What should i do with the baby birds?

Question

We have a birds nest in our bush in the front of our house. When i got home today the birds nest had been knocked out of the tree and two very little baby birds were laying on the ground. They were still alive so my dad went inside and got a paper towel and put the two babies back in the nest and put the nest back in the bush. Will the mother still take care of the birds? Because i heard that if they have a human scent on them the mother will abandon them. If they do not feed them anymore, what can i do? What do you feed baby birds? Thanks!

Answer 1

If you don't think you can take care of them take them to a sanctuary and they will take care of them. What you feed them all depends on the type of bird that they are. Whatever you do, don't give them anything with milk in it... I was given advice once to mix soft dog food and milk, but then we took the baby bird to a sanctuary and the woman there said it would kill it.

Answer 2

as long as he did it w/ a paper towel, they should be ok

Answer 3

If the mother is sitting up at the tree. She's observing the babies. She should come back.

That happened to us, with a baby western scrub jay.  The baby fell off a tree and we couldn't put it back in it's nest. It was too high.

There are cats around, so we ended up taking it in at night and putting in a cage.  In the AM we'd bring him out and it would start crying.  Mom and Dad would feed it and take care of it during the day.  In the evening we'd see the cats roaming around so we'd bring it in.  This went on for a week, until one day it just started flying away with the parents.

If for some reason you don't see the mother, I would call the humane society and they might give you a telephone number for the organization that takes care of injured wild birds.

I would just observe and make sure the baby birds aren't in any danger.

Answer 4

Well, I don't know about the whole scent thing but all you can do now is hope the mom will come back...without the mom the babies will probably die...and I am NOT typing this casually because I am a bird lover!! Don't turn them in but call animal control and ask for advice, they'll guide you through! Hope my advice helps!

Answer 5

the whole scent thing is untrue. the mom shuld come back

Answer 6

Don't worry, that's just an urban legend.  The parents will return and continue to take care of their children.  You did a good job in returning the young to the nest, and the nest to the site.  

I can promise you that they will continue to feed the chicks.  The parents will return as long as their chicks are still there; and as long as any predators (humans) stay out of sight.

Good luck!

--Phoenix

EDIT;; As for taking it to a vet or local bird rescue, don't. THe parents can take care of the chicks better than any human, even one that's been trained.  Watch the nest for a few hours; the parents should return.

EDIT;; yes, it should mean that the parents have located the nest and know where it is.  Watch for another few minutes; if she flies away, dont' be alarmed.  It could just mean that shes looking for food.

Answer 7

Your father did the right thing.  The parent birds should return to the nest.

The birds in your back yard have a poor sense of smell.  They rely on sight and sound to identify their babies. They can't smell humans, and will not reject eggs, nests or chicks because they have been touched.

***

Please stay away from the nest.  The parents will not return if predators, including people and pets, are in the area.

Answer 8

That bit about human scent is untrue. Birds have a terrible sense of smell. But they might leave the babies because they see or hear you there. If they fall out again, or if the parents do not return, take them to a vet or to a local bird rescue. They will know what to do and give you the best advice.

Answer 9

If you notice that the mother bird isn't taking care of them, like if they are chirping all of the time then you should being them to the audobon society