Injured or orphaned songbirds
 Nest on ground
If you find a nest on the ground, tie it back into a nearby tree. The nest can be placed in a little box or margarine tub (with drainage holes) to make it easier to secure it. Don't use a berry basket because bird legs may get caught in the mesh. Watch from a distance to make sure a parent returns to the nest. |
Baby bird without feathers on ground
If possible, locate the nest. If the bird does not appear injured, gently pick up the baby and place it in the nest. Make sure the other babies in the nest look like the one you are replacing. Watch the nest from a distance to confirm that the parent bird returns to the nest. This could take several hours. Don't worry about your scent on the bird; the mother will not reject the baby.
If you cannot find the nest or cannot reach it, keep the baby warm and bring it to the museum as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to feed it anything. If a nestling bird is injured, keep it warm and bring it to the museum. |
Fledgling bird on ground
Do not automatically pick up a fledgling bird. It probably doesn't need your help. The parents are attentive and will not abandon their offspring.
Fledglings have feathers but do not fly well, if at all, but can usually hop or jump to low branches. This period of being on the ground is a normal and necessary part of a bird developing the ability to fly. Keep your cats and dogs indoors while the fledgling is learning to fly. Watch from a distance to make sure its parents are feeding it. If you don't see the parents after watching for several hours or the bird has been caught by a cat or otherwise injured, bring it to the museum.
It is difficult to determine if a nestling bird has been abandoned. You must watch for several hours without looking away. The parents may visit and leave quickly and you may miss it if you look away.
Only if a bird is in imminent danger from cats or other predators should it brought into our wildlife hospital. If you find one fledgling, you may see more. Talk to your neighbors about keeping pets indoors, especially in the morning and late afternoon. |
Bird caught by cat
Place the bird in a small container such as a paper grocery bag or small box lined with an absorbent towel. Bring it to the museum as soon as possible. Do not feed it or give it water. Do not attempt to treat its wounds. |
Nest in inappropriate place
If possible, allow the babies to mature until they can fly, then remove the nest. If there are babies in the nest, the nest can be moved a short distance and the parents will most likely continue to care for their young. Most birds and their nests are federally protected and should be left alone until the babies have left the nest. If no eggs have been laid in the nest, remove all nesting materials as they are put in place. Screen the area where the nest is being built to prevent further nesting. |
Bird stalked by dog or cat
Keep pets indoors until the bird is old enough to fly or has left the yard. If the bird appears injured or you know it has been touched by a dog or cat, bring it to the museum. A fledgling may be placed in a large open box that the parents can enter to feed, but with sides high enough to prevent the fledgling from hopping out. Place the box in a bush or tree so it is off the ground. |
Bird hit window
Pick up the stunned bird and place it in a paper grocery sack with a paper towel in the bottom. Bring it to the museum. (Most birds suffer eye abrasions when they hit a window, even if there is no other injury.) Do not attempt to feed it or give it water. Keep it warm, quiet and dark until you can get it to the museum.
If this happens more than once, the birds are either seeing through the window or seeing the reflection of trees and sky. If they are seeing a reflection, cover the window on the outside or hang ribbons or streamers on the outside. If they are seeing through the window to trees on the other side of the house, close the curtains. |
Sick birds at feeder
Remove the feeder to let the birds disperse so healthy birds won't be in contact with the sick birds. Leave the feeder down for at least a week. Wash the feeder with soap and water, then soak in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes. Rinse and let dry before putting feeder back up. Thoroughly clean the area under the feeder. If you can pick up a sick bird, place it in a paper grocery sack and bring it to the museum as quickly as possible. |
Birds acting "drunk"
Birds that look drunk, stagger and fly low with difficulty are not drunk. They gorge on berries, overeat and become too heavy to fly gracefully. |
Hummingbird nestlings abandoned
The mother will feed often, but it will only take a few seconds each time. It is easy to miss seeing her. Make sure you watch the nest without looking away for about an hour. Only if there is truly no mother coming to the nest should the babies be brought into the museum. If, when you look at the nest, the babies are hunkered down in the nest and are silent, they are being cared for by their mother and do not need help. |
