Help! I’ve Found an Injured Animal!
I found a very young bird with few or no feathers.I found young bird that has feathers, but cannot fly. Is he injured?
Will the parents reject the baby if I have touched it?
I tried leaving the baby outside all day and no parents returned.
I found a dead adult bird in my yard, I think this baby is an orphan.
Can I raise this baby myself and keep it as a pet?
I found a very young bird with few or no feathers.
Songbirds 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. These birds are called "nestlings," they should still be in a nest.
Sometimes, young songbirds 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 plastic berry basket, or a small box with holes poked in for drainage. Just line the box with paper towels and place it as close to the original nest site as possible. You can fasten the basket to a branch in the tree using wire or twist ties. If the nest was on a building, you can place the basket on top of a ladder leaning against the building. Place the baby bird into the new nest and stay away from the area, watching from a distance. In most cases, the parents will hear their baby calling and will return to feed it. The parents are not capable of picking up the baby, they will continue to care for it in the new location.
I found young bird that has feathers, but cannot fly. Is he injured?
After about 2-3 weeks, baby birds are ready to leave the nest. Their feathers have grown in, but they are not yet able to fly! At this stage, they are called "fledglings." They spend a few days on the ground, during this time they learn from their parents how to find food, what predators to be afraid of, and how to fly. Though you might not see them, their parents are nearby watching out for them. It is imperative that you leave these healthy babies where they are. A young bird that is raised by humans will never learn how to forage for food and avoid dangers such as cats, cars, and people as an adult. 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 like 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, thinking they need help when in fact they usually do not. The best way to help these young birds is to keep people and pets away from the area while the fledglings learn how to fly.
Will the parents reject the baby if I have touched it?
Touching a baby bird to put back into a nest will NOT cause the parent to “disown” it. Songbirds have a poorly developed sense of smell, and they will not be bothered by the scent of humans on a baby bird. The parents instincts to take care of their babies is very strong, and they are not easily discouraged.
I tried leaving the baby outside all day and no parents returned.
If after 24 hours, the parent has not returned to care for the bird, or if the babies are cold and limp, they will need to be rescued. Keep them in a dark cardboard box. 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.
Volunteers for Wildlife is located on Long Island. You can contact us for further assistance, or locate a wildlife rehabilitator in your area online.
I found a dead adult bird in my yard, I think this baby is an orphan.
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.
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. Futhermore, it is illegal to keep a native migratory species as a pet. 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 are licensed and 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
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.