I found a songbird. What do I do?
Most "orphaned" baby birds are fledglings learning to fly, with parents nearby.
Is it really orphaned?
Fledglings have feathers and short tails and can hop and flutter. Leaving the nest before they can fly is normal; the parents are close by and keep feeding them for up to two weeks. Leave the bird alone, keep cats and dogs inside, and watch from indoors. If it’s in a dangerous spot, move it to a nearby bush.
Nestlings are naked or only partly feathered. They need to go back in the nest. Parents will take them back; birds have a poor sense of smell and won’t know you touched it. If you can’t reach the nest, make one: a small basket or margarine tub with drainage holes, lined with tissue, nailed to the tree under some cover. Put the whole family in it if the nest came down.
A bird needs rescue only if it is injured, was caught by a cat or dog, is naked and cold, or you’ve watched from a distance for 60 to 90 minutes and no parent has come. Parents come and go fast; watch carefully.
Signs of injury
Falling to one side, drooping or tweaked wing, unable to flutter, fluffed feathers, shivering, bleeding, or any contact with a cat.
What to do
Put it on tissue in a shoebox with air holes, warm, dark, and quiet. No food, no water. Then call or text us. We’ll tell you which bird hospital is nearest and open.
What not to do
- Don’t feed it. The wrong food, or food in the airway, kills baby birds quickly.
- Don’t keep watching from close by. Parents won’t return with you there.
Then call us
Whatever you found, call or text (510) 421-9897 before you drive anywhere. We'll confirm what you have, tell you whether to bring it to us or somewhere closer, and make sure someone is there to meet you.
