Because we have pet or breeder birds, we often receive house or phone calls from friends and neighbors about a baby bird they found, or one that is injured. If a baby bird(s) is found on the ground, time is of the essence. Attempt to return it to its nest. Handling it is OK. (Parents will not abandon the bird if you touch it). The nest is probably nearby. If the nest is down with babies, try and put it back into the tree. Use wire to hold it up. If the nest is destroyed, make one of a small wire basket or old screen wire, and put in dried grass/leaves. Shape it for the young. Replace a branch where the nest is on the tree, or one like it. Nailing it is best. Watch from afar to see if the adults come back. The parents feed babies every 15 minutes or so. If they don't come back by then, you might have to adopt the birds yourself.
Getting the necessary heat: A nestling that appears lifeless will often respond to warmth. Place a plastic 
container on a heating pad and use the lowest setting, perhaps with paper towels shaped like a nest. Keep partially covered to allow heat to escape. 90° is good for featherless birds, 80° for partially feathered, and less for feathered unless the bird appears to be weak, wet, or chilled. Other things like hot water bottles can be used, but maintenance is more time consuming, and they do cool. Bird folks usually have items that can help. Change papers often, and don't place the box in the sun.
Getting the necessary food: Try to identify the bird (at the library or in your field guides) to get the proper diet. Use a slender-tipped eyedropper to give the bird warm water with a small amount of sugar. Place a drop at a time in the beak. Pause before offering more. If bird can swallow, give small pieces of soft foods (mashed and soaked Iams kitten chow, Science Diet) every few minutes, until it appears the baby is full.
Weak birds: Feed every 15 minutes until recovery, then every half hour, then every hour for 12 hours. Night feeding not necessary. Nestlings with eyes closed: Soft foods, raw ground beef mixed with baby cereal or hard boiled egg yolk, mixed to a consistency that can be picked up with a toothpick for feeding.
Not all birds eat worms. For fruit-eating birds: Add mashed apples, berries, grapes or raisins. Cardinals and Chickadees can have a bit of peanut butter twice daily. Give water from an eyedropper at each feeding. As babies grow, give more solid foods, fed by your fingers. Birds with eyes open may be frightened. Use your thumb and index finger, press gently on the base of the beak and it should open. don't use force, as it may cause injury. Be patient. It will work over time. If the bird is eating on its own, it may only need some water and food access.
Keep the bird clean, keep it from kids and out of sight of pets, quiet, and the box top screened and secure. Resist cuddling and other endearing activity. Return the bird to the wild as soon as possible near the place where the bird was found. If the bird has an injury that cannot heal, call a zoo or wildlife center for suggestions on what to do with it.Keep it separate from your regular caged birds.
Wild birds sometimes carry diseases, especially if they were stressed. Harming native birds in any way is illegal, as well as keeping or selling them as pets. Providing help in need is not illegal. If the bird is injured or an orphan, and there is a licensed rehabilitator or center in your area, you might want to get it to that person/place as soon as possible. don't get attached to it; worse, don't let it get attached to you.
Back to Newsletter HighlightsBack to Home Page