Songbirds, Woodpeckers and Corvids
*ATTENTION*
Corvids (crows, ravens) can be infected with the H5N1 viral strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Do not handle these species without gloves or until speaking to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. If a bird needs medical attention it must be brought to a rehabilitator that has an HPAI quarantine facility.
If you would like more information on HPAI please click this link.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the Agricultural Community | Blogs | CDC
Please read this page for information on what to do if you found a bird that might need help.
For injured adult birds please scroll to the bottom.
Songbirds and woodpeckers are altricial. This means that they are born helpless and completely reliant on their parents. Altricial birds go through four stages of development after they hatch - hatchling, nestling, fledgling, then adult.
Nesting
Birds often build their nests on human structures or in trees that get cut down. Once a nest is established it is illegal to move it. We do not take abandoned eggs.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings are birds that have just hatched from their eggs. They are generally naked or fuzzy (species dependent) and have their eyes closed. At this stage they are unable to thermoregulate. They have incredibly high metabolisms and both parents will bring food for them and sit on them to keep them warm.
Nestlings
At this stage, nestlings begin developing feathers and their eyes open. They are not able to thermoregulate quite yet. They will stay in the nest for another week or two.
Fledglings
As songbirds grow, their nest becomes too small to contain them so they leave the nest and begin exploring. They will not be able to fly at this point. They will hide in or under a bush until they start following their parents around. Both parents still care for them during this time and teach them how to hunt and forage.
Woodpeckers do not fledge on the ground. They should be in their nest or on the tree.
The fledgling stage is most frequently when well-meaning people mistakenly kidnap baby birds. Please read the “Orphaned?” section below if you have found a bird you are concerned about.
Orphaned?
Below is a list of signs to determine if the young are orphaned and need to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator:
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Contact us to walk you through your options.
If one baby is out of the nest and does not meet any of the other orphan criteria try to renest it. If it is found on the ground again the parents may be rejecting it.
If an entire nest fell down please examine the babies for injuries. If uninjured, get the nest as close to where it was originally as possible.
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Known trauma, wound, drooping wing, severe limp, nasal/ocular discharge or crusts, etc.
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If a bird is covered in mites, flies, fly eggs (they look like tiny grains of rice), etc. they are not being groomed by their parents and are in poor health.
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Cats create lacerations as well as tiny punctures that can seal over and create pockets that become infected.
Dogs create crushing injuries when they bite. Internal injuries may not present for a couple of days.
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If any young bird has been under human care for 2+ hours or fed anything from a human caretaker a permitted wildlife rehabilitator needs to be contacted.
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If the baby is otherwise uninjured and renesting is an option, then warm it and renest (we will walk you through this).
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Rescue is needed only if it is known with certainty that BOTH parents have stopped tending to the babies. Stay out of sight and watch the nest diligently for at least an hour. If no parents return contact us before you intervene.
Crows have strong familial bonds. All adult members will tend to the young. Diligently watch the nest from afar. If no adult response within a couple hours contact us before you intervene.
Don’t Be a Kidnapper!
If you find a nest of birds that you are concerned about please contact us and we will discuss your situation with you.
If you see a fledgling on the ground and it is alert and standing or hopping around please leave it alone and monitor it from a distance. If you are concerned about predators you may place the bird into a bush off of the ground very close to where you found it. If it doesn’t stay there leave it be. Pets should be leashed while outdoors if there are wild babies present.
Renesting
If you found a baby bird or a nest of babies that has fallen please reach out to us. We will verify if they need to be brought in for assessment or if they are a good candidate for renesting. If renesting is an option we want to keep the babies with their parents. Please follow the steps below to renest the birds.
While you are constructing and securing the nest please put the bird(s) in a box and put a heating pad on low underneath it. It is very important that the baby(ies) stay warm. Do not give them any food or water!
If you found an entire nest that has fallen please use the original nest if it is not destroyed.
If renesting one baby try to get it back into the original nest. If this is not possible you will need to create an artificial nest.
Find a container that is similar size to the nest. Poke small drainage holes in the bottom and 2 holes towards the top. You can thread string or zip ties through these holes to secure it to the tree.
Either put the original nest inside of the new nest or fill the new nest with natural nesting materials. Long, soft pine needles (pictured above) are ideal if you do not have the original nest. You do not want to use material that is rough, sharp or will retain water.
Secure the nest as high and as closely as possible to where the original nest was. Also, try to mimic the placement as well. If the original nest had shade, make sure you position it so it has shade.
Carefully place each bird into the new nest. If they are cold please warm them in your hands for a minute or two first.
Back away and watch from a distance, preferably out of sight of the parents, for at least one hour. The parents should both be bringing the babies food. If there is no parental response within that hour the babies may have been abandoned. Contact us.
If there is only one baby in the new nest and there are other babies in the original nest you will need to confirm that the parents are caring for both nests.
If the parents are tending to the nest, congratulations! You have successfully kept a wild family together! Please do not disturb them anymore. Enjoy watching them grow!
Containing the Bird(s)
If you believe that the bird(s) needs help, please contact us so we can discuss the situation with you and walk you through safely containing it/them. Your safety should be your top priority. If it is safe for you to do so, please follow these steps to contain the animal(s):
Get an appropriately sized box for the animal. You may also use a small plastic container as long as there are air holes poked in it before the animal is inside.
Put a towel or thin fleece on the bottom of the box. Do not use fabric that little toenails can get caught in.
Babies: Wearing gloves, use the hand towel to very gently pick up the bird into the box.
Adults: Assume that it will try to bite you. Wear gloves. Smoothly toss a hand towel over the bird and gently pick it up and place it into the box. Do not leave the towel on the bird.
5.) Secure the lid well.
6.) Put a heating pad on low underneath 1/3-1/2 of the box so the bird can move if it gets too hot. Make sure that it is on the lowest setting to prevent burns. Warm water bottles, Hot Hands packs and warmed rice socks also work if you don’t have a heating pad. Do not place these items inside the box with the animal.
7.) Wash your hands.
8.) Bring the bird to us immediately. It is imperative that baby birds are brought to us as soon as possible. If this is not an option, please try to find it a ride. In the meantime, put the box in a warm, dark, quiet area of your home or garage that is away from pets, children and noise.
9.) DO NOT GIVE ANY FOODS OR LIQUIDS TO THE BIRD(S)!
10.) DO NOT cuddle, hold or talk to the animal!
Note: The information contained in this text regarding health and/or safety precautions may not be adequate for all individuals and/or situations. It is the reader’s obligation to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We are not responsible for injuries or illnesses occurred from you handling wild animals. Do so at your own risk. If you do not feel comfortable handling the animal do not handle it.