It is not uncommon to find baby birds
on the ground during the spring and summer, and everyone's first
thought is to rescue the little thing. Before stepping in, however,
first determine if little Tweety Bird really needs help.
Part of the process of learning to fly is to flutter out of the
nest and land on the ground or in a shrub. For the next day or two
the fledgling will practice take offs and aim for a higher landing.
They quickly achieve the basics of flight and are safely on their
way.
A fledgeling can be recognized by the fact that it has feathers.
Younger nestlings do not. Skimpy feathering may indicate he may be
younger and may need a bit longer to get airborn. Fledlings can
perch on a branch or finger, nestlings cannot.
Minimal intervention is needed by fledglings. The parents are
nearby and will continue to feed it. They will avoid drawing
attention to the baby, so you might not see them. The greatest help
you can provide is to keep your pets inside for a couple of days. If
the fledgling appears to be injured, taking it to a rescue center is
its best chance for survival.
Finding a nestling on the ground, usually very near the nest
does call for your help. Nestlings may fall or be pushed out of the
nest, or the nest may blow down. It is fairly pointless for a human
to try to raise a bird this young -- they seldom survive without a
parent. So, the best action is to put him back up in the nest if
possible. Birds have little sense of smell and won't reject a baby
because it has been handled by humans.
If the nest has blown down, try to wedge it back into the
branches. If you don't see the nest, make one from a small plastic
strawberry basket or by poking a lot of holes in a small plastic
container for drainage. Line your artificial nest with paper towel
shreds. Don't use any type of fabric because the nestling may get
entangled and not be able to get free. Fasten the nest up in a tree
near where you found the nestling and put it inside. The parents are
nearby and as soon as you leave they will generally find the new
nest and resume caring for the baby there.
