WILD BABY BIRDS
What should I do if I find a baby bird?
In the spring and summer, it is not unusual to encounter a baby bird on the ground. The immediate response of a kind-hearted human is to take the little “orphan” home and then try to figure out what to do with it. The intention of this information document is to assist you in what to do and most importantly, who can help you.
If the baby appears to be in good condition and too young (a “nestling”) to leave the nest, then the first thing you should attempt to do is locate, and if possible, return the baby to it’s correct nest. If the nest cannot be located then put the bird in a small container, flowerpot or basket up in a tree in the general area where the baby was found. The parents will not reject the bird because it has “human” smell on it. A “nestling” is a bird not yet fully covered by feathers and has some skin showing. It cannot yet stand on its own.
We human “good Samaritans” have to remember birds naturally look after their families. Finding a baby on the ground (a “fledgling”) is not always a sign of distress. “Fledgling” birds are fully covered with feathers even though the wing and tail feathers are still short and partially encased in sheaths as they continue to grow. Baby birds often hop around the ground for up to 2 weeks while the parents continue to look after them and until they learn to fly. Parent birds leave their offspring for brief periods of time to search for food. If you interfere then, the adults may return to find their chick has been taken unnecessarily when in fact they were looking after everything just fine. Human care or rehabilitation is only a substitute. Parental care is by far the best for a baby bird. Careful and patient observation of the young bird will prevent unnecessary separation of families or “bird-napping”.
What are the signs of an abandoned baby bird or one in need of medical attention?
Knowing the right time to take a baby bird into your care is based on certain signs that may indicate the parents are not around or the bird is in need of veterinary attention. The following is a list of guidelines or signs to help you make this important decision.
· blood from nose or beak, swelling or bruising around head indicating possible head trauma
· blood, obvious wounds or growths anywhere on the body
· limping, dragging or dangling wings or legs
· wings or legs protruding at abnormal angles from the body
· bird is using wings to move along ground or for support
· head tilts, persistent circling motions, twitching, spasms or apparent blindness
· bird is not moving at all, lethargic, listless, non-responsive to sound or movement
· gasping, sneezing, wheezing or other breathing difficulties
· mucous, blood or pussy discharges from eye, nose, ears, mouth or anus (vent)
· bloating
· no droppings over a period of several hours
· excessive feather loss or damage (not to be mistaken for the partial feather growth of a fledgling baby)
· cat has had baby bird in its mouth
If you have made the decision to take a wild bird into your care then it is crucial to keep it warm, in a dark, quiet, draft free location until immediate, qualified help is available. Do not attempt to force food or water into the mouth as the young bird could choke and the complications could prove fatal. The wrong type of food could do more harm than good.
Wash your hands well to help prevent the spread of parasites and disease to your family and pets.
Who do I contact for assistance in the care of the abandoned or injured bird?
It is best NOT to attempt this “good Samaritan” venture on your own. Despite your best intentions, there are trained people available to assist or take over the care giving roles needed to heal and rehabilitate the bird to enable it’s successful return to the wild. Large amounts of time, attention, expertise and space are needed for the young birds to learn flight, finding food and socialization. The goal is not to have a wild “pet” but to return the bird to a quality life in the wild where it belongs.
Please contact your local veterinarian immediately for directions to the qualified rehabilitators nearest you.
OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES
Before you intervene and pick that baby animal up… check these general guidelines to help you establish if that animal needs to be brought to a rehabilitation facility.
- Is it bleeding?
- Are the eyes, ears, nose; mouth and bottom end clear of any discharges or strong smells?
- Does it look ‘bloated’ around the abdomen or anywhere on the body?
- Visually split the animal in half – is one half noticeably different than the other?
- Are there any obvious wounds, puncture marks, scratches, lumps or swelling anywhere?
- Is it wet or oily/greasy looking? Does it have an unusual odor to it?
- Is one leg/limb ‘crooked’ in comparison to the other? Is it dragging a leg or both back legs?
- Is animal walking abnormally and not putting equal weight on all limbs or legs?
- Is it trembling, shaking or does it have its head tilted to one side?
- Is it walking in circles?
- If the eyes are open are they white?
- Does it make a ‘clicking’ noise when it breathes?
- Is it sneezing?
- Is it gasping for breath?
- Is it dehydrated?
- Is it cold to the touch, curled up in a ball, or shivering?
- Is it crawling with fleas, lice, ticks or mites?
- Are there maggots on it or in its eyes, ears, nostrils or rectum?
- Has it been in your cat or dog’s mouth?
- You have put the animal back where you found it and left it there (without hovering over it every few seconds) and returned 24-48 hrs later and it’s still there. (Please note with baby bunnies and baby deer that the mom only returns at most 2 – 3 times daily).
- It’s found with its siblings and/or parent and some, or all of them are dead.
- It was found in a swimming pool, under the hood of a car, or is stumbling around in the middle of a roadway in an area where there is heavy traffic.
If you have answered no to the above questions, the animal does not need any intervention from a human. If unsure you please call us (905) 623-4431.
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