We found a baby bird on the steps leading up to our house. What should we do?

Question

It is still alive and it was nowhere near a nest. We havent directly touched it yet. Right now we are keeping it warm and it is sitting in a tissue.

Answer 1

take care of it and release it when it is able to fly

Answer 2

DO NOT touch it. If you do, it's mother might not come back. It's okay that you put a tissue to protect it and keep it warm but, just don't touch the baby bird. (If the mother doesn't show up soon, it's okay to pick it up with the tissue and find a birds nest, if it does not have the human smell on it, the mother bird of the nest might take care of it. It doesn't matter if it's the birds mother or not, that is nature...

Answer 3

NESTLINGS Baby birds that are naked for the most part (featherless or feathers just starting to come in) are considered to be "nestlings". These birds stay in the nest and the parents come to feed them there. These babies, when found, are usually on the ground directly below the nest. This occurs either because the baby fell out, blew out (common after wind storms), or was "pushed" out by a sibling. One must realize that this last behavior is actually adaptive for some species. This way, only the strongest of the brood survive and go on to raise young themselves.

What to do if you find a nestling that is out of the nest:

The best thing to do is to try to place the bird back in its nest if at all possible. If the nest cannot be reached for some reason, the following works very well. (This is also the procedure to use if you find the whole nest on the ground.)

Make a "makeshift" nest out of a clean Cool-Whip container or margarine dish. Make holes in the bottom of it to allow for water drainage. Line the bowl with paper towels. Then tack the makeshift nest back up in the tree as close to the original nest as possible. Finally, place the baby bird(s) into this and leave. The parents will usually come back in a short time and will feed the babies in it just like it was the original nest. (Often, you will see the mother going back and forth between each "nest", feeding both sets of babies.)

The only time we recommend bringing the baby birds in is if you KNOW 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 committment on the part of the foster parent.

What if I already touched the birds, the mother won't come back, will she?

People often believe this to be true and therefore think they need to keep the babies. This is simply NOT TRUE and is just an old wives tale. Birds in general have a very poor sense of smell (vultures are one exception) and will not mind the fact that you have handled them (but will be bothered by your presence by the babies).

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If you do find a REAL orphan or injured baby bird, please do the following:

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

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

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

Answer 4

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 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...

Answer 5

If the bird is fully feathered, it's a fledgling, and it belongs outside on the ground.

Baby birds fledge (leave the nest), before they can fly.  They learn from the ground.  While fledglings are on the the ground, the parents remain in the area, feeding and caring for them.

Unless they are injured or need to be moved to a safer spot in the same location, fledglings should always be left alone.

If the bird is a nestling, (bald, down or pin feathers) it belongs in a nest.  If you cannot locate the nest, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Check this link for worldwide listings:

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

In the US, rehabilitation is regulated by the Federal government and State DNR depts. Services are free to the public, as all native wild birds are protected by federal law.

There are several sites with listing of rehabbers, although the easiest way to find one is to search Yahoo! or Google for "wildlife rehabilitation + your state (full and abbreviated)". Also search on "DNR rehabilitation + your state".

You may be able to find a contact for a nearby rehabber through your local humane society, animal shelter, or police department.

Links are also available on these sites:

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

http://www.greenpeople.org/sanctuary.htm

http://www.iwrc-online.org/

http://wrcmn.org/public/default.asp

http://www.wildliferehabilitators.com/li...

Answer 6

uh.... collect a few sticks and put the tissue in the sticks. Give it sum water or food (nuts or worms.. EECH!). I prefer nuts.

Leave it outside dont touch it it may be rabid.

Answer 7

contact / take it to your local nature center.

Answer 8

go to pet smart and buy some chick feed and a serenge they feed frequently and dont make it to thick or to watery ..... its ccalled exact and all you do is put some in a small bowl and ad water till it is not to watery but not to thick.... hope it hellps god bless you !!!!!! GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

It probably won't make it....I have saved one recently and he didn't live.  I have heard that they usually don't.  There is a reason he isn't in the nest or flying around.  Something is wrong with him.  But it would be great for you to still try.  Put him in a shoe box of tissue or a washcloth.   Get some cat or dog food really soggy and chop it up.  Put some in the bottom of a Straw and place it in his mouth.  If he is weak blow lightly on the end of the straw start slow and see what happens feel free to email I will try my best to help.

Its too late to worry about not touching him.....His mom is long gone...you need to be mommy now

Answer 10

take care of the bird until its better and can fly again if you cant take care of it give it to someone who can let it go when its better and send me a pic my email is [e-mail]

Answer 11

take it inside and try to raise it, keep it alive when it can fly set it free, beacause u cant find the nest and if u touch it the mother wont take the baby.

Answer 12

pick it up with a towel or something put it in a box with breathing holes and bring it to the wildlife chapter of your local humane society.

Answer 13

Boil some rice and mash them up, then slowly with a dropper put the food into the bird's throat, untill there is a bubble near it's neck, or untill it struggles out of its place, then it should be fine. put him/her in a box like a shoe box or something, shread up some news paper or paper towls, lots of them, and put them in the box with the  bird and every two hours you need to feed it, and God will know exactly what to do with the bird, remember, when your hand is open to give, it is open to recive.

Answer 14

i would look up  information on the net on treatment of baby birds  here a vet site that may help .

http://www.petvets.com/petcare/birds.htm...

Answer 15

keep an eye out for it's mother,she may be chirping around trying to bring it food and if you're worried ring the rspb,

don't give it whole peanuts, it can choke.

Answer 16

I say it was trying to fly and got left behind.  Go put it on a limb in a tree and see if it stays.  Watch out for predators.