It’s that time of the year when we get lots of calls for baby birds that are found on the ground and many people understandably believe they need help. For the most part, if the young bird is fully feathered like these Eastern Phoebes we found at the Wildlife Center, they are just fledglings, meaning they are in the process of transitioning from life in the nest to life out in the big wild world, while also learning how to fly. During this time they will often outgrow or overcrowd the nest (as you can see with ours here) and clumsily flutter to the ground where they’ll hop around and try to find cover while their mother continues to track them down and feed them. This is all a natural part of their growth and intervention is usually not necessary. If there is a direct threat from pets or a high traffic area, you may be able to help protect them or place them somewhere in that space that is safer. If the birds aren’t quite developed enough, perhaps still not having all their feathers or strong enough to perch on their own, you can place them back in the nest if accessible, or create a temporary nest using a wicker type basket (or something that can get wet but also drains, with some nesting materials) and hang it from a nearby tree or shrub to help reduce the threat of predators and allow the mother to continue feeding. Don’t worry about your scent, it’s a myth we were all told at some point that it will deter the mother, but always wash your hands when coming in contact with any wildlife.
If you are unsure of what to do or need assistance with an injured bird (or if you’re certain the babies are orphaned), please contact us for advice or your local licensed rehabilitator. We do not do any of the medical care or rehabilitation, but just help with rescues of species that might be difficult for the public to handle on their own and act as an information hotline to help direct what to do and where to go, taking some of the load from our partners who are busy caring for injured and orphaned wildlife around the clock. We know these situations can be stressful but please be patient and leave a message, as many are over capacity right now.
