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Tips for Emergencies
What you can do if you found a bird in need
below please find some tips for emergencies and self help
Tips for emergencies
- If you find a baby bird:
If you find a baby bird, it is always best to return it to the parents. The adults will not hurt the young bird if you have touched it. They have no sense of smell and will not detect your sent. The parents have worked very hard to raise their family. They know each baby and each baby's voice.
When a baby bird falls from a nest and you can reach the nest, you should put it back. Be certain that it is the right nest. Make sure that the baby is healthy and not hurt.
Watch from a distance to see that the parents feed the nestling after you put it back into the nest.
A healthy nestling should feel warm. It should be active and alert, and have bright eyes. The tail will be less than 1/2 inch long. Baby birds are always ready to eat and may even beg to you for food!
If you find a healthy fledgling on the ground, you should keep people and pets away from it. A fledgling has more feathers and a longer tail than a nestling. It should be able to hop well. Hide and watch to be sure that the fledgling is being fed by its parents about every 30 minutes.
Please note: children should not handle wildlife. If you are a child who has found a baby bird outside of its nest, please get a grown-up to help you. Back to the top.
When a baby bird falls from a nest and you can reach the nest, you should put it back. Be certain that it is the right nest. Make sure that the baby is healthy and not hurt.
Watch from a distance to see that the parents feed the nestling after you put it back into the nest.
A healthy nestling should feel warm. It should be active and alert, and have bright eyes. The tail will be less than 1/2 inch long. Baby birds are always ready to eat and may even beg to you for food!
If you find a healthy fledgling on the ground, you should keep people and pets away from it. A fledgling has more feathers and a longer tail than a nestling. It should be able to hop well. Hide and watch to be sure that the fledgling is being fed by its parents about every 30 minutes.
Please note: children should not handle wildlife. If you are a child who has found a baby bird outside of its nest, please get a grown-up to help you. Back to the top.
- How to make a substitute nest:
If a hatchling or nestling has fallen and you can't reach the nest or the whole nest has come down, you can make a substitute nest.
Punch drainage holes in the bottom of a large plastic bucket. Place the nest and the babies in the bottom of the bucket. If you don't have the old nest, or if the old nest is wet, put twigs and dry leaves under the babies. Secure the bucket close to where the original nest was by nailing or wiring it in place.
The bucket should be at least 5-6 feet from the ground, and not in direct sun.
Then hide and watch to make sure that the parents feed the young birds. If the adults don't come for 3-4 hours, or if the babies are hurt, they will have to be raised by a Wildlife Specialist.
Back to top.
Punch drainage holes in the bottom of a large plastic bucket. Place the nest and the babies in the bottom of the bucket. If you don't have the old nest, or if the old nest is wet, put twigs and dry leaves under the babies. Secure the bucket close to where the original nest was by nailing or wiring it in place.
The bucket should be at least 5-6 feet from the ground, and not in direct sun.
Then hide and watch to make sure that the parents feed the young birds. If the adults don't come for 3-4 hours, or if the babies are hurt, they will have to be raised by a Wildlife Specialist.
Back to top.
- What to do if the babies are hurt OR if the parents are gone:
If a young bird is cold, weak, or bloody, it is hurt and needs help. A bird that limps, falls over, or has one wing that droops also needs help.
When you find a baby bird that is hurt or has not been fed by its parents for 3-4 hours, you should call a Wildlife Specialist.
Licensed Wildlife Specialists or Wildlife Rehabilitators know how to help wild baby birds that are hurt or sick. Rehabilitators also know how to raise baby birds if the parents are gone.
You can find the names of rehabilitators or wildlife clinics by calling the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Audubon Society, and most veterinarians.
Until you can get the bird to help, keep it quiet and warm on a towel in a box. Never give water or milk to a baby bird.
You should not try to raise the baby wild bird yourself. It is against the law to keep wild birds. They can die or be harmed by the wrong food or incorrect handling. Some may need medicine, or to be in an incubator. Most wild baby birds must be fed every 15 minutes for 12-16 hours a day!
Back to top.
When you find a baby bird that is hurt or has not been fed by its parents for 3-4 hours, you should call a Wildlife Specialist.
Licensed Wildlife Specialists or Wildlife Rehabilitators know how to help wild baby birds that are hurt or sick. Rehabilitators also know how to raise baby birds if the parents are gone.
You can find the names of rehabilitators or wildlife clinics by calling the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Audubon Society, and most veterinarians.
Until you can get the bird to help, keep it quiet and warm on a towel in a box. Never give water or milk to a baby bird.
You should not try to raise the baby wild bird yourself. It is against the law to keep wild birds. They can die or be harmed by the wrong food or incorrect handling. Some may need medicine, or to be in an incubator. Most wild baby birds must be fed every 15 minutes for 12-16 hours a day!
Back to top.
- How you can help prevent problems for the birds:
We can help our wild birds in many ways. It is important to leave nests alone, and keep pets away from the babies. Baby birds will jump out of the nest too early if disturbed.
Keeping cats indoors, especially during the day in the spring and summer will save many birds.
By waiting until fall to remove bushes or dead trees, you can help a nest of baby birds to fledge.
Back to top.
Keeping cats indoors, especially during the day in the spring and summer will save many birds.
By waiting until fall to remove bushes or dead trees, you can help a nest of baby birds to fledge.
Back to top.