It’s baby bird season in Virginia! Each spring and summer, the Center fields hundreds of phone calls from people who find baby birds outside the nest. While some of these young birds may need care and treatment, the majority do not. Many can be safely re-nested, or have simply fledged and are still being cared for by their parents.
If you come across a baby bird, it’s important to assess the situation carefully before intervening. In many cases, the best thing you can do is leave the bird where it is.
Is the bird injured (bleeding, broken bones, puncture wounds, been in a cat's mouth, open wounds, etc.)?
- If YES, take the bird to your nearest wildlife veterinarian or permitted rehabilitator. Do not give the baby food or water!
- If NO, see below.
Is the bird fully feathered, and/or able to hop away from you?
- If YES, a fully feathered baby bird found on the ground seemingly unable to fly is likely just fledging—a natural state of development in the bird's life. It is normal for many species of fledgling birds to be on the ground! Birds need several days—up to four weeks, depending on their species—to learn how to fly and forage for food. One or more parents continue to feed them during this period. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator to confirm that the bird is a fledgling that should be left alone. Then, leave the area and keep pets and children away from the bird. The parent(s) will not feed the youngster while people are around.
- If NO, attempt to find the nest. An uninjured nestling bird found on the ground with few or no feathers needs to be returned to the nest. Look in nearby trees and bushes to see if you can locate the nest. Correct species identification of the nestling or the parents will help locate the nest (e.g., bluebirds are box or cavity nesters, Mourning Doves build basket nests on horizontal branches or in a tree fork). Cornell's All About Birds website has excellent information on nest type and placement.
Can you find/reach the nest?
- If YES, simply put the bird back, after first making sure the bird is warm to the touch. If the baby is not warm, you can simply warm the bird in your hands before returning it to the nest. Returning a young, cold bird to the nest will encourage the parent to push the baby out of the nest, as the parent is trying to remove a cold object to protect other warm young and/or eggs.
- If NO, you can't locate the nest, are unable to reach it (even with a ladder), or if the original nest is destroyed, consider making a substitute nest. In these cases, it’s best to consult with a wildlife rehabilitator first, as age and feather development play a factor in whether this is successful.
Constructing a Substitute Nest
Substitute nests can be viable options if a bird’s original nest is completely destroyed, or if a lone baby bird (of an appropriate age) can’t be returned to its original nest with its siblings. These substitutes can be created from a variety of containers, including small berry containers, margarine tubs, baskets, or hanging flower pots. Choose a substitute nest that is similar in size and shape to the original nest. The new nest should be large enough to contain the growing baby birds, but small enough so that each bird sits snugly as it grows.
If you are using a solid container, punch holes in the bottom of the new nest for drainage. Line the nest with material, such as small twigs or dried grass. If the original nest has been destroyed, you can use part of it in your substitute nest if no obvious mites are present. Remember, the nest will be exposed to rain and dew; choose nesting material that will dry quickly.
Attach the substitute nest securely to the tree limb or bush where you are placing the nest. Remember, the parent birds will be perching on the edge of the nest as they continue to feed their young, so the nest needs to be very secure! Make sure the new nest is as close as possible to the original nest location, and make sure it is naturally sheltered from the sun, rain, and predators.
Consult with a wildlife rehabilitator before attempting to create a substitute nest for a lone baby bird where the original nest is still active. As long as the young bird is at least partially feathered, a secondary substitute nest can be a viable option, but in some cases, nestling birds are too small to be alone in a nest, particularly if they still need to be brooded by a parent. Because parent birds can only effectively brood one nest location at a time, very young lone nestlings, even if healthy, may need to be taken to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
Contrary to popular belief, bird parents are not frightened off by your scent and will return to feed their baby if it calls for food. When checking to see if the parent(s) return to feed the baby, watch the nest from a safe distance, preferably indoors. Many wild birds will not return to the nest if you are visible and/or in the immediate area. If a parent does not visit the new nest for more than half a day, contact a permitted songbird rehabilitator for advice.
The best baby bird rehabilitation is prevention. Educate your friends, family, neighbors, and yourselves about the fledgling process. Know where nesting sites are located, and keep cats and dogs indoors around the time you think the birds will fledge to avoid predation. Ask neighbors to take responsibility for their pets too – it’s a community effort!
