Help! I’ve Found an Injured Animal!
Altricial Birds
These birds are born without feathers, their eyes are closed, and they rely on their parents for warmth and food. Babies at this stage need to be fed every 15–30 minutes, from sun-up to sun-down. Birds such as American Robins, Northern Cardinals, and Blue Jays are examples of altricial birds.
Sometimes, altricial birds fall out or are blown out of their nest. If that happens, the best thing to do it put the baby back into its nest. If you are unable to reach the nest, that’s OK! You can make a makeshift nest out of a berry basket (like you’d get in a supermarket), or a small box with holes poked in for drainage). Just line the box with paper towels (grass or leaves in the nest is not a good idea because they can retain moisture, which can chill the babies). Then, take wire or “twisty ties” (as you would find in a baggie box or Home Depot) and fasten the basket (now a makeshift nest) to a branch in the tree. Place the displaced bird into the new nest and stay away from the area, allowing the parents to return and care for the bird.
Please note:
- Touching a baby bird to put back into a nest will NOT cause the parent to “disown” it.
- In most instances, both parents care for their young. So if you find a dead parent that you think is caring for that nest, it is likely that the remaining parent will continue the role in caring for its young.
If after 24 hours, the parent has not returned to care for the bird, or if the babies are cold/limp, they will need to be rescued. Keep them in a dark cardboard box with holes punches in for drainage. Place the box partially on top of the heating pad, set on low, so that the animal has the opportunity to move to the part of the box not on heat if so desired. If you do not have a heating pad, you can fill a rubber glove or plastic bottle with warm water and place it in the box. Be sure to get the animal to help before the water gets cold.
Nestling vs. Fledgling
In late spring throughout the summer, we get a tremendous amount of calls about birds that are found on the ground, unable to fly. We hope that this will give you some clarification of what actually needs rescuing.
A nestling is a bird that should still be in a nest. They can be identified by either being completely naked, with eyes closed (technically called a hatchling), or by having some feathers. Sometimes, you will see feathers encased in a shaft with feathers poking out of the end. Birds this age should be returned to the nest or placed in a makeshift nest.
Hatchling
Nestling
After a certain amount of time (9–16 days, depending on species), baby birds leave the nest. This is a normal part of their development and must be respected. They spend a few days (up to a week) on the ground, learning how to forage and how to fly. Though you might not see them, their parents are nearby watching and helping them grow. It is imperative that you leave these babies where they are. We understand this is hard! There are predators in the area, and danger. However, the only way they can learn how to deal with these dangers is from their parents. Removing them from the situation only puts these birds in harm’s way when they are released, as they have no idea of what is dangerous. Placing a fledgling bird back into a nest if futile; they will only jump out again. A nest is not a home; it is more of a crib. One purpose in leaving the nest is to avoid predation, as predators (cats, raccoons) can find babies in the trees as well as on the ground. Well-meaning people take these adolescent birds by mistake. If you want to help, keep people and pets away from the area while these youngsters learn how to fly.
If the bird you have found is a pigeon, starling, sparrow, escaped pet, farm-type bird, or otherwise non-native species, see our Exotics page for more information.
A Note About Keeping Wild Birds as Pets
Volunteers for Wildlife receives many inquiries regarding people who would like to raise a young bird themselves at home, and/or keep it as a pet. Please be advised that it is not in the best interests of the bird (or yourself) to do this. Young birds grow rapidly, and they have very specific nutritional needs at each stage of their lives. Consequently, even a short period of time in which they are not being given the proper food can be disastrous to their health and development. There is no commercially available handfeeding formula that is appropriate for all species of wild birds! Do not be fooled by what pet store employees may tell you, or what package labels claim (they're just trying to sell you something!). Wildlife rehabilitators have the training and resources that allow them to provide the best nutrition to young birds at every stage of their lives, to ensure they will grow up into healthy adults. For more information, please see our full series of articles on keeping wild animals as pets.
If you are interested in raising and caring for orphaned birds, you might like to pursue a wildlife rehabilitator's license. Here are links to information on becoming licensed in New York State and beyond.
NYS DEC Wildlife Rehabilitation Licensing
Becoming a Wildlife Rehabilitator