Baby Bird Care

1. If the bird in uninjured and has some feathers, put it in the nearest tree. It is a fledgling, and the parents are close by. The parents have no sense of smell and will not know it’s been touched. If it can’t perch and has fallen out of the nest, put it up in the tree in a small basket or box lined with shredded tissue. Parents WILL feed it after people leave.

2. If the bird runs around and is chick-like (covered with short, fuzzy down), it may be a baby Killdeer. These birds nest on the ground and the parents fly off when people come near. Leave the immediate area and wait to see if the parents return—you may have to wait up to an hour or so.

3. The bird needs help and should be picked up if:

· The parents are dead

· The bird if newly hatched and the nest mates are out of reach

· It has an injury

· A cat or child has brought it in from places unknown

4. If the bird is uninjured or has no feathers, it is most important to get it warm. Use a heating pad on warm or a low wattage light source to warm the area you have contained it in (i.e. box with proper ventilation and a blanket). Fractures need to be set within 48 hours or they heal incorrectly and may become infected. Contact a vet if this is the case.

5. Cat-caught birds require immediate attention. Oral antibiotics must be administered as soon as possible to counteract the high bacteria levels in cat saliva. Amoxicillin or injectable Ampicillan antibiotics should be given immediately. Consult a wildlife rescue centre or your veterinarian.

6. Window collisions may only need rest. Put the bird into a covered box and place in a dark, quiet spot for an hour or two. Birds usually recover from the shock and are able to fly.