Can I move a baby bird that is out of its nest?

Question

I found a baby bird in my backyard. It has feathers and I think it's a fledgling. I have 3 dogs and I don't want it in my yard because they'll kill it. I don't think it's hurt but it can't fly and hasn't really been hopping or moving around. There are a lot of trees in my yard and my neighbors' yards and I don't know where the nest is. Would it be safe for me to move it somewhere else?

Answer 1

if you touch the bird and it is still being fed by its mother, the mother will leave it if she detects the human scent. unfortunately i would leave it where it as and just watch your dogs when they go out.

Answer 2

Yes you can move it... it is just a MYTH about if you touch it!!

Answer 3

MOST birds have little to no sense of smell with a few exceptions (ie vultures etc), look it up if you like, so it WOULD be better to move it into a bush or put it in a basket in a tree just be careful the dogs dont get it. The mother will not abandon it simply because you touched it.

Answer 4

It's safe to move it to a safer place. Just not too far, so it's parents can find it. If you can get it in a tree, some will work their way back up into the branches where it is safe. Others just don't seem to get it. The parents won't care about a "smell" of human on it. They'll come to it when it squawks to be fed. Be careful, they will also come in a hurry if it squawks if fear. But then again, you'll also be able to tell if they're around.

Answer 5

HELP IT, don't ditch it....Call wildlife help center.

Answer 6

If You Find A Baby Bird

Is the bird injured (bleeding, broken bones, puncture wounds, been in a cat’s mouth, open wounds, etc.)?

If YES, take the bird to your nearest wildlife veterinarian or rehabilitator.

If NO, see below.

Is the bird fully feathered?

If YES, any fully feathered baby bird found on the ground, seemingly unable to fly, is probably just fledging. If it appears to be uninjured, leave the area, and do your best to keep pets and children away from the bird. The parent(s) will not feed the youngster while people are around.

If NO, attempt to find the nest. An uninjured bird found on the ground with little or no feathers needs to be returned to the nest. Look around in trees and bushes to see if you can locate the nest. Correct identification of the nestling or of the parents will help locate the nest (i.e. bluebirds are box or cavity nesters, morning doves build basket nests on horizontal branches or in a tree fork).

Can you find the nest?

If YES, simply put the bird back. However, make sure the young are warm to the touch. If the baby is not, you can simply warm the bird in your hands before returning it to the nest. Returning a young cold bird to the nest will sometimes encourage the parent to push the baby out of the nest, as it is trying to remove a cold object away from other warm eggs and/ or young.

If the nest is unreachable, construct a substitute nest of a similar size and shape (margarine tubs with drain holes punched in the bottom and filled with grass make fine substitute nests) and securely attach it as close as possible to the original nest site. Contrary to popular belief, the parents will not be frightened off by your "scent" and will return to feed the baby if it calls for food. If you want to be sure the parent(s) will continue to feed the baby, watch the baby from a safe distance, preferably indoors. Do not be alarmed if you don’t see the parent return. Typically wild animals will not return to the nest if you are visible and/ or in the area.

If NO, you can’t find the nest, construct a substitute nest in the place where the nestling was found. Watch from indoors to see if a parent returns (be patient, it may not happen immediately). If a parent for more than half a day does not visit the nest, contact a licensed songbird rehabilitator for advice.

Please give baby birds the best possible chance for survival and leave them in the wild where they belong! Never attempt to treat or raise a baby bird on your own. Despite your best efforts, most hand-raised birds will die.