Help! I’ve Found an Injured Animal!
Precocial Birds
Precocial
These birds are born with fuzzy down and can walk upon hatching. These baby birds follow their parents around after hatching but are able to feed themselves by pecking on the ground. They stay with their mother for warmth and protection. Birds such as ducklings, goslings, piping plovers and killdeer fall into this category. Precocial birds do not stay in a nest.
Please note: 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.
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 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