Urgent: How do you take care of a baby bird?

Question

He is a fledgeling, but can't be returned to his nest as I do not know where it is and he already has had human contact (he fell down our well, parents were calling him but we've no idea where he came from). He is in a shoebox right now and has rejected food (bread soaked in water). He does NOT appear injured, can glide a foot or two; just seems really scared (obviously). He also seems pretty alert.

My main concern is his eating. I want to take care of him until he can fly, then release him. I just want to be very careful with him in every way possible. So if you have ANY suggestions please please please reply!

Answer 1

Dont feed it and dont give it water. If you do the bird will die.

Just leave it alone and call animal control.

Answer 2

dig up some worms and call an animal service.

Answer 3

You have to feed it worms. Take it to a vet or an animal shelter, they might be able to help.

Answer 4

a similar thing happned with me last summer, we called animal control, but they would not take it because it already had human contact, it may be different in your area though. Just incase they dont take it, it may not be eating because it is not weaned yet, warm up milk, just a little bit, get a cloth and twist it at one end so it looks like the cap of a baby bottle, dunk the tip in the milk and hold it above its head. You also are going to teach it how to fly once it gets used to you. Have it step on your index finger and gently wave your arm up and down until its wings start to move. Do try animal controll first though!!!

Answer 5

Fledglings can't fly.  That's why they are called fledglings.  To fledge means to LEAVE THE NEST.

I know it's tough to wrap your head around the concept, but you did not rescue this bird.  You took it from it's parents, who know how to care for it.   They were right there.   What is wrong with you?

You don't have a clue what you are doing.  You have made every possible mistake.  And the bird will pay for your arrogance.

And you wonder why the bird won't eat.  When is the last time you saw a bread tree?   Do you realize that the yeast in that bread will kill your precious little bird?  

ps...Birds have no sense of smell.  THEY CAN'T SMELL HUMANS.  That is a fact.  If you were educated about birds, you would know this, too.

I have a suggestion.  Return the bird to it's parents or give to someone who has the authority and ability to care for it.   That person is not you.

You are causing great harm to this bird, and you refuse to even acknowledge your own ignorance.   No one with an education, who understands wildlife, would ever take an uninjured fledgling out of the wild.  

You are breaking federal wildlife laws.  Up to $15,000 and 6 months jail time if you are caught.  

§ 703. Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful

(a) In general

Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or eggs of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or part, of any such bird or any part, nest, or egg.

by the way - you should have learned your lesson with the first birds you killed.  You're going to do the same thing to this bird.

Answer 6

To be a responsible human being and if you really care for the birds life - call the RSPCA asap.

Answer 7

raw hamburger, not bread, try to cherp and make different soft noises to make him open his mouth and drop a little in, also a mixture of warm oatmeal and cream corn, drop a little off the tip of a small spoon into his mouth, only a drop or two for each meal, he will soon get the idea and start to cherp and open up when he is hungry. this may include at night.  put washcloths in the shoebox with him so he can stay warm. you are now mommie.  try and find a bird cage, dont  put no bars in yet he sounds to young to sit up on them.

Answer 8

If the bird is fully feathered, it is most likely a fledgling and has left the nest on it's own and it's parents are caring for it. It does NOT need to go back to the nest.  It is normal for birds to leave the nest before they can fly. You need to replace it where you found it..preferably in a scrub or tree so it is relatively safe from predators, and the parents should come back to feed it. If it is unfeathered...then look for a nest and if you can find it...replace it into the nest. Do not worry about your scent being on the chick..birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell and will NOT reject a baby that has been touched. If you cannot find a nest, get the bird to a local wildlife rehab for it's best chance of survival. Also, keep in mind, it is illegal for you to try and raise this bird on your own. Look for a rehab here:

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

Do not feed it bread, worms, or milk...you can easily kill this bird by feeding it the wrong thing.  Even giving it water can easily drown it if you are not experienced...get this bird back to it's parents.

Answer 9

Just keep him as comfortable as possible.  He will die, as wild birds usually cannot live in captivity, especially babies.  It will not be your fault if he dies.  You would have tried hard to keep him alive.

Answer 10

NEVER feed worms..... if it is a fledgling put it in a tree closest to where you found it, then watch to make sure it is safe and make sure the parents come back.  If not contact a wildlife rehabber in your area. A baby bird can be fed soaked dog food to the consistency of oatmeal, an older bird may need to have it's mouth gently opened to be fed, use the end of a stir stick or a straw cut to a spoon, NEVER put liquid in a birds mouth it can cause aspiration pneumonia which is fatal without antibiotic treatment, do not use a syringe.... I have raised baby birds and have gotten all my info from starling talk.  This is the place to go for all the help you need. There is a forum you can join too.

NEVER feed raw hamburger to a bird, don't even feed cooked..... never feed bread either as it expands........NEVER feed milk

Also if the bird has imprinted on you it is not releasable as it will not know that a bird is of it's own kind and will never survive on it's own in the wild, it will never join a flock, nor will it be able to find it's own food....

Answer 11

mash up a worm and put it in a tiny cup, lay it on the ground... try whole worms too. that should be all he needs...