My daughter found a wild bird egg, what should we do?

Question

My eight-year old daughter found an egg in the landscaping of our apartment complex today. We don't know what kind of bird it's from but we live near the water, so we assume it's a wild duck egg or possibly Canadian goose egg. My daughter thought the egg was abandoned by its mother, and she was afraid raccoons might get it. So, unfortunately, she picked it up and brought it home in the hopes that we could 'rescue' it and hatch it.

Since then I've done a little internet research - and now I'm afraid we've broken the law! (Specifically the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1918, or something, which says it's illegal to take wild bird eggs away from where they were found.) I have very little hope we can successfully hatch the egg. Even if it did hatch, we would have no idea how to take care of a baby duck or goose.

I have tried to tell my daughter the best thing to do is put the egg back where we found it and hope for the best. Is it true that the mama bird might come back and care for the egg even though it has been handled by humans? Right now the egg is in a shoe box under a warm lightbulb (just like 'Roger' in that Spongebob Squarepants episode!). I honestly don't know what else to do. Should we put it back where she found it in the morning? Or perhaps give it to our local zoo to try to hatch it and raise it?

Hope someone can help!

.

Answer 1

Because you have handled it the mother will no longer take care of it. What you should do is call the zoo and ask them. They know more of what options you have there locally. Don't panic about breaking the law. Your daughter was just trying to help I'm sure people will understand. I hope you find a home for it! Good luck<3

Answer 2

Put the egg back. It's a myth that birds won't go back to the eggs after handling as long as it hasn't been too long since the egg was removed. Sometimes they "forget" that they laid an egg if they go there and it's gone. We regularly took eggs away from our generally wild turkeys/geese/ducks/peacocks and they didn't notice or care even when we replaced their eggs with chicken ones.

Answer 3

  now you're gonna be in big trouble. the bird egg police will see this and you'll have to build bird nests for the next 20 years.

Answer 4

It is a good possibility that the egg may have already been dead when your daughter picked it up, it may have been taken to that spot by a predator if it was not in a nest.   You can put it back where you found it..and there is a slight chance that the parents may come looking for it, this could be the first egg laid in a clutch and the female will be back to lay more.  They would not abandon due to you touching it..birds have a poorly developed sense of smell and would not know it was handled.  You could try and contact a local wildlife rehab..but they may not take in eggs, but only live chicks.  Look for a local rehab here if you need one:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact....

Answer 5

Put the egg back very close to where it was found. Some birds lay eggs on the ground or in fields and then move them later. If it still is not claimed, you might take it to a park or woods where such birds frequent, and some other hen may claim it. Female birds have a hard time resisting eggs.

It is definitely a myth that a bird will not claim its baby or egg if humans touch it. I've rescued many eggs and bird babies.  

Answer 6

Fry it sunny side up!

Answer 7

I would recommend that you contact your local wildlife rehab for advise.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact....

http://wildliferehabber.com/modules/xoop...

Answer 8

a zoo would probally be best, call a local one.

its probally not too good for you to raise it inside