​Help! I found a baby bird!

American Kestrel young fledgling - wing feathers have grown in but still has lots of down - might be okay out of the nest if standing, hopping, and flitting.

Photo Credit: Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute

American Kestrel fledgling - has wing and tail flight feathers - almost ready to take to the air.

Photo Credit: https://www.nycaudubon.org/blog/president-s-perch-collaboration-for-a-kestrel

American Kestrel nestling - covered in only in down and pin feathers - needs to be put back in its nest.

Photo Credit: Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute

Congratulations! You found a baby bird! What now????

Don’t panic. Most of the babies found on the ground are new fledglings. They have flight feathers on their wings, a stubby tail, and may still have some fluffy down (see photos below). They can stand, perch, hop and flit around, but they may not be able to fly quite yet. This is a normal part of the bird’s development. It’s likely that they are being watched, protected, and fed by their parents. Leave them alone if they’re in a safe spot. If they're in danger, in the middle of a road for example, you can move them to the shoulder or put them on a low branch. Then step away and wait. The fledgling will call, and the parents will return when they feel safe. It might take some time because they probably have other fledglings to tend to on the ground as well.

If the baby is covered in fluffy down with no flight feathers or only stubs, and can’t stand, walk, perch or hop, this is a nestling that needs to go back to the nest (see photos below). Look around to see if you can find it, but it’s not always easy. Depending on the species, it could be in a small tree cavity, in the grass, or in a bush or tree buried deep in the foliage. It could be in a manmade object too. And if you can’t find it, you can put the nestling in a small open basket or box, with some soft grass on the bottom, securely attached to a low branch, and observe from a distance to see if the parents return to care for it. It could take some time if the parents are busy with other nestlings.

If you are concerned about the baby’s health – whether it’s a fledgling or a nestling – or if you don’t see any evidence of the parents, please place the bird in a well-ventilated covered cardboard box with newspaper or a towel on the bottom and call a wildlife rehabilitator for advice. A few photos will help the rehabber assess the bird’s age and condition and possibly identify the species. Follow the rehabbers instructions exactly. Do not provide any food or water. Doing so could kill the bird.

And please resist the temptation to care for it yourself – no matter how cute it is. First – it is illegal to care for wildlife without the appropriate federal and state permits. Second – young birds have the best chance of survival when they are raised by their own parents or foster parents of the same species. Without training, it is impossible to provide the specialized diets young birds need while growing and the result is metabolic bone disease that is untreatable. The good news is that young birds heal very quickly from injuries and many respond well to treatment for common avian illnesses. When placed with a licensed rehabilitator, the chances of even a sick or injured young bird being released into the wild are very high!

Finally, don’t worry about touching the bird. There is absolutely no truth to the myth that your scent will cause the parents to reject their baby.

Click here for contact information for wildlife rehabbers near you.