Baby Birds

Outdoor Professsor's Tips

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Here's your outdoor tip on helping “orphaned” baby birds.

The first thing to realize is that when you see a baby bird on the ground don’t assume that it is an “orphan.” Many baby birds leave the nest when they cannot fly well. This fledgling will have almost fully formed feathers but the wings and tail might be short allowing it to fly only short distances. This is in contrast to a hatchling that is younger, partially bald, and having only tufts of feathers. As babies age it can be dangerous for them to stay in the nest with their increasingly loud begging calls. At this time they become a temping mouthful for a squirrel, hawk, cat, or other predator.

As the overcrowded nest and beckoning parent birds encourage the young to flutter out of the nest, they often will land on your lawn looking abandoned. You need to remember that after the fledgling leave the nest, the parents’ job is still not done. Parents need to coax the youngsters into a tree or other hiding place. They do not want to put them up for adoption by a human.

"Can I keep it?" heard from one of your children finding a baby in the yard should be greeted by a strong “No!” from you. Tell them that would be kidnapping. The baby bird’s best chance for survival will be in its own parents’ care. It is also against many state and federal laws to keep native birds in captivity even if they look like they need assistance—adoption is illegal. Resist the temptation—don’t be a birdnapper.

1. When you first see a baby bird do not touch it or stress it in any way. Strange noises and unfamiliar conditions can be frightening to the baby. Be patient and watch to see if the parents eventually come around—and it may take some time, maybe an hour. If the fledgling is where many cats are around, you may help it get to a safer place. Gently, but firmly, put it in a thick bush or tree where it can hide in the foliage. Parents will hear its chirps and bring it food. Don’t be overly concerned where the nest was. The parents will find it and might even be watching you move it. They will not abandon a baby because it has human scent from touch. Most songbirds have a limited sense of smell and wanting their baby to be safe will be their motivating force.

2. Always wear gloves when you handle young birds. This is for your safety as much as the bird. Wild birds can carry mites, lice, ticks, bacteria and other parasites that can transfer to humans. Also, you do not want to contaminate the baby with dirty or bacteria from your hands. It is best to always wash your hands before and handling the bird.

3. Never give a baby bird food or water. Young birds have very specific dietary needs that cannot be met with human foods. Improper food can also cause a young bird to choke. Parents will feed them live insects several times each hour to fill their need for protein.

The conclusion that you should draw from all of this is that the lonely looking baby bird you see on your lawn is probably not an orphan. Although it may be difficult for a bird lover to not come to the aid of a baby bird alone, it is necessary to give it the best chance of survival. You should only intervene in minor ways to help insure its safety. The strongest and healthiest chicks will survive without human assistance no matter how helpless they may seem.

The best solution to helping a baby bird in serious distress is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Many times they will be listed in the telephone directory or your veterinarian should be able to give the contact information for the proper assistance.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

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References-Additional Reading

What to do if you find a baby bird
http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/a/findbabybirds.htm

Help Baby Birds
http://www.helpbabybirds.ca/s/found/index.html

Helping Orphaned Baby Birds
http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/babybirds.html

Nature Quotient.
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Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
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