Frequently-Asked Questions
I found a baby bird on the ground that cannot fly
Ask the person to describe the bird. Is it all feathered with barely a tail? Is it hopping around? This is a fledgling bird, and this is its natural behavior. Make every effort to leave the bird alone. It can be moved to a nearby bush or tree for protection. Watch and see if the parents are still caring for it. Cats and other family pets should be kept inside.
A baby fell from the nest
Make sure it is NOT a fledgling (see above) but is a nestling (featherless or feathers just starting to come in). If so, it needs to go back into the nest. The mother WILL care for the bird if a person touches it (birds have a poor sense of smell). If the person cannot reach the nest, he/she can make a nest using a basket or any small container (depending on the size of the bird). Be sure to poke holes in the bottom of the container for water drainage. Line the tub with the fallen nest if you have it or dry leaves. You can also use paper towels, but only if you are sure the nest will not get wet. You can use tight weave cloth, like a pillow case, for bedding under birds as well. Please do NOT use fresh grass, mud or straw. They may harbor bacteria. Do NOT use pine needles. They can cause puncture wounds. The makeshift nest can be attached to a tree near where the bird was found. Go some distance away and watch consistently for at least 45 minutes to see if the parents feed the baby. If the parents do not return, then the bird needs to be brought to a rehabber.
A tiny naked baby bird(s) fell from its nest
A Pinkie is an unfeathered bird (1-4 days old) and should be placed back in the original nest with it‘s siblings. You cannot make a make-shift nest for a single pinkie because it needs to stay warm and the mother bird cannot keep two separate nests warm. A single pinkie would need to be replaced in the original nest, or brought in to one of our song-bird rehabilitators. If you find an entire nest of pinkies down, you could use a make-shift nest (see directions above); then the mother bird would be able to keep them all warm.
A bird hit my window
Ask how long ago did the window strike occur. Has there been any improvement? You should allow about two hours for a bird to "come around" after a window strike. The person can put the bird in a safe place outside (an open box is good). If it is near dark, the bird can be placed in a box and brought inside until morning. Be sure the box is covered as the bird may recover and fly out and about the house! If after two hours there is no improvement, then the bird may have suffered head or spinal damage and should be brought to a rehabber.
My cat/dog brought me a baby bird
Any bird that has been caught by a cat must go to a rehabber for treatment. Cat saliva harbors a pasturella bacteria that is deadly to birds. The bird must receive antibiotics as soon as possible. Dog saliva is not as deadly, but medication should be administered as a precaution.
A bird keeps attacking my window, hub cap, etc
It is mating season! Males see another "male" in their territory and attack it. Just cover up whatever it is he sees his reflection in.
A bird‘s nest is over my door (or some inappropriate spot)
If there are babies in the nest, carefully move the nest to a similar spot not over 10 feet away. If the nest has eggs in it, do not move the nest as parents do not bond to the babies when they are in the egg stage and will abandon the moved nest.
Birds are dying at my feeder(s)
Any signs of unhealthy birds could be a result of salmonella, trichimoniasis, or some other contagious bacteria. Feeders should be cleaned thoroughly with a 10:1 water to bleach ratio. It is a good idea to remove feeders for two weeks to allow the birds to disperse. When birds feed in large groups, disease can spread.
A hummingbird is caught in something
Remove the hummer and feed it sugar water (from an existing feeder or make up a 4:1 water to sugar ratio mixture. Use a syringe or eye dropper and place the bird‘s beak in it. It should drink and drink and drink. Keep this up every 15 minutes until the bird is revived. Do it outside or else you will be trying to get a hummer out of your house! If you don‘t have a syringe or eye dropper, place the mixture in a small jar lid and carefully hold the hummer while placing the beak in the mixture. Do not try to force the hummer to drink. If the hummer does not respond, then it‘s time to call WRR‘s hotline (530-432-5522).
A neighbor is killing birds or taking down active nests
Unless the birds are House Sparrows, European Starlings or Rock Doves (city pigeons) his action is illegal. The Migratory Song Bird Act does not allow active nests to be destroyed. (An active nest is one that contains eggs or babies.)
A nest with babies has been abandoned
Is the caller sure? Ask the caller to watch from a distance, constantly, for at least 45 minutes. If it is after dark, and no parents are on the nest, it is okay to bring the nest inside overnight and keep it in a safe, warm place. Do not try to feed the babies. Place the nest back in the same place in the morning and watch for another 45 minutes. The parents feed so quickly it is often hard to spot. If the nest with babies is abandoned, they need to come to a WRR rehabber. We do not incubate eggs, and we do not recommend others do it. The babies do not thrive.
A baby bird is found that is "fuzzy with long legs and runs around"
Ask if it has a black ring around its neck. This is a Killdeer. They nest in gravel and are always found in driveways and parking areas. They need to be left alone! The parents only provide warmth and protection while the birds eat on their own. Killdeer are difficult to raise in captivity. Only if a cat has injured a Killdeer baby does the baby need to be brought to WRR. Baby quail and baby turkeys are the same.