What should I do if I find an injured Baby Bird?

If you find a baby bird/birds which have fallen out of the nest that are not injured and you can reach the nest, you can gently put them back into the nest and the mother will accept them. You can wear gloves to do this, but if you do touch them, it is fine. It is a wives tale that the mother will not come back.

If the nest is destroyed, but was in a reachable location, you can tie a basket to a tree branch near the area where the original nest was located. Put the old nest in the basket for the babies to sit in. Watch the nest for about 20 minutes to be sure a parent has found the babies and will take care of them.

Make sure that the basket you use is weaved such as an Easter Basket. Do not use a solid container as the babies will drown if rainwater cannot drain.

Make sure that the basket is protected above by branches or some type of overhanging. This will protect the babies from baking in the sun, or rainwater.

  • Determine by sight If the bird is injured. (i.e.) torn wing, blood on bird. mauled feathers.
  • If there Is no foreseen Injury, do not touch the bird for about 2 hours. Wait to see if parents are feeding It.
  • If parents are feeding the baby bird, leave it alone.
  • If the bird seems too small to be out of It’s nest or not fully feathered, and there are no apparent injuries, try to find the nest and put the bird back In.
  • If the nest cannot be located for small bird, put the bird in a covered box inside the house away from indoor pets. Keep In separate room and keep It warm. Place a heating pad underneath the box on WARM ONLY.
  • If it’s a fledgling and seems injured, put in covered box In the house away from Indoor pets preferably in a separate room.
  • Call your local Avian Rehabilitation Center.
  • If you cannot reach anyone Immediately, keep the bird under those conditions until you do.

What should I do if I find an injured Adult Bird?

  • Determine by sight If the bird is injured (i.e.) broken wing, bird cannot move
  • Find a box that closes large enough to accommodate the bird.
  • Use a towel or sheet.
  • Approach the bird from behind and throw the towel over the entire bird’s head and body.
  • Place hands on each side of the bird where wings are folded in. Pick up and place In the box. Remove towel.
  • Keep the bird in box in a dark and quiet area away from indoor pets so the bird will rest.
  • DO NOT keep the bird outside. Depending on the injury, the bird might not be able to regulate body temperature.
  • Call the Avian Rehabilitation Center In your area.

Birds of prey use their feet to grab. If possible. use heavy gloves, throw towel over the bird, then place in box or carrier. Herons and egrets aim for eyes. If possible. wear safety goggles or keep face away from bird.

If you cannot contact Avian Rehabilitation right away, keep bird inside until you make arrangements with local rehabber.