What to Do if You Find an Injured or Baby Bird

Injured or Baby Birds

Injured Birds

First of all, remember that it is extremely stressful for a bird to be handled, so before doing so be sure that it is worth it depending on their injuries. It may be good to wear gloves if you are planning on catching a bird.

Catching the bird may be very difficult. Only if one of the wings is injured is it often possible to catch them without having them fly away. When you handle the bird, you must be gentle but doing so firmly with confidence. Small birds such as Blackbirds can be held in one hand. Place your other hand over the bird so that it’s head peaks out of your fingers. The rest of the fingers wrapping around them.

Birds that are too big to fit in one hand are best held with two hands, with one over each wing. Any large birds should be caught and handled by an expert, or risk injury to yourself. Once you have caught the bird, give it a quick visual check over. Then place them in a well-ventilated box. This darker environment will help calm the bird. Once the bird is safe and in a box they should be immediately taken to the nearest vet, RSPCA, or rescue center. So that it can be treated by experts.

Baby Birds

The first thing to consider is whether they have all/most of their feathers or not.

Baby Birds with All/Most of Their Feathers

You may find a baby bird sitting or hopping around on the ground with no signs of their parents around. However, don’t be concerned and stay away from them. It is perfectly normal for a fledgling to be in this situation as they have left the nest deliberately before they are able to fly.

For most birds, it takes a day or more for their flight feathers to grow enough, and spend their time grounded instead. It is extremely unlikely that a fledgling will be abandoned by their parents. Although you cannot see them, they are most probably around somewhere. They may be looking for food, observing from a distance, or even scared of the environment the fledgling is in, maybe because of your presence!

Always leave fledglings where you found them and don’t handle them. 

The parents should feed the bird although it is on the ground, observation is the best solution here. The only circumstances in which you can handle the bird is if it is injured, or that its parents are definitely not around. If you find swifts, swallows, or house martins on the floor they should be handled as they are never usually found on the ground.

Baby Birds with No/Very Little Feathers

If the baby bird is unfeathered or covered in nesting, and has clearly fallen out of a nest by accident, then it may be possible to put it back. Only do so if you can be certain that it’s the right nest and they are otherwise healthy. If the bird is unhealthy then as cruel as it sounds. It may have been ejected by the mother as to concentrate more on her other birds. However, if this isn’t possible then take the bird to your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center.

Baby Birds in Danger

However, you may find the baby bird in a dangerous situation such as on a busy road. In these cases moving the fledgling is required, but they should be placed somewhere safe nearby, at least within hearing distance.

Birds have a poor sense of smell. So you’re scent on the bird won’t usually stop the parent from caring from it.

If the fledgling is on your property and you have pets that may interfere with it. Then please keep them inside until the situation has resolved. Domestic animals should always give way to wild animals.]]>