What Do I Do if I Find a Baby Bird?

Taking baby birds into captivity denies them the opportunity to learn skills that they need to survive in the wild. Unless a bird is injured, it is essential to leave it outside to learn from its parents. Thanks to Audubon Society of Portland's Wildlife Care Center for the following tips on what to do if you find a baby bird. If you have additional questions, or find a baby bird that is injured or known to be orphaned, you can call Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 503-292-0304.

Reproduced with permission of Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center

Many species of baby birds such as robins, scrub jays, crows, and owls leave the nest and spend as many as 2 – 5 days on the ground before they can fly. This is a normal and vital part of their development.  During this period the baby birds are cared for and protected by their parents and taught vital life skills like finding food, identifying predators, and flying.  Taking these birds into captivity denies them the opportunity to learn skills that they need to survive in the wild.  Unless a bird is injured, it is essential to leave it outside to learn from its parents.

If you are concerned that the bird fell from the nest too early, you may try to return the bird to its nest. If the nest has been destroyed or is unreachable, you may substitute a strawberry basket or small box lined with tissue and suspend it from a branch near where you believe the nest is located.  Birds have a poor sense of smell and very strong parental instincts and will usually continue caring for their young.  However, adult birds are cautious after any type of disturbance and it may take several hours before the parents approach the nestling.

A fledgling is a young bird that has left the nest; it is fully feathered, with a short tail and wings; and is able to walk, hop or flap its wings, but is still being cared for by its parents.  If you find a fledgling, it should be left alone or, at most, placed into a nearby shrub.  Keep people and pets away so that the parents will continue to care for it until it can fly.  Placing fledglings back into nests is typically only a short-term solution, as they will quickly re-emerge.  Moving fledglings to entirely new locations is also ineffective, as they are still dependent on their parents for survival and will quickly starve if relocated.

DUCKLINGS: Many times, ducklings are found as a group.  Mallards look for nesting locations away from likely predators, which in urban environments may include raccoons, coyotes, dogs and cats.  Urban parks are typically overpopulated with ducks and it is not uncommon for ducks to nest as far as a mile from water.  Once the young hatch, the mother leads her ducklings back to the nearest water source.
During this journey ducklings frequently become separated from their mothers.  If the mother is believed to be nearby, it is best to leave the duckling or ducklings alone.  The baby duck(s) will peep and alert the mother to its whereabouts.  If the mother has been spooked and has left her ducklings behind, they can be gathered and placed into a cardboard box with top open to the sky.  She will usually circle back a short time later to relocate her ducklings.

For healthy “lost” or orphaned ducklings, we recommend that you attempt to foster them back into the wild. Transport ducklings to nearby wetlands or ponds and locate ducklings approximately the same age and size (but no larger).  Mother ducks cannot count and ducklings placed nearby will usually swim over and be adopted into the group.  Care should be taken, though, not to overload a single mother.  Although success is not guaranteed, being raised in the wild by a wild duck offers ducklings the best chance for survival.

If you have any questions, or find a baby bird that is injured or known to be orphaned, you can call Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 503-292-0304.