The Right Move is Not Always Clear
Found a baby bird? Follow these steps:
Baby
Songbirds
⚠️ Do Not Offer Food or Water
Never feed a baby bird you’ve found — feeding the wrong food or liquid can be fatal. Keep it warm, dark, and quiet in a box with air holes and soft towels while you contact a rehabber. Wild birds are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act and are best cared for by licensed professionals.
This is the most important determination you can make. A nestling on the ground needs to be returned to the nest. A fledgling on the ground is almost certainly fine and should be left alone. Misidentifying a fledgling as an abandoned baby is the most common reason healthy birds are unnecessarily taken from the wild.
Nestling
Fledgling
💡 Parents Are Almost Always Nearby
Most birds are cared for by both mother and father. A fledgling that looks “alone” on the ground is almost certainly being watched over and fed by its parents nearby — they stay away when humans are present. Observe from a distance of at least 30 feet for an hour before concluding a bird is truly abandoned.
Answer each question to get a recommended course of action based on A.E.R.O.’s field assessment guidelines.
Check for: bleeding, broken or drooping wing, unable to hold head up, has been caught by a cat or dog, covered in fly eggs, or behaving abnormally (seizures, circling). Cat bites require immediate care — bacteria in cat saliva is rapidly fatal to birds.
🏥 Contact a Rehabber Immediately
Place the bird in a small cardboard box with air holes, lined with a soft towel. Keep it warm (rice sock — uncooked rice in a sock, microwaved 20 seconds, warm to cheek), dark, and quiet. Do not give food or water. Contact A.E.R.O. or a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator right away.
Aim to get the bird to a rehabber within one hour if possible.
Use the stage guide above. Key question: does it have real, developed feathers and can it move around? Naked or sparsely downed, helpless = nestling. Feathered, hopping, able to flee = fledgling.
Look up — nests are typically in trees, shrubs, or on building ledges nearby. It is a myth that touching a baby bird causes parents to abandon it. Parent birds have a very limited sense of smell and will almost always accept a returned nestling.
🪺 Return the Nestling to Its Nest
Gently pick up the nestling with clean hands or gloves and place it back in the nest. Then step back and watch from a distance — parents will return to feed it once you are out of the area. Give them at least 30–60 minutes before concluding they are not coming back.
If the nest is damaged or inaccessible, see the Re-nesting section below for how to create a substitute nest.
🌿 Create a Substitute Nest or Call a Rehabber
If the nest is destroyed or inaccessible, you may be able to create a substitute nest — see the Re-nesting Guide below. Get confirmation from a rehabber first, especially if nighttime temperatures will drop. If re-nesting isn’t feasible, keep the bird warm and dark and contact A.E.R.O.
Important: Parents can feed two nests, but they cannot keep two nests warm. A substitute nest is only appropriate if temperatures will stay warm overnight.
A healthy fledgling on the ground is completely normal. This is a natural stage of development — it is learning to fly and its parents are watching over it. The only reason to intervene is if it is in immediate physical danger from a predator or traffic.
🌿 Move It to a Safer Spot Nearby
Gently move the fledgling to the nearest safe location — a nearby bush, low branch, or sheltered area out of traffic and away from pets. Keep it in the same general area so the parents can find it. Then leave immediately and observe from a distance. Parents will return once you are out of the way.
Keep pets indoors or leashed in the area while the fledgling is nearby.
🚫 Leave It Alone — It’s Fine
This fledgling does not need your help. It is going through a completely normal stage of development. Its parents are almost certainly nearby and will continue to feed and care for it. The best thing you can do is walk away and keep pets out of the area.
Observe from at least 30 feet away. If after 2+ hours you see no parent activity at all and the bird seems lethargic or ill, then call a rehabber.
Re-nesting can be a challenge — but when done correctly it gives nestlings the best chance of survival. Always get confirmation from a rehabber before attempting, especially if overnight temperatures will drop. Parents can feed two nests, but they cannot keep two nests warm.
🚫 Not for Naked Hatchlings in Cold Weather
A substitute nest is not appropriate for naked hatchlings when overnight temperatures will drop. Without the original nest’s insulation and a brooding parent, very young nestlings will not survive the night. Contact a rehabber in these cases.
Locate the Original Nest
Look in the tree, shrub, or structure where you found the baby. If the nest is intact but just needs to be repositioned, that’s always better than building a substitute. Note where other nestlings or parents were seen.
Prepare a Substitute Nest
If the original nest is unusable, use a small basket, container, or sturdy cardboard box lined with soft, dry materials — grass, leaves, or shredded paper. Ensure it has drainage holes if there’s a risk of rain. Try to replicate the original nest’s shape and size so the babies fit comfortably inside.
Handle with Care
Gently pick up the baby bird with clean, dry hands or soft gloves. Work quickly and quietly to minimize stress. It is safe to touch the bird — parents will not reject it due to human scent.
Position the Nest
Place the substitute nest as close as possible to the original location and at a similar height. Secure it so it won’t tip or fall. The nest should be sheltered from direct sun and rain if possible.
Observe from a Distance
Step well back and watch quietly from at least 30 feet away. If parents are still in the area, they will return to feed the nestlings. Give them at least one hour — parents stay away when humans are too close.
Monitor and Follow Up
Check periodically from a distance. A successful re-nest is when you see a parent bird visiting and feeding the baby in the new nest. If no parent activity is observed after several hours, contact a rehabber.
✅ Signs of a Successful Re-nest
A re-nest is working when you observe a parent bird returning to the substitute nest to feed the young. Once you see this, step back and let the parents take over. Minimize all further disturbance to the area.
🌡️ Warmth First
- Fill a clean sock with uncooked white rice
- Microwave 20 seconds — test warmth against your cheek
- Place in the bottom of the box under a cloth; bird rests on top
- Re-warm every 30–45 minutes as needed
- Never place a bird directly on a heat source
🚫 Never Do These Things
- Never offer food, water, bread, seed, or worms
- Never give milk or any liquid by mouth
- Never handle more than necessary
- Never place near loud noise, bright light, or other animals
- Never attempt to keep as a pet — it is illegal under federal law
📦 Safe Housing
Use a cardboard box or paper bag with air holes. Line with a soft cloth (avoid terry loops — tiny toes get caught). Keep covered and in a quiet, warm, dim location. Do not put multiple species together. The goal is to minimize all stress until the bird reaches a rehabber.
📞 When You Call a Rehabber
Be ready to describe: the bird’s appearance (feathered or naked, size), where and how you found it, whether it was caught by a pet, any visible injuries, and how long you’ve had it. Aim to transport to a rehabber within one hour when possible.