Most baby birds found are NOT abandoned. Young birds spend a lot of time alone—this is true for most children in the wild. Do not just assume it is abandoned. You may need to observe the situation for a couple of hours or more. It is best to allow the parents to return and care for their young, if possible.

If you notice a baby bird who has fallen out of the nest you need to discern if it is a fledgling or a nestling. You most likely are seeing a fledgling—a baby bird partially feathered who is learning to fly by jumping or flying out of their nests.  They often sit on the ground below a tree. Fledglings do not need to be rescued unless they are visibly injured in which case you should call a profession. Nestlings on the other hand typically have no feathers or the feathers are just beginning to grow in. These birds are generally found directly under their nest. It is best to pick it up and put it back in its nest, if possible. If it is not possible then make a nest out of a clean food container, cut drain holes in the bottom and line it with paper towels. Gently place the bird inside and then place the makeshift nest in the tree as close to where the original nest is or was as possible. Do not worry about touching the baby bird. It is a common wives tale that most people believe if you touch a baby bird their parents will not care for it but this is simply not true. Generally birds have a poor sense of smell and are only bothered by their fear of you harming their babies.

The only time you should bring a baby bird in is if you know for certain that the mother is dead or if the babies are injured in any way. The natural parents do a much better job at raising their young than we could ever do. A baby bird that is featherless must be fed every 15-20 minutes from about sunrise to 10 pm! This obviously requires a large time commitment on the part of the foster parent.

If you find a genuine baby bird orphaned, please follow these three steps:

1. Get it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; the longer the delay, the less chance it has of surviving

2. Keep the baby bird WARM and in a quiet, dark place until you can bring it in (a small cardboard box works well)

3. DO NOT give the baby bird any liquids (they get all they need from their food and very often will inhale any liquid)

For more information on assisting wildlife babies please visit the WildLife Rehabilitation Information Directory.