I’ve found a baby bird outside its nest. What should I do?
During springtime and summer, birds in Western Pennsylvania build nests and raise young. While this goes on, you may discover a “baby” bird that is located outside of its nest. ASWP recommends these tips to help the bird remain with its parents:
- Birds grow very quickly and sometimes leave the nest before their feathers fully grow out. When possible, please leave the baby bird alone. That first flight doesn’t always go smoothly—and a bird doesn’t know how to fly until it gives it a try. A bird may flutter to the ground during its first flight. Parents are usually in the area and ready to help them if needed.
- Most birds have multiple chicks and the parents will split their time looking after their brood. If a baby bird looks to be at risk—if it is out in the direct sun or otherwise exposed to predators or danger—move the bird into a nearby bush or shrub. Try to use a bush near where you found the chick so that its parents may easily find it.
- It’s not true that a mother bird will abandon a chick that has been handled by humans. If you need to move a bird into a bush or shrub, the parents will continue to help it.
- Should you find a bird—or any wildlife—with visible injuries, please contact a licensed rehabilitator in your area. There is no need to contact a rehab center for a bird that’s simply fallen out of a nest.
Also, be on the lookout for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which return to the Pittsburgh area around mid-April. Be sure to keep feeders clean and to change out the hummingbird nectar at least weekly (more often during hot weather). Read more about attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
