Tag Archives: wildlife rescue

Found a baby bird orphan?

Whew, baby animals are so hard to take care of! Their little stomachs are delicate and small, so we need to be careful what we feed them and feed them often (as often as every 15 minutes if they’re weak). Baby birds are the most delicate of all wildlife we might find orphaned, because birds are so different from us we can’t even imagine what they should be eating or how to give them liquids without drowning them. We definitely need the advice of experts to make sure we’re helping – not harming – them.

Experts share advice through websites and you can reach out to avian rehabilitators in your area too. Some will agree to look at a photo of your foundling and then share personalized handling and feeding tips with you by phone. If your bird is lucky, it will be identified as something fairly exotic and a wildlife rescue individual or agency will offer to take it in and raise it to adulthood. Otherwise, you will need to care for that little guy yourself. Avian rehabilitators are all situated in rural areas, too, so be prepared to drive 1/2 hour to 3 hours to get your little friend to an expert caretaker, if handing her over seems to be the best or legally indicated course of action for you.

Most important tips are:

  • Keep the baby bird warm, but don’t overheat it
  • Keep body supported – as they’re too easily breakable
  • Feed every 30-60 minutes during daylight hours (15 min. intervals for very weak birds).

The Smithsonian National Zoo gives these instructions on caring for nestling baby songbirds

Babies with no feathers, a little fuzz, or pinfeathers need a soft, snug, cup-shaped nest of tissue in a small container—don’t use cotton, grass, or existing bird nests. The cup shape is necessary to support their bodies, sprawling may cause them injury. Plastic berry containers make an excellent framework for a tissue nest and are easily cleaned. Warm chilled nestlings in your hands, then put them in the tissue-nest container and put it on a heating pad (low setting) or hot water bottle or under a light. Never put them in direct sunlight—they may overheat. Put the nest (and pad) in a larger box for safety. Handle the birds only when necessary. They should always feel warm to the touch.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Facts/FactSheets/emergencycare.cfm

The Animal Rehabilitators Alliance of New Jersey says:

If you find a baby bird/birds which have fallen out of the nest that are not injured and you can reach the nest, you can gently put them back into the nest and the mother will accept them. You can wear gloves to do this, but if you do touch them, it is fine. It is a wives tale that the mother will not come back.

If the nest is destroyed, but was in a reachable location, you can tie a basket (open weave) to a tree branch near the area where the original nest was located. Put the old nest in the basket for the babies to sit in. Watch the nest for about 20 minutes to be sure a parent has found the babies and will take care of them.

http://animalra.com/animal-emergency-rescue-information/birds

Jim Six writes in a nj.com article:

You could, without a permit, hand raise a starling or a house sparrow, neither of which is native … It’s messy and noisy and a 16-hour-a-day job. Parent birds feed their babies more or less constantly during daylight hours, for the few weeks it takes to do the job. Most humans have other things to do.

Here are starting points for finding an Avian rehabilitator in New Jersey. Always remember to ask anyone you have the chance to speak with if they know of someone closer to your geographical region. Do not attempt to drop off birds or other wildlife anywhere without making prior arrangements.

Let me know if this information was timely and helpful, and good luck!