I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found baby birds on the ground. This is a guaranteed panic attack for my eight year old daughter. “Where is the Mommy?!” The cat will get it!! We have to save it!” But honestly, nine times out of ten the bird will be fine.
Baby birds usually leave the next several days before they can fly. These fledglings hop around on the ground, jumping onto low branches as they wander. During this time, the parents continue to feed the baby bird. So if you see a fairly large baby bird on the ground, it is best to leave the bird alone.
If you find a bird that does not have parents feeding it, there may be a wildlife rehabilitation specialist in your area that can help. Furthermore, a veterinarian may agree to either help or provide you with a phone number for a local bird specialist.
A baby bird that is obviously too small to be out of the nest is probably very near it’s nesting home. Look up in the trees and in the bushes. Walk away and see if you can spot a mother bird swooping down to protect the it’s baby. This will give you an idea of the nest location.
Baby birds can be placed back in the nest, despite old wives tales that say otherwise. Birds have a poor sense of smell and will not stop feeding babies because “they smell like humans.” If you cannot find the nest, place the baby bird in a basket lined with leaves and hang the basket on a tree. Watch to see if the mother begins feeding the bird in the nest.
If you have come to an end of bird care resources, it is possible to take on the challenge of feeding a baby bird. Baby birds need protein. For a good baby bird food, mix 1 teaspoon cottage cheese, ¼ cup wet dog food, ¼ of a hard boiled egg yolk, ¼ cup ground beef, 1 teaspoon turtle food and 1 teaspoon sand or grit. You can freeze what you are not using within a day or two to keep it fresh. When the baby bird gets older you can feed it cut up bugs and worms.
To feed the bird, make sure the food is at room temperature. GENTLY lift the baby’s head up and tap the bill. The baby should open his or her beak wide. Feed small bits to the baby. When the baby is full the mouth will not appear gaping anymore. If you need to, you can gently place your hand over the back of the baby’s back and wings.
Keep the baby bird in a warm place, such as a small box with disposable soft paper such as paper towels.
Keep in mind, it is hard to hand feed a wild baby bird. Baby birds eat every fifteen minutes or so – so be ready and have lots of time. This is why it is best to call a rehabilitator or a veterinarian. You might also look up local bird breeders, who might volunteer to take on this responsibility.
I recommend getting a small bird cage — a “carrying” cage. They are very inexpensive (about $10). I keep one in my garage just in case I ever find a “critter” that needs my help. I found a baby bird in the back yard. The nest was too high to return the baby. I have dogs — predators, so I could not keep the baby in a homemade nest or basket. I tried but that did not work because the baby kept falling out. Finally, I thought of the cage idea and hung the cage from a shepherd’s hook (so cats, dogs and other predators could not reach). I put sticks and twigs inside — leaves on the bottom. I opened the small food door and propped with wire – and left a perch on the outside of the little door, but none near the inside (so baby would could not get near the open door). Also, I put large leaves over the top of the outside of the cage to keep wind and rain off of the baby. My hope was that the mother bird would respond to the baby’s chirps and come feed it. I was right. It took her about five minutes to figure out the door. She landed on the outside perch, hopped inside the open door and fed the baby. The baby was too young to figure out how to get out of the door. Dad came and fed baby, too. They kept baby fed until the baby was old enough to fly away. I found the baby high up in a tree about a week after I set the cage up. The cage kept predators out and baby in – worked like a charm.
AMAZING idea!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!! I never would have thought of that – now I am going to get myself a small carrying cage for that very purpose!