Baby bird in my front yard, what should I do?
There is a little bird in my front yard. She’s really fluffy and gray, and I know she’s just a baby because adult birds don’t have downy feathers like she does. I want to help her, because there is a tornado warning around our area, but I know enough about baby birds to know that if I get my human scent on her, the mother will never come back to feed her or teach her to fly. I already know she cannot fly because me and my dad just went out to get lunch, and when we left, she was on the sidewalk. Now she is in my yard, which is just a few feet from where she was before. It was raining while we were at the resteraunt, and if she were able to fly she would have flown away to find shelter. She also can’t fly away when I approach her to get a better look at her. I really love animals, and I can’t stand to leave her alone outside like that. What should I do??
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5 comments
Beth P on April 11, 2010 at 7:01 am
Ok. This bird belongs on the ground. It is called a fledgling and has just left the nest and will learn how to fly in a few days. The parent birds are above watching it and will feed it and warn of predators and such. It will know to take cover from the rain and wind on instinct alone. The parents will also communicate that to the babe. Keep your distance from the bird as to not upset the parents. Often they leave the babe in what they think is a safe place. They will find her no matter where she goes as they recognize each others calls.
zbear757 on April 11, 2010 at 7:01 am
leave it. let nature run it course. if you touch it then the mother will smell you and abandon it.
MikkiDeeJaje on April 11, 2010 at 7:01 am
Bring the bird into your home. Keep her in a cozy area that is not too cold nor not too hot. Make sure she can breath though. after you have done that, call a veteranarian for some help. You can feed her meanwhile. feed her little by little using something such as a srynge. If you do decide to care for this bird, you must call the nearest game warden to inform them. for it is illegal to care for wildlife.
c L on April 11, 2010 at 7:01 am
Put it back in the nest, if you know where the nest is. The "human scent" thing is a myth.
Is there a wildlife/bird rescue near you that you could call if you cannot locate the nest?
Dirt on April 11, 2010 at 7:01 am
I want to tell you that it is a myth that mother birds will not care for their young after humans handle them.