The first moments of finding a baby bird are often the most confusing. Many people wonder if they should put the chick back in its nest , if the parents will come find it, or if they should begin to care for it. Below are some common questions and steps:
I. Is this really a baby bird?
- If the bird looks immature but is perching, leave it alone. This bird is a fledgling practicing flight
- If the bird is an adult and injured, consult a veterinarian
- If the bird is unable to stand and is bald or not fully feathered, it is most likely a baby bird. Proceed through instructions for care details.
NOTE: This site focuses on the care of perching birds. Duck-like and chicken-like birds and birds of prey have other health requirement.
Figure 1 shows a baby perching bird. Nearly all perching chicks will share the same physical appearance with slight alterations in size. Because the needs of most types of perching birds are so similar, the particular species of your bird is not important.
II. Should I put the baby bird back in its nest?
If you are able to locate the nest from which the baby bird fell, you may wonder if you should try to put it back.
With this in mind, you may want to attempt to put the baby bird back in its nest if you can find it. That being said, attempts to return a chick to its nest are usually unsuccessful. It is rarely the case that the baby bird has simply fallen from the nest. If it has been rejected from the nest, it will most likely be rejected again.
The general answer to this question is no.
The general answer to this question is no.
III. Should I hand-raise the baby bird?
Whether or not you hand-raise the baby bird is up to you. People often question the laws surrounding wild baby birds, but for the most part, the law does not care about any one particular bird. Taking the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center give the baby bird the best chance of survival. However, with the proper information and care, inexperienced individuals have successfully raised wild baby birds.
While the experience of raising an orphaned baby bird is highly rewarding, the process requires weeks of 24 hour care. Only someone willing to take on this type of commitment should do so. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with leaving the baby bird and letting nature take its course.
While the experience of raising an orphaned baby bird is highly rewarding, the process requires weeks of 24 hour care. Only someone willing to take on this type of commitment should do so. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with leaving the baby bird and letting nature take its course.
IV. Who should care for the baby bird?
While an adult should always be involved in raising the baby bird, older children and teenagers can be the primary caretakers provided they are responsible. The baby bird is not a pet that can be played with or cuddled and holding it often may stress it into illness. For this and other reasons, young children should not handle the baby bird.
Watching the baby bird grow is exciting and provides a sense of accomplishment. Anyone who has the time and attention for such a task can find this a rewarding experience. Figure 2 below shows the baby bird from Figure 1 grown up.
Watching the baby bird grow is exciting and provides a sense of accomplishment. Anyone who has the time and attention for such a task can find this a rewarding experience. Figure 2 below shows the baby bird from Figure 1 grown up.