birdsoup

Every spring, I receive many concerned phone calls saying “I found a baby bird.  What should I do with it?”  Before responding I ask a simple question:  Does it have feathers? 

If the baby bird has feathers, it is fairly mature and its parents will probably be around.  The best thing to do is just to leave in alone.  You may want to move into shrubs instead of leaving in the center of the lawn where every passing child or pet will easily see it.  The parents are probably around and will continue to feed it.  In fact, sometimes, the parents kick the kid out of the nest inplying that the nestling that it old enough do things for itself. 

If the baby doesn’t have feathers, it may have fallen from a nearby nest.  Try to find the nest and put the baby back in the nest.  Don’t worry about the old wives tale that the parents will smell humans on it and ignore or kill the nestling.  Birds don’t have a good sense of smell.  And they will continue to be good parents.

If all this fails, you can try raising the poor young thing yourself.  (One older gentleman told me he found and raised a young cardinal eight years ago.  He still has it.  Calls it Rosie.  Rosie sits on his shoulder and responds when he says “give me a kiss”)  I don’t recommend this approach. 

I have a list of certified Wildlife Rehabilitators in the local area.  I’ll can put you in touch with one of them and they can nurse your poor little orphan.  It always warms my heart that some people are so concern over a baby bird.  Most people are good.