I’ve found a baby bird outside its nest. What should I do?
During springtime and summer, birds in Western Pennsylvania build nests and raise young. While this goes on, you may discover a “baby” bird that is located outside of its nest. ASWP recommends these tips to help the bird remain with its parents:
- Birds grow very quickly and sometimes leave the nest before their feathers fully grow out. When possible, please leave the baby bird alone. That first flight doesn’t always go smoothly—and a bird doesn’t know how to fly until it gives it a try. A bird may flutter to the ground during its first flight. Parents are usually in the area and ready to help them if needed.
- Most birds have multiple chicks and the parents will split their time looking after their brood. If a baby bird looks to be at risk—if it is out in the direct sun or otherwise exposed to predators or danger—move the bird into a nearby bush or shrub. Try to use a bush near where you found the chick so that its parents may easily find it.
- It’s not true that a mother bird will abandon a chick that has been handled by humans. If you need to move a bird into a bush or shrub, the parents will continue to help it.
- Should you find a bird—or any wildlife—with visible injuries, please contact a licensed rehabilitator in your area. There is no need to contact a rehab center for a bird that’s simply fallen out of a nest.
Also, be on the lookout for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which are making their way back to our region. It’s time to put out hummingbird feeders now! Be sure to keep feeders clean and to change out the hummingbird nectar at least weekly (more often during hot weather). Read more about attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
