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Helping Baby Birds
________________________________________________________
Posted: 6th June 2008
Photo: Baby Reed Warbler by Steve Botham |
Spring is the time of year when most baby birds start hatching out, and within a few weeks many will be leaving their
nests - often before they are able to fly.
They do this because the nest becomes too crowded, and having the chicks scattered about reduces the chance of the whole clutch being taken by a predator.
During this time, baby birds can give the impression that they have been lost and abandoned, and it can be tempting to pick them up and take them into care. But if you watch from a distance, you will see that the parents know exactly where their young are, and continue feeding and caring for their young for at least a week after they leave the nest.
If you listen carefully you'll often hear contact calls between the young birds and their parents.
If you find a baby bird which is unable to fly, it should be left alone unless it is obviously injured or in immediate danger from predators such as cats. Many baby birds are needlessly removed from their parents under the mistaken idea they have been abandoned. The parents are never far away and will return as soon as you leave.
If you can see the bird is in danger from road traffic or cats, then gently pick it up and place it on a high tree branch, very close to where it was found. A good tip suggested by the staff at Wildlife Rescue in Salisbury, is to put fallen youngsters into an old hanging basket or plastic plant pot with string tied round the rim - half filled with soft hay. The basket or pot can then be hung from a high branch and it will be safe from cats.
If the bird is still covered in fluffy down, rather than feathers, then put it back into it's nest where it can call to it's parents. Watch from a distance to make sure the parents return to feed it.
If you can see injuries, or if a cat has caught the bird, it will certainly need medical attention, and you should contact your local wildlife hospital for assistance.
In short:
Only pick up a baby bird if it's injured or in immediate danger from traffic or predators
like domestic cats.
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