United kingdom is well known for its diverse and beautiful birds, from common urban center pigeons to rare species of woodpeckers, from mighty ospreys to wise owls. It's clear we live in birdwatching sky. About of the birds you see are hopefully perched on a branch or soaring through the air. However, you may have noticed the occasional baby bird laying on the footing with no parents to be found. What should you exercise if you find a baby bird like this?

Brief Babe Bird Biology

Earlier nosotros go into what you should do if you lot find a baby bird, it's important to larn a picayune about bird biology, so some birdy-terms brand sense. There are thousands of species of bird in the world, each with a unlike lifecycle, so we will simply discuss birds more often than not. Some United kingdom species may differ slightly.

Equally nosotros all know, baby birds come from eggs, laid by the mother bird in a nest, usually in a tree. The mother (sometimes male parent or both) bird incubates the egg for a time while the babe bird develops inside the egg. Once information technology is developed, the baby bird volition employ its beak (more specifically, a special protrusion called an egg tooth) to break its way out of the egg. This is now known as a hatchling. Nigh hatchlings are tiny, featherless, defenceless birds that must rely on their parents to survive. Although some are capable of moving around and feeding for themselves, such every bit baby ducks or owls.

Afterwards a few days one-time, the hatchlings develop a downy fuzz and are known equally nestlings; their eyes open and they are more active, but are nonetheless reliant on their parents. The final phase for baby birds is the fledgling stage. Fledglings have flight muscles and dull-coloured flight feathers, and so are able to fly curt distances and get out the nest. They are nonetheless mostly reliant on their parents until they can fly properly however. The age of fledglings varies from 2 weeks old to over 6 months. After the fledgling stage, juvenile birds are fully independent and will develop to sexually mature adults in time.

Why does this matter?

Having a basic cognition of these stages is of import. This will aid you to know what action, if whatsoever, you should take if you find a baby bird. If this is a frequent occurrence, perhaps considering y'all live in an expanse with many birds, we suggest becoming familiar with what common bird species look similar at different stages of life. There are plenty of skilful photos online. As a rule, hatchlings will exist naked, nestlings volition be furry and fledglings will accept dull feathers but can't fly very well.

So You've Constitute a Baby Bird…

We will say at present that you should almost e'er exit a baby bird where you found information technology. This is important, because many babe birds that are disturbed by humans are subsequently abandoned by their parents. Baby birds taken away from their nests before they are ready also have very poor survival rates. We volition go into some exceptions later on, just keep this fact in mind.

Most of the infant birds you find on the ground will be fledglings, and they are doing what fledglings do! Equally mentioned higher up, fledglings are learning to fly and move about, so do spend time outside of their nest. Though this may look like a baby bird abandoned under a tree, almost will in fact be close to their parents who are keeping a close centre on them and communicating with them. Getting too close tin can result in the parents abandoning the fledgling, or you even being attacked (owl parents often do this)!

If the fledgling appears active, salubrious and uninjured…

You should probably leave it solitary. Remember, they are quite clumsy and then won't move exactly like an adult bird! When you lot are out walking your dog, or are about your dwelling and accept cats, we recommend keeping your pets away from the area until yous are certain the fledgling has returned to its nest. If the fledgling is somewhere dangerous, such as an open up path or road, it may be appropriate to move information technology a brusk altitude into foliage where information technology volition be safer. Birds do not have a keen sense of smell, so this should hopefully not result in abandonment.

In that location are exceptions where it may be appropriate to take further action.

If you find an injured fledgling, a fledgling nigh both dead parents, or a fledgling that has been definitely abandoned (you lot should discover from a distance for a few hours to check), then it may exist appropriate to pick it up and contact someone. We volition discuss exactly how to do this later. You may also rarely spot a hatchling or nestling on the ground. These baby birds should not be out of their nest. In that location is a adventure that it has fallen out, and, if it is healthy, the parents may return it to the nest. You should, at most, move information technology to a safety position, and then observe to come across what the parents do.

However, nature is often cruel, and the bird may take been thrown out of the nest past its parents in the first place. Birds exercise this if they experience the baby is weak or sick, and want to concentrate on raising the healthier young. Putting a infant bird similar this back in the nest volition nigh likely result in information technology being thrown out again. If the hatchling or fledgling is weak or injured, y'all may wish to contact someone to collect the bird. Nonetheless, call up that the younger the bird, the slimmer its chances of survival abroad from its parents. This is specially true when looked afterwards in captivity. In all cases, we strongly recommend non agonizing the nest for any reason. This can crusade parents to abandon their chicks, and could even be illegal with sure species of birds.

Catching Baby Birds

If y'all decide that the babe bird on the basis does need rescuing (and we highly recommend waiting at least a few hours to run across if the parents render), yous should gently pick information technology up (gloves are useful) and place it in a small box lined with newspaper towel or something similarly soft. Keep the bird warm with a heat pad or a small hot water bottle, and keep in a night, warm, quiet expanse. Never try to feed the bird, as you can easily feed it the wrong thing or cause it harm. Instead, you should first contact your local rescue and ask if they tin look afterward a baby bird; failing this, contact your local vets.

Unfortunately, either of these may not have the chapters to look after foundling birds. Be warned that the reply may not be positive. If all other avenues have been exhausted, you can contact the RSPCA (SSPCA in Scotland or USPCA in Northern Ireland) and ask what they can practice. Think that the bird's chances of survival are slim, and that charities and rescue centres are oft strapped for greenbacks. As a result, only rarer species of birds may be accepted. In many cases, the kindest outcome is for the vet to painlessly euthanise the bird.

Summary

So today we explained the dissimilar life stages of baby birds and so you accept a amend understanding of what to practice if y'all spot one left on the ground. For the vast bulk, the bird is simply finding its feet (or wings!) and will become habitation safely. In some rare exceptions, you lot may take to move the bird, or fifty-fifty take it. If then, contact a clemency or the vets for further aid. You should never become close to the nest and risk disturbing the young within. We empathise it can be hard to leave what looks like a helpless brute lonely; but remember that infant birds have been jumping out of their nests for thousands of years and volition usually survive. Sometimes, the best affair we can do for animals is to do nothing.

Read More

Birdspot guide to bird lifecycles

https://www.rspb.org.united kingdom/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/injured-and-baby-birds/baby-birds/

https://www.rspca.org.u.k./adviceandwelfare/wild animals/orphanedanimals/youngbirds