Care, housing and food all depend on the species, and age of the bird.  Each species is specific not only with where their nest is built, the size and shape and material of the nest, etc, but the diet they feed their babies.  Every aspect is unique and ultimately important for the development of the young.  If the nest doesn't support the babies properly, they could develop splayed legs, if there's fishing line in the nest, babies become tangled - the wrong diet or poisoned insects cause diseases.  Simply put, all the essentials that go into the caring for a baby bird are extremely important.  Some basics are listed here, but to properly care for a rescued bird, a trained and certified songbird rehabilitator is needed.  The intention here is to provide some helpful information to help sustain a rescued bird until help is found or the baby is reunited with it's parents.

​

Basics for nestlings:​

​

1. A cozy nest made from a soft pillow case or towel rolled around like a cinnamon bun, placed in a basket on a heating pad set on low, with a tent-like cover in a quite place with...

2. Place a thermometer beside baby, as it's snuggled closely so it's legs are in place under neath his body, with a constant temp of 100 degrees.

3. All food must be at least room temp - nothing sticky or runny. No recipes... whole foods close to their natural diet.  They often need hydration before food, but this is tricky. To hydrate, you need pedialyte, non colored, non flavored.  Only a drop on the end of it's bill, NOT IN AN OPEN MOUTH.  Never fluids in any open mouth - they will aspirate. Never leave food on their skin or feathers.

4. Most babies poop after their first bite of food.  have a tissue handy to grab it and toss it n the trash. No poop in nests please.

5. Once feedings start, they must be fed every 15-20 mins from 6;30am to 8;30 pm without fail.  No excuses.  Do not feed only when they chirp.

​

Basics for fledglings and injured birds:

 

1. No heat is needed, but a quiet nest in a basket with a cover on top is necessary.  They need to feel safe. If they are mobile,  use a laundry basket or pet carrier lined with a sheet and paper towels, some branches and foliage is helpful.

2. Fledgings need to be hand fed with twizzers their natural diet every 30-40 mins from 6:30am to 8:30pm, and maybe hydrated - see above info

3. Injured adults just need a tiny cap of water and food in a small container in with them