What To Do If You Find a Baby Bird

Oh my goodness!  There's a little bird on the ground.  I don't see any adult birds around.  Should I try to put it back in the nest, should I leave it alone and hope the parents find it?

The first thing you need to do is clear the area of children and pets.  Keep them inside until you can monitor the situation.  Some baby birds are on the ground for a reason.  Robins, for instance, are ground foragers.  So it makes sense that their offspring get used to the idea of being on the ground when they are very young.  That can be hazardous to their health, however, if predators are near.  If the baby bird is old enough, it will probably make its way to a nearby bush under which it can hide and be more camouflaged.

If on the other hand the baby bird has been pushed out by older, stronger siblings, that poses a different problem.  Putting it back in the nest will most likely end up with the same result.  Birds lay multiple eggs so that as many healthy and strong baby birds survive as possible.  You've heard the old saying 'survival of the fittest'.  Well, that applies to birds, too.  The youngster that makes the most noise and eats the fastest will receive more attention and therefore more food from the adult birds.  The more it eats, the stronger and larger it becomes. The weakest sibling is vulnerable to being forced out of the nest, and most often that is what happens.

Sometimes when a baby bird ends up on the ground, one or more of the parent birds will respond to the calls of its youngster and continue to feed it while it is on the ground.  Again, the survival of this little guy depends upon how well it can hide and stay quiet if and when predators come around. 

If the baby bird appears to be injured or abandoned, it is best to call in a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.   CLICK HERE for more information written by a wildlife rehabber.
Grandma Pearl

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