It's spring again, and that means baby birds are hatching, fledging, and exploring the world around them.
Each year from May through early September, the wildlife center fields hundreds of phone calls, most starting out with the words, "I found a baby bird...." and asking what to do. To answer appropriately, we must first get some important information.
We want the public to rescue injured, displaced, ill or orphaned birds, but we don't want residents to bring healthy youngsters to us. We can never take as good care of baby birds as their own parents can.
For some callers, this encounter is their first with wildlife. Most people want to help by doing something, but all too often, even the most well-meaning people do the wrong things and end up seriously compromising or even killing the youngster they desperately want to help.
First and foremost, we must identify what species the bird is to know what its diet should be, and babies are fed different foods than the diet of mature birds. Adult blue jays can eat sunflower seeds, but jay babies can't. Robin nestlings aren't fed worms, and tiny cardinals can't eat seeds until much later.
We also dispel the persistent old wives' tale, "If you touch a baby bird, the parents will abandon it." This is simply not true. If you must move a baby to a safer place (out of the street or into a neighbor's yard so your dog doesn't kill it), do so. Parents recognize their offspring the same way humans do - by sight and sound, and they'll hear, see and feed it.
Mockingbirds and blue jays are notorious for attacking pets and people that venture too close to their youngsters, but remember they're just being protective and aren't going to hurt you. Put the baby down under a shady shrub, and let the parents resume their duties. Within a few days, the little bird will be able to get itself to safety.
If you discover a baby bird, use common sense. Ask yourself some questions: is the bird injured? Does it have a lame leg or drooping wing? Is it bleeding, cold or listless? Is it sitting in the same spot for an hour or more? Are its eyes open or closed? Is it fully feathered?
Occasionally, people try to return a grounded bird to its nest. This is not always the best thing to do, unless the bird is still in the nestling stage - during this phase it may be only partially feathered or still have down, look sleepy, and can't survive without the warmth and feeding provided by its parents. If you can't reach or find the nest, the bird should be brought to the wildlife center immediately for proper care. Other signs of a bird in trouble are sitting still with eyes closed, fluffed-up feathers, head tucked into the shoulder feathers, panting, turning in circles, or it's cold to the touch.
Conversely, if a youngster is bright-eyed, alert and appears uninjured, in almost every case it should be left alone so its parents can tend to it. Remember that you won't always see the parents; they're off foraging for food or checking on other youngsters in different locations. If a youngster tries to run or fly away from you, it most likely doesn't need your help. Size up the situation and judge accordingly.
Also important is that fledglings don't return to the nest once they fledge. Putting them back virtually insures that they'll jump out again, possibly breaking a wing or leg. Leave these birds on the ground.
The most important thing we tell callers is that baby birds leave the nest before they can fly. This is natural and normal, and the most critical phase of their development. Throughout this period, lasting approximately two to five days, youngsters perfect their flying and other vital survival skills with their parents as role models. They learn how to forage and find their natural foods, hide from predators, seek cover during bad weather, and find safe places to roost for the night.
Human interference during this phase in the life of a healthy bird not only causes a major setback in their overall development, but also puts an added drain on resources at the wildlife center.
A good rule of thumb for any casualty of any species is keep the patient warm, dark and quiet. Don't allow anyone to handle it, and above all don't feed it anything unless you have talked to one of our songbird volunteers. The wrong food or diet will kill the charge you're trying to help.
If you need help, call us (799-2142) and we'll put you in touch with someone. We can't handle everyone's problems, but we hope that through education, people will make the right choices and always do what is in the best interest of the animal.
CAROL LEE is the executive director of the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Inc., firstname.lastname@example.org.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us