nature when fully grown.
How can I find a wildlife rehabilitation center to take the baby bird?
Here are some options for locating a wildlife rehabilitator near you:
- Search for “wildlife rehabilitation” plus your state or city.
- Contact local animal shelters, humane societies, nature centers, or conservation groups.
- Search for tips on your state’s Department of Wildlife website.
- Call your state veterinarian or Department of Natural Resources for a referral.
- Use nationwide rehab locator databases like https://ahnow.org/
Try to select a facility as close by as possible that specializes in birds. This minimizes transport stress and time until the baby gets professional care.
Rehabilitation Center | Location | Phone Number |
---|---|---|
Wild Bird Rescue Center | 123 Main St, Anystate, USA | 123-456-7890 |
Animal Haven Wildlife Shelter | 456 Oak Rd, Elsewhere, USA | 987-654-3210 |
This sample table shows contact details you can provide for nearby wildlife rehabilitators that you recommend based on your own search.
Can I volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center?
If this experience has sparked your interest in helping local wildlife, volunteering is a great way to get involved! Here are some tips for contributing your time:
- Call rehab centers directly to ask about volunteer opportunities and requirements.
- Be prepared to undergo training to learn proper bird handling techniques.
- Expect tasks like cleaning enclosures, preparing food, transporting animals, assisting with intake, and more.
- Make a regular weekly commitment of a few hours if possible.
- Ask about age policies, as some centers only accept adult volunteers.
Caring rehabbers rely on volunteers to keep their operations running smoothly. Donating your time can be extremely rewarding by helping give orphaned and injured birds a second chance.
Other ways to help wildlife rehabilitators:
- Donate money or supplies like paper towels, gentle dish soap, and frozen vegetables.
- Give gently used towels, sheets, and t-shirts for bedding and nest material.
- Share info about the organization on social media to boost community awareness.
- Provide professional skills like grant writing, graphic design, carpentry, etc.
Any support, whether hands-on or behind-the-scenes, is hugely appreciated by understaffed and underfunded rehab facilities.
What should I do if it’s after hours for the wildlife center?
If you find a baby bird in distress late at night or outside the operating hours of rehabilitators, here are some tips:
- Call the center’s emergency number if they have one listed.
- Care for the bird temporarily by keeping it in a ventilated box in a quiet, dark space.
- Avoid feeding the bird unless necessary for survival overnight.
- Release the bird if it’s uninjured and parents are attending to it.
- Wait until morning and then call the center as soon as they open.
While not an ideal situation, keeping the bird calm and limiting interaction until the rehab center reopens is preferable to letting a vulnerable chick remain in a dangerous environment after dark.
Finding an after-hours emergency wildlife vet:
If the bird is severely injured and needs immediate expert assessment, searching for a wildlife veterinarian that offers 24/7 emergency care is recommended. Options include:
- Calling your regular vet and asking for an emergency exotics referral.
- Contacting animal emergency hospitals in your region.
- Searching online directories like https://www.wildlifevetsinternational.org/
These vets can medically stabilize the bird until a rehab facility reopens for ongoing rehabilitation.
What should absolutely not be done for baby birds?
To recap, here are some major things to avoid when trying to rescue baby birds:
- Do not attempt to return birds to the nest.
- Do not give food/water unless urgently needed overnight.
- Do not keep wild animals as personal pets.
- Do not let companion animals harass birds.
- Do not handle birds roughly or make loud noises.
And above all, do not delay getting professional help for any baby birds that are visibly ill, injured, or in imminent danger. The sooner rehab measures can be taken, the better!
In conclusion…
Finding baby birds in your yard can certainly be an emotional rollercoaster. You so badly want to nurture the cute little chick, but don’t want to endanger it further through hasty actions.
While stepping in to assist a baby bird may seem like the compassionate choice, the reality is the best way to ensure its survival is through wildlife rehabilitators. They have the specialized equipment, diets, housing, and experience needed to give the animal the best shot at independence in the wild.
If you do ever find yourself in this situation, remain calm and think through next steps. Get professional help as quickly as possible while keeping the bird contained in a quiet, safe space. And above all, resist the temptation to raise wild animals yourself—no matter how adorable they may be!