What to do if you find…

Baby Birds

Please follow these steps to determine what to do when you find a baby bird on the ground.

If you see a feathered, non-flying young bird on the ground, observe it from a distance. You may discover a wary parent nearby. Many species of birds give their babies “ground training” before they can fly. If a bird parent is seen and there are no cats around, leave the young bird alone.

If you find a non-feathered baby bird, and it is uninjured and seems healthy, try to put it back in its nest.  The parents will not reject their baby just because you’ve touched it.

(Additional tips for reuniting baby birds with their parents.)

1. If you find a baby bird, and it is

• injured, or
• seems unhealthy, or
• is being stalked by a cat,

it’s time to bring it to Native Animal Rescue.

2. Warm a cloth by putting it into the microwave oven for less than 30 seconds. Place the warm cloth in the bottom of a paper bag or small box with ventilation holes and a box top.

3. Gently place the bird in the bag or small box and close the lid.

4. If you don’t have these supplies, have a friend keep the bird warm in their hands while bringing it to NAR. Keeping a baby bird warm is of vital importance to insure survival.

5. Bring the bird to Native Animal Rescue following the directions below.

Injured Mature Birds

1. If you find a mature bird that was captured by a cat or dog, flew into a window over 45 minutes ago, or has an obvious injury (blood, drooping wing, wing held out from body, leg injury, limping), do the following:

2. Warm a cloth by putting it into the microwave oven for less than 30 seconds. Place the warm cloth in the bottom of a paper bag or small box with ventilation holes and a box top. Keeping a bird warm is of vital importance to insure survival.

3. Gently place the bird in the bag or box and close the lid.

4. Bring the bird to Native Animal Rescue following the directions below.