FOUND A BABY BIRD

Most baby birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to tamper with or remove nests or babies, or to keep any wild baby bird. If you have one in your possession, please follow the instructions below and contact us for more help.

Healthy nestlings can and should be returned to their nest within a reasonable time and their parents *almost always* accept them. Nestlings can *not* survive on the ground or in a box left outside. They must be very warm, either by their parent or with supplemental heat. If it is impossible to return the baby to its nest, keep them warm (~90 to 95 degrees). It is important to get the nestling(s) help quickly because they typically eat every 15 to 30 minutes, 14 hours a day. They will not last long if they are cold and go without nourishment.

With that said, put nothing liquid in an open beak!! Because the bird could aspirate, and feeding the bird when its not warm enough could be deadly.

Remember, getting the nestling back in their nest (or a make-shift nest) immediately is the key to saving the life of that bird.There are so many important key elements that enable the baby bird to form and develop properly so they are healthy and stealthy in the wild.

DO THIS:

Determine what is needed BEFORE acting. Most all the info you need is here on this site. It could be a hatchling which is critical to keep it warm in your hands if it's naked (without plumage), until it's re-nested. If it's fluffy and running around, it could be a fledgling or precocial baby that got separated or is waiting for parent(s), or in some cases an injured or compromised baby bird. All of these scenarios require very different actions.
Do what is necessary based on the type of bird, the development stage, immediate danger that it's in, and the most important basic need at the time, i.e., if it's cold, warm it up in your hands- if it's scared, protect it- all except if it's hungry give it water - no.
If you stop to see about a bird or animal that may need help, take the opportunity to give them what they truly need. The info is here and available.
Do warm them if needed with your hands, get them where they naturally and safely need to be based on the right information.
If after reading this site and following exactly the right steps to rescue a baby bird, do follow up with us so we can assist you in the next important steps so it is indeed a perfect rescue and the bird has every chance to thrive on their own.
Do keep them comfortable and safe.
Always feed on time and thru the 14 hr a day duration, while in your care - missed meals compromise the bird's metabolism and health causing development issues in organs, bones and plumage.
Do rescue from a cat or dog
Do give the parents time and space to continue care of the babies and keep pets at bay for a couple days.
Be kind and understand, the parents have up to 5 babies to feed and it takes time to find food and not get taken by a predator, compete for food with other bird parents and find food that isn't poisoned with pesticides.
Do feed healthy organic fresh and natural foods to all living beings. The natural way is to allow birds to forage on bugs rather than using pesticides.

DO NOT:

Give a baby bird water unless it's one or two drops with a dropper on the end of it's bill and ONLY if instructed to do so by a well trained and certified wildlife rehabilitation official.
Take it home and leave it while you go to work
Leave it in a box outside (other animals will get him).
Feed them some pudding like recipe from the internet.
Wait a week to reach the right info or officials
Leave a baby bird with a vet.
Leave with a friend who "has raised birds before".
Take it home, feed it when you can, the wrong diet, or keep it in an inappropriate container.
Release a baby bird without it's parents present - they can't forage...
Leave or keep in a cage, bucket or slippery container
Bring into a noisy place, around kids, pets or loud music, smoke etc.
Hurt or kill them, do medical procedures or assume you know what they need.
DO NOT put out sticky fly catcher,s or rat poison They kill much more than pests. Carolina Wren parents get caught in them every year.