Spring is here, and there is new life on every corner. It’s not uncommon at this time of year to spot a young bird, and deciding on the right course of action can be a real dilemma. While it is very tempting to try to help, in most cases baby birds have a much better chance if they are left alone, without human interference.
First steps:
Monitor the situation to see if the baby bird really is alone. Parent birds can be gone for a few hours at a time, so we cannot assume the baby is abandoned unless no adult birds have returned for at least 6 hours.
Take a good look at the bird, without getting too close.
- If it has feathers, it is a fledgling, and has left the nest on purpose. Many baby birds are not fully independent at this point, but they are learning to fly and manage on their own. The parents are probably supervising from close by.
- If it has no or very few feathers, and is unable to hop around, it may be a nestling. Carefully place it back in the nest if you can find it, or make a simple nest from a bucket or basket in a nearby tree. Then, step away to let the parent birds return.
Keep cats and dogs (or other pets!) indoors so they’re not tempted to chase, play with or harm the baby bird.
What not to do:
DO NOT pick up the baby bird or move it, unless it is in a dangerous place like a busy road.
DO NOT try to keep and raise the bird yourself. Different bird species have very specific needs and are difficult to raise in captivity, especially with the aim of releasing them once they are ready.
When to call a bird facility:
The baby bird has not moved, and no adult birds have come back to it, for at least 6 hours or a whole night for nocturnal birds (like owls).
You’re not sure what to do, and would like further advice on doing the right thing for the bird.
When to call us:
Obvious injury, such as an open wound.
Collapse or other signs of sickness.
If you do bring us an injured bird, we will do everything we can to treat it and support its recovery. However, we are not a rehabilitation centre, so we often pass birds on to more specialised facilities once they are medically stable.
Useful numbers:
Tinkers Hill, Narberth – 01834 814397 / 0777 1507915
Little Green Pigeon Sanctuary, Aberaeron – 07895 793967
Sea Trust (for seabirds) – 01348 688588
RSPCA – 0300 1234 999
