I found a baby bird, what should I do?

​By Valerie Andersen

As Spring is approaching, it’s time to talk about baby birds and what to do if you find one on the ground that can’t fly.  First, figure out if the bird is a nestling or a fledgling.  Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping, flitting, and gripping tightly to your finger, while nestlings are sparsely feathered, often with closed eyes, and not capable of doing much.
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Nestlings are mostly featherless and helpless birds that should be returned to their nests, if possible.

Nestlings: If you find a nestling and can find the nest, put the bird back as quickly as possible.  Don’t worry, the parent will not abandon the baby if it has been touched by humans. (It is a myth that its parents will smell your scent & not return!) If you can’t find the nest, or it is too high in a structure, you can make a nest out of a small box and natural materials. Put this close to where you found the bird in an elevated location. If you see a nest without parents, watch the nest to see if a parent returns, but don’t hover near it.  In many species, parents must leave their babies alone to look for food. It is always best to leave the rearing of young to natural parents, they make much better caregivers than us! ​

​Fledglings:  Fledglings are baby birds that have just left the nest, but can’t fly yet.  If you find a fledgling but it can hop and flutter on its own, it’s best to leave the bird alone. Don’t return it to the nest.  Parents will still feed them outside of the nest.  If the bird is in a dangerous spot, you can place the bird on a safe perch and keep your pets indoors. It is normal for fledglings to be on the ground for a few days to a week or two so don’t be worried if you see it hanging around for awhile. 

Fledglings are mobile and well-feathered. Fledglings may not be able to fly for the first few days after leaving the nest, but their parents still look after them and are usually nearby. Fledglings rarely need help

​Additional resources on what to if you find a baby bird:  
Cornell University’s All About Birds 
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Help Baby Birds  
a step-by-step guide to help you determine what you should do and how to contain the injured bird, if rehabilitation is necessary.

Injured Birds: 
​If you have found both parents dead, the young bird is injured, and are absolutely certain that the bird was orphaned, then contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.  If they can take it, you can use a dish towel, blanket, or t-shirt to capture it.   Place the bird in a cardboard box with ventilation holes punched in it, or in a plastic pet container. If it’s a small bird, you can even use a shoe box. Keep the bird warm and put it in a quiet place away from pets and children. Transport the bird as quickly and safely as possible to a rehabilitator