Bringing Home Baby

Spring is all about rebirth, and that includes baby birds cracking through their shells and entering the wide world. 

When you are outside this spring, you might run across what appears to be an abandoned baby bird.   But in reality, most times the bird is not abandoned at all, and his parents are probably close by keeping a watchful, parental eye on their little one.

Take a closer look at the baby bird.  Does he appear to be injured?  If he does, it’s best to take the bird to a local veterinarian or wildlife center.  If the baby does not appear to be injured, look around nearby trees or bushes for a nest.  If you can find it, simply place the baby back into the nest.    If you cannot find a nest, the most important thing is to get the bird up off the ground.  You can place him in a shrub or tree.  It is a myth that if a baby is touched by human hands the parents will no longer care for it.  Birds have a weak sense of smell, so do not worry about handling a baby bird.

More than likely, this is all the help the baby needs and his parents will appear soon.  You can watch for the parents’ return from a safe distance.  Parents should return to their baby within 2 hours.

If you’re considering trying to raise a truly abandoned bird on your own, you might want to reconsider.  These babies sure are high maintenance…

-baby birds must be fed every 14­20 minutes from sunrise to sunset

-an adult robin makes about 400 trips every day to feed its young