We are volunteers who are exclusively devoted to rehabilitating NON-NATIVE species that other centers do not accept.
What to Do if You Find a Baby Bird
If You Find a Baby Bird With Little to No Feathers on the Ground
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
If You Find a Baby Bird With Little to No Feathers on the Ground
- Check for Injuries: Look for signs like bleeding, bruising, swelling, or insects. If anything seems off, call us immediately.
- Look for the Nest: If the bird appears healthy, search above for a nest—even in man-made structures. If found and safely reachable, gently warm the baby if it's cold, then place it back. Touching it will not cause abandonment.
- Can't Find the Nest? Check the ground for other babies or a fallen nest. If the original nest is destroyed or unreachable, click here for how to build a substitute nest.
- Watch for the Parents: Stay nearby and observe from a distance. If the parents don’t return within 2–3 hours, call us.
- Add a Safety Net: Place something soft beneath the nest. If the bird falls again, contact us.
Don't Give Food or Water
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
If You Find a Baby Bird With Little to No Feathers on the Ground
- Avoid feeding the bird. Baby birds have specific dietary needs, and offering the wrong food or water could harm them.
- They need a specialized diet that should only be provided by wildlife rehabilitators or bird rescue organizations.
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
- Don’t pick it up immediately. If the bird is hopping around and appears healthy, it may just be learning to fly.
- Parent birds are often nearby, watching over the baby and feeding it.
- If a healthy fledgling is in a dangerous area—such as on or near a road, in heavy foot traffic, or near a pet—you can move it to the closest safe place, but no more than 300 feet away.
Keep Your Pets Inside
Keep Your Pets Inside
If a Feathered Bird Is Hopping and the Parents Are Feeding It, Leave It Alone
- Keep your animals indoors to avoid frightening or harming the bird. Predatory pets like cats and dogs can pose a threat to vulnerable baby birds.
Keep the Bird Warm
Keep Your Pets Inside
Keep the Bird Warm
Warmth is crucial. If the bird seems cold or unresponsive, it may need help regulating its body temperature.
Steps to keep the bird warm:
1. Place a heating pad set to low beneath the outside bottom of the box.
- Maintain an ideal temperature of:
- 98°F for a featherless bird
- 94°F for a feathered bird
2. Line the inside of the covered box with a paper towel
3. Add a balled-up washcloth and/or wadded toilet paper for comfort and support
You can also do this if you don't have a heating pad:
1. Use a sock with rice: Heat a sock filled with rice in the microwave (about 30 seconds) and place it next to the bird. This will help provide warmth without overheating.
*You can monitor the ambient temperature with a meat thermometer. The birds belly should be warm to the touch in the palm of your hand.
Monitor and Wait
Keep Your Pets Inside
Keep the Bird Warm
- Observe from a distance: If you don’t see the parent bird returning, you can carefully monitor the bird from afar, but don’t rush to intervene unless necessary.
*The CDC has issued a statement declaring that bird flu is rarely transmitted from birds to people. However, we highly recommend washing your hands after coming into contact with any wildlife. *
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
- If you believe the bird is injured or abandoned, it’s best to contact us at (314)-665-2184. We have the expertise to care for the bird properly.
- Never try to raise or rehabilitate a baby bird on your own without professional guidance.
