eNaturalist::Bird Rescue!?

Bird Rescue!?

John Wiessinger

Caution: This is a “first-aide” measure only. Once your bird is stabilized/safe, it should be turned over to a licensed rehabilitator to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Time and time again, people find a baby bird, think it’s abandoned, and “rescue” it. Granted, there are times when it would be certain death to leave a baby where it is, but often the baby is a fledgling and is being fed by its parents; it has not been abandoned. IF there is no other option and you do bring the baby(s) home to care for, be aware that this is a time-consuming project that may very well end in the death of your charge. Know too that there is a Federal Migratory Bird Act that prohibits people from having native birds (there are only a few exceptions) or parts of native birds in their possession at any time even if you’re trying to “save” a bird. If you do “save” that baby bird, once it is stabilized/safe, it should be turned over to a licensed rehabilitator as quickly as possible.

So, if all else fails, and you’re all that stands between death or survival of a baby bird, we’ll provide some information that should help you until it can be given to a professional. Although it may sound silly, if you “think like a bird”, you’ll be much closer to knowing how to care for your baby. Therefore, things like milk, sugar water, and bread are not suitable – nature doesn’t provide these. Furthermore, since most birds are not active at night, you needn’t feed your babies at night either – you can sleep.

Dos for caring for baby birds

  1. Baby birds without many/any feathers need to be kept warm (body should be warm to touch)
  2. Baby birds need lots of different foods for a healthy diet – variety is the watchword
  3. Most baby birds eat a wide-variety of rather soft-bodied insects – they need lots of protein for growth
  4. Baby birds eat about every 20 minutes or so during daylight (dawn to dusk)
  5. Baby birds should be encouraged to beg for food (open mouth with eager calling)
  6. Baby birds have a swallowing reflex that is triggered when food is placed in the back of the mouth
  7. Baby birds sleep at night and are not fed by their parents
  8. Food can be skewered on a toothpick and placed in the baby’s throat
  9. If enough food isn’t available, you can give dry cat food (see info below) as a temporary measure (NOT a steady diet)

Dont's for caring for baby birds

  1. Don’t give water directly to your baby bird (they get enough in their food)
  2. Don’t give sugar water to your baby bird
  3. Don’t give ANY bread to your baby bird
  4. Don’t give ANY birdseed to your baby bird
  5. Don’t give a steady diet of any single food to your baby bird
  6. Don’t gear your baby’s diet around worms
  7. Don’t give your baby bird a bath, it doesn’t need one

Appropriate invertebrates you can look for include - flies, horseflies (remove the wings), grasshoppers without wings and legs, crickets, soft caterpillars, grubs, mealworms in small amounts, spiders, and earthworms in limited amounts. Avoid beetles, bees, wasps, ants, hairy caterpillars, and any hard-bodied insects. If you can get an insect net and sweep your yard or nearby field, you’ll get lots and lots of good insects. You may need to be a bit selective so you don’t use any bees or wasps, but you’ll have many others to choose from.

Providing insects for your bird may become difficult at certain times so you may need to supplement its insect-diet with something else. Dry cat food can be moistened and made into small globs on a toothpick and offered. The cat food is higher in protein than dog food and will help sustain your bird until you can feed more appropriate foods. Do NOT provide a diet of just cat food or your bird will not be healthy and may not even live – this is only an interim measure until the proper authorities can take over.