Finding a baby bird that has fallen from its nest can be both concerning and confusing. As caring individuals, our instinct is to want to help the little one. However, handling baby birds requires specific care in order to give them their best chance of survival. This article will provide extensive information on what to do when you find a baby bird, including step-by-step instructions and expert advice.

Assessing the Situation

The first step when you find a baby bird is to quickly assess the situation. Here are some key things to look for:

Is the bird injured? Check for any obvious wounds, bleeding, or bones sticking out at odd angles. If the bird is injured, it will need professional medical care.
Is the bird a nestling or a fledgling? Nestlings are very young, have little to no feathers, and likely fell out of the nest accidentally. Fledglings are older, are fully feathered, and may have hopped out of the nest intentionally. Different approaches are required for each.
Are there any predators or dangers nearby? Cats, dogs, crows, raccoons, or other predators may try to attack an unprotected baby bird on the ground. Make sure the area is safe.
Can you spot the nest? Finding the original nest will provide the best chance of reuniting the baby with its parents. Look in trees and bushes directly above where you found the bird.

Caring for Nestling Birds

Nestlings are the youngest baby birds. They have very few if any feathers, and their eyes are often still closed. Nestlings belong in the nest with their parents, who will feed and care for them until they fledge. Here’s what to do if you find a nestling:

Step 1: Create a Temporary Nest

You’ll need to construct a small temporary nest to keep the nestling safe. You can use a berry basket, plastic container with holes poked in the bottom, or a cardboard box lined with tissues or paper towels. Place the makeshift nest in a sheltered spot near where you found the bird.

Step 2: Return the Nestling to Its Original Nest (If Possible)

Ideally, you should return the nestling to its home nest. Climb up and gently place the nestling back inside. Be careful not to disturb other eggs or babies that may be present. The parents will resume feeding and caring for the replaced nestling.

If the original nest can’t be located or reached, you’ll need to hand-raise the nestling or get it to a wildlife rehabilitator. See the emergency care instructions below.

Step 3: Monitor from Afar

Once returned, observe the nest from at least 10 feet away for 30-60 minutes. You want the parents to accept the nestling. If they don’t resume feeding it shortly, you’ll have to remove and make an emergency plan.

Emergency Care for Nestlings

If the parents do not take the nestling back, or if the original nest can’t be found, emergency care is required:

Keep the baby bird warm. Nestlings cannot self-regulate their body temperature. Place a heating pad or microwavable bean bag on low under half the temporary nest.
Do not give it food and water. Nestling digestive systems are too undeveloped to handle anything but the specialized diet the parents provide.
Get it to a wildlife rehab center immediately. Use www.ahnow.org to locate your closest licensed rehabilitator. Call ahead so they can advise you on safe transport.
Avoid handling the bird. If you must pick it up, handle it as little as possible and use gloves or a towel to prevent human scent transfer. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Caring for Fledgling Birds

Fledglings are older than nestlings. They have all their feathers and hop out of the nest before they can truly fly. It’s normal for fledglings to be on the ground while they finish developing. Follow these guidelines for fledglings:

Step 1: Assess the Situation

Watch the scene from a distance for 5-10 minutes. Are parents nearby continuing to care for the fledgling? If so, just let the natural process happen. Fledglings are still dependent on parental care while on the ground.

If no parents come to feed or tend to the fledgling after 10 minutes, it likely does need help. Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Move the Fledgling to Shelter

Gently pick up the fledgling with gloved hands or a soft cloth and place it in a bush, shrub, or against a tree trunk. This provides shelter, protection, and improved visibility for the parents to find it.

Step 3: Monitor and Wait

Move away and watch quietly for 30-60 minutes. The parents will usually resume feeding once you leave the area. If they don’t return after an hour, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Emergency Care

Contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Unlike nestlings, fledglings can eat on their own, so short-term emergency care is possible. A rehabber will advise you on diet and housing.
Provide warmth. Use a heating pad, per rehabber instructions, until you can transfer the fledgling to an expert’s care.
Limit handling. Wear gloves or use a towel if you must pick up the bird, reducing contact. Wash hands after touching.
Keep it in a sheltered spot. A ventilated box with air holes works well. Ensure the space is escape- and predator-proof. Monitor closely.
Offer appropriate food. Fledglings can eat seed mixes, diced fruit, and live mealworms. Provide small portions of various items and refresh water daily.

FAQs About Saving Baby Birds

Should I put the baby bird back in the nest?

If you can safely return a nestling to its original nest, do so. Parent birds will not reject their babies due to human scent. Fledglings, however, should stay grounded. Their natural development includes time hopping on the ground while learning to fly.

Will the parents starve the baby if I touch it?

No. Birds have a poor sense of smell and cannot detect human scent well. They will not abandon their young if you handle a baby.

Should I feed the baby bird?

Do not feed nestlings. Only give fledglings food if over an hour passes with no parental care. Even then, get the bird to a rehab center ASAP. Improper feeding can harm baby birds.

What do I feed a baby bird?

If emergency fledgling feeding is needed before getting to a rehabber, offer small amounts of diced fruit, mealworms, seed mix, hard boiled egg, or wet dog food. Provide bitesize portions and refresh water daily.

How can I tell if a baby bird is dehydrated?

Check the underside skin. If it remains “tented” when gently pinched and released, the bird is dehydrated and needs fluids. Consult a rehabilitator for advice.

Can I raise an orphaned baby bird myself?

It is extremely challenging to raise baby birds without training and proper supplies. Always pass orphaned birds to licensed wildlife rehabilitators, who have the right techniques and diets to care for them.

How do I transport a baby bird to a wildlife center?

First call the center to ensure someone will be ready to assess the bird upon arrival. Gently place the baby in a ventilated box or paper bag lined with a non-terrycloth. Avoid direct sunlight, loud noises, or jostling during transport.

Locating a Wildlife Rehabilitator

When baby birds require extended care, a qualified wildlife rehabilitator is the best option. Here are tips for finding one:

Ask your state wildlife agency for a list of licensed rehabbers near you. Most have this information on their website or can provide it if you call.
Contact wildlife rescue centers in your state, who may have intake staff or be able to connect you with rehabbers.
Search rehabilitation databases: The Humane Society (humanesociety.org) and The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (theiwrc.org) have handy state-by-state listings.
Double check licenses: In the U.S., rehabilitators must hold proper permits and licenses to legally operate. Don’t take in a protected bird to an unlicensed individual.

When you reach out to a facility, ask if they have availability and experience handling the specific species you found. Raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, and others all require unique expertise.

Reuniting Fledglings with Their Flock

If the rehabber raises the fledgling to maturity, they will later release it back to the wild. But when possible, it is ideal for birds to be reunited with their original flock after temporary rehab. Here is how licensed rehabilitators may accomplish this:

Band the fledgling with a small, unique ID tag on its leg while in care. This will identify it when released near the original flock.
Care for the fledgling until it can fully feed and fly on its own, usually a few weeks for most species.
Release the strong fledgling in the same area it was originally found once it is fully capable. Release is often done at dawn.
Monitor after release. The rehabilitator may return to observe whether the banded bird has reintegrated with its flock successfully.

The goal is for the fledgling to rejoin any parents, siblings, or other members of its specific colony for the highest chance of survival.

Fostering Orphaned Birds to New Families

If reuniting the baby with its original flock is not possible, another technique rehabbers may use is fostering. Here’s how it works:

A surrogate family that has a nest with similar chicks of the same size and age is located.
The orphaned chick is introduced to the adoptive nest and parents. This is done by a professional to minimize disturbance.
If accepted by the new parents, the orphan will be raised alongside the birth chicks, accepting food and care from the foster parents.
Rehabilitators monitor to ensure the adoption goes smoothly. The whole foster family will eventually fledge together.

Fostering provides orphans the chance to be part of a complete family group, which teaches vital skills for development and survival. This allows their rehab time to be shorter.

Preventing Baby Bird Falls and Injuries

While rescuing fallen chicks is important, prevention is ideal. Here are some tips for avoiding baby bird troubles in the first place:

Avoid pruning trees and bushes during critical spring and summer nesting seasons. Trimming can expose nests and cause parents to abandon them.
Monitor cat activity outdoors. Cats are a huge threat to grounded fledglings and nestlings. Consider belled collars or temporary indoor confinement of cats during fledging season.
Reduce window collisions. Apply special decals and hang strings of beads in front of windows to prevent bird strikes. Close blinds in problem areas.
Eliminate pesticides in your landscape that could poison and contaminate birds. Use natural fertilizers and biological pest control instead.
Install nesting platforms. Provide nest boxes suitable for the species in your yard. Proper nesting spots can reduce risky re-nesting behaviors.
Keep watch for trouble signs. Pay attention for distressed parent birds nearby or repeated fallen chicks. This could indicate a compromised nest needing inspection and correction.

Conclusion

Baby birds require very specialized care, but the average person can still positively contribute by responding appropriately when encountering a fallen nestling or fledgling. With emergency warmth and shelter, transport to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and awareness of normal developmental behaviors, members of the public can help rescue vulnerable chicks. Applying these guidelines on what to do when you find a baby bird will give the little ones their best shot to ultimately leave the nest and take flight on their own. With community support, environmental protections, and wildlife rehabilitation resources, we can collectively help protect our feathered neighbors.

What to Do When You Find a Baby Bird