Home >> I found a baby bird

Most baby birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to tamper with or remove nests or babies, or to keep any wild baby bird. If you have one in your possession, please follow the instructions below and call us for help if the bird needs rescuing.

First priority is to locate the nest and return the baby (if the baby is healthy). You may need a ladder and some ingenuity. Make sure the other babies in the nest look like the one you are replacing. Make sure the nest looks safe, without snakes, etc. Watch the nest from a distance to confirm that the parent bird returns. This could take at least an hour. Be patient.

A common myth is that mother birds will reject babies if handled by humans. This is not true. Birds have a very poor sense of smell, and cannot tell if humans have touched their chick.

If the nest has fallen on with babies, tie the nest back to a nearby tree with thick string or wire as close to the original site as possible. Place the nest in a little basket or margarine tub (with drainage holes) to make it easier to secure. Don't use a berry basket because bird legs may get caught in the mesh. Watch from a distance and make sure the parent returns.

However, if you find a nest with eggs set in gravel (ex. on your driveway) or an area where a bird has made a ground nest, leave it there and put up stakes and rope around it so others will not drive on top of it, or disturb the nest. The babies do not need rescuing if you leave them with their parent, and they will be gone in no time.

It is best not to feed orphaned or injured birds. However, if you can't get the bird to a rehabilitator within a few hours, this may become necessary, but only after the baby has been warmed in a soft towel in a small basket over a heating pad, set on low.

Never give bread or milk to wild birds. Don't handle the baby more than necessary because their tiny bodies can be easily damaged. Keep it away from household pets and wash your hands before touching your pet birds. It is important to keep voices and other sounds low. As tempting as it is to try to raise a wild bird, please remember - rehabilitators are trained in the proper diets, techniques and medical issues, and Federal law prohibits un-permitted individuals from possessing native wildlife.

If the baby is a nestling (skin showing) or a fledgling (feathered but can't fly well)?

Healthy nestlings   can be returned to their nest within a reasonable time and their parents *should*   accept them. Nestlings can *not*   survive on the ground or in a box left outside. They must be very warm, either by their parent or with supplemental heat. If it is impossible to return the baby to its nest, call us and transport the nestling safely to us with the following instructions: Nestlings need to stay warm (~90 to 95 degrees). It is important to get the nestling(s) to us quickly because they typically eat every 15 to 30 minutes, 14 hours a day. They will not last long if they are cold and go without nourishment.

Do not give the bird anything to eat, especially water in an open beak because the bird could aspirate, and feeding the bird when its not warm enough could be deadly. We can not do pick-ups. Please bring the nestling wrapped in a soft (thread free cloth), warm (with a hot water bottle or latex type glove filled with warm water next to it), in a box. Make sure to keep everyone extremely quiet around the bird until it reaches us, no loud voices, dog barking, or radios.

Remember, getting the nestling to us immediately is the key to us being able to help.

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Fledglings   are fully feathered usually hopping around on the ground and are frequently thought to be all alone. Usually their parents are hunting for food and return to feed the fledgling when there is no one watching. Parents have no way to teach their fledglings but to get them down from the nest and begin the lessons on the ground, in a bush or on a tree limb. With highways, dogs and cats, pesticides and other dangers, fledglings often get into trouble. If you find a fledgling, consider the following:

Is it in immediate danger of a cat or dog?   If so, please collect the dog or cat and put them away or scare them off so the bird is out of danger.

Was the bird in the middle of a road?   If so, take the bird back to the *same* location, to a safe spot, away from traffic and see if the fledgling calls his parents to come and feed him. Rescuing a bird often means going out of your way to insure the bird's safety without taking him from his parent. Never take a bird from one location and release him in a different one hoping he'll be okay, he will *not*.

It's best to observe the bird from a distance for an hour to see if it needs rescuing or if it is awaiting his parent. Also check the list of signs of illness and injury. If the parents do not come, or if you suspect the bird is ill or injured, please call us.  

If any of these signs are present, contact us and bring the bird in for rehabilitation.  

Signs of illness or injury:  

Failure to flee or sleeping when approached.
Found lying around or in the mouth of a cat or dog.
Is the bird alert, or acting confused or dazed.
Is the bird bleeding, or have a wing drooping, hanging or held higher than the other.
Is the bird staggering or limping.
Is it having difficulty controlling its head and neck.
Are the eyes or beak crusty.
Does it have missing or matted feathers.

Transporting the bird to us:  

We can not do pick-ups. We are totally volunteer based and can't leave the babies in our care. Please bring the nestling wrapped in a soft (thread free cloth), warm and in a box (with a hot water bottle or latex type glove filled with warm water next to it if it's a nestling). Make sure to keep everyone extremely quiet around the bird until it reaches us, no loud voices, dog barking, or radios. Remember, getting the nestling to us immediately is the key to us being able to help. Do not attempt to feed the bird without talking to us first.

We deeply appreciate those willing to rescue a bird in need.  

Thank you.