Wild birds face many challenges in order to become adults; they often find themselves outside the safety of their nest, in potential danger. If you find a nestling in need of help, you can take several steps to care for it until you can get it to a wildlife recovery center. You should never pick a baby bird on your own; in fact, the law of many states (such as that of the United States, Canada and many European countries, including Italy) requires that the bird be delivered to an authorized professional. In the UK, you can keep and care for a wild bird as long as you can prove that you haven't caused it yourself. Some protected species need to be turned over to wildlife recovery centers; in general, you should do your best to leave the bird in its natural habitat or leave it in the care of experienced and trained personnel.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Returning the Chicks to Parents
Step 1. Do not remove the bird from the nest
If you find a small nest alone in the nest, you must not think that the mother has abandoned it; on the other hand, it is more likely that she has gone hunting for food for her baby and that she will return as soon as possible.
Regardless of how much chirping and crying it is, you must never remove a newborn bird from its nest; in practice, you are perpetrating a "child kidnapping"
Step 2. Put it back in the nest
The nestling is a little bird that has not yet developed its feathers; sometimes it can fall from the nest and put itself in a dangerous situation. The best thing you can do for him is Not take it home, but try to reposition it in the nest.
- Look at the nearby trees and shrubs, looking for an empty nest; if you find one, put the baby inside so he can wait for his mother to return.
- Remember to handle it with extreme delicacy!
Step 3. Make a makeshift nest if you can't find the real one
Birds are quite adept at hiding their nest in the wild; if you can't find it, you can always try to bring the family together by making an artisanal container in which the little one can wait for the mother.
- Fill a box or bowl with dry grass or paper towels and put the small bird inside; don't use fresh grass though, as it may cool the creature.
- You can also use a basket with a handle and hang it from a nearby tree branch.
- Leave this "nest" in the area where you found the bird and wait to see if the parents come back to take care of it.
Step 4. Call a professional if no adult birds arrive
If you don't see your parents approaching after an hour, you should contact wildlife experts; professional ornithologists qualified for such work are better equipped and organized to keep the little one happy and healthy.
- If you are unable to find a competent and licensed person to perform this task, call a veterinarian, wildlife recovery center, LIPU or other similar organization and ask for a professional to contact you.
- The Distributor will want to know where you found the creature to put it back in the same area once it is cured and healed; make sure you are as precise as possible in your description.
Part 2 of 3: Keeping the Young Birds in the Wild
Step 1. Look for young birds
If you see that they have feathers, they are not chicks, but they are already "adolescents": slightly grown specimens who have learned to fly.
Step 2. Observe if a young bird has been injured
It is quite normal to see these birds outside the nest: they jump from the nest and land on the ground while learning to fly; luckily, the parents are usually nearby to teach them how.
- If the bird appears to be limping or tends to use more of one wing than the other, it may be injured.
- If you don't notice any signs of injury, just leave it alone; at this age it is more than normal to be out of the nest.
Step 3. Move the healthy young bird if it appears to be in danger
Look closely at the area - do you see dogs, cats or other threats nearby? Even if the bird is healthy, you need to relocate it to protect it from some immediate danger on the ground.
Rest it on a bush or tree that is tall enough where predators can't reach it
Step 4. Remain under observation and await the arrival of the parents
Usually, they return to the nest within an hour to check on their young; if after this time you do not notice any birds, you must contact an ornithologist who will take care of the young specimen.
Step 5. Contact the Wildlife Rescue Center
As already mentioned, it is extremely important that an authorized specialist intervenes, who is undoubtedly better equipped to take care of the creature; find qualified personnel who are able to take better care of the bird than you.
Remember to give him all the detailed information about the whereabouts of the bird
Step 6. Get the injured bird for treatment
If after observing him for a couple of minutes you notice signs of illness or injury, you need to help him; pick it up very carefully and place it in an improvised "nest".
- Don't try to heal the wound on your own; the best thing to do for an injured animal is to seek veterinary care.
- Keep in mind that many vets do not deal with wild animals, however they can point you to people who are able to treat them instead.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Bird while Waiting for the Arrival of Qualified Personnel
Step 1. Get a cardboard box or plastic bowl
The nests are quite small; they are intimate spaces where birds feel safe and protected. Don't put a frightened creature in too large a container; find a nice little space to place it.
Step 2. Insert a heat source into the container
Newborn birds need more warmth than people; even if we feel good in a room with 21-24 ° C, a creature of this type needs an environment with at least 29 ° C to be comfortable. To help her do this, you can place a hot water bottle or warmer; alternatively, a heating lamp is also fine.
- However, do not put boiling water in the water bottle, as excessive heat is harmful to the bird.
- To find the right temperature, you need to be able to keep one hand under the lamp or on the heating device without burning yourself or feeling discomfort.
Step 3. Place the bird in the makeshift nest
If the lamp gives off too much heat, it must be kept at an appropriate distance so as not to overheat the little creature. If you choose the direct heat method, such as that of the hot water bottle, avoid it coming into contact with the bird; put some kitchen paper over the heat source, molding it into the shape of a nest and place the bird on top.
Step 4. Cover the box
The quieter and darker the shelter, the safer the bird feels in this unusual new place for him. Cover it with a light blanket or newspaper, but leave holes for air to circulate so the creature can breathe. You can decide to put the box in the cat or dog carrier.
Step 5. Leave the bird in an isolated place
He is happier if he is left alone in a quiet area; make sure that small children, pets and any other threatening presence stay outside the room where you have placed the nest.
Step 6. Don't handle the creature more than necessary
You may think it is a lovely bird, but remember that you could frighten it terribly. Resist the temptation to hold it for sheer pleasure: only touch it as little as necessary to place it in the nest.
Step 7. Make sure your hands and the entire area around the container are clean
Birds are carriers of an infinite number of germs and diseases; every time you handle one you need to wash your hands right away. Keep the creature away from the kitchen or other areas where food is processed; you need to prevent faecal material from ending up in food.
Step 8. Don't give him water
It may seem strange to you, but newborn birds don't drink; if you try to hydrate it with a syringe or dropper, the water could enter your lungs and kill it.
Step 9. Contact a wildlife specialist for advice on feeding the small bird
Ask the center staff who will take care of the bird if you need to feed the bird. If the appointees come soon to get the creature, they can simply tell you to wait for their arrival; if they plan to delay, however, heed their advice about the food he needs.
Not all birds eat the same things. Giving them milk, bread, or other foods that seem suitable to you could actually cause diarrhea and other health problems. carefully follow the instructions given by the expert
Step 10. Replace the seeds with dog treats
Proceed in this way only if you are sure that the bird eats the seeds (for example it is a pigeon or a dove); basically, you have to replace the natural food of the birds with dog treats until the specimen is taken care of by expert personnel.
- Soak the kibble in water for an hour, in a ratio of one part of kibble to two parts of water.
- Offer the bird some bits of spongy kibble about the size of a pea.
- However, make sure that they are not too soaked in water; remember that no liquid must enter the creature's lungs!
- You can also go to a pet store and buy specific food for parrot chicks; follow the directions on the package.
Step 11. Take the creature to the Animal Recovery Center when the time comes
Once you have contacted the authorized center, you must tell the staff when you plan to deliver the bird; until then, try to keep him calm and quiet as much as possible, even better if you leave him alone.
Sometimes, veterinarians take care of the baby and bring him to the wildlife recovery center themselves; ask your veterinarian if they can do this for you
Advice
- Try to keep the bird warm and in a stress-free environment.
- Don't keep moving him from one place to another, let him sleep peacefully.
- Do not give newborn birds specific food for adult birds, as it does not contain all the nutrients necessary for the healthy development of young creatures.
- If it is a small bird, you can also make a makeshift "nest" for a short time by using a paper bag with holes to circulate the air.
- Contact the wildlife recovery center or an industry specialist in your area; you can find information online, ask other environmental associations or at a veterinary clinic.
Warnings
- If you feed a bird with food that is not suitable for it, you may as well kill it.
- Birds are carriers of diseases; always wash your hands (and / or use latex gloves) before and after handling one and do not allow small children to come near.
- It can be difficult to define the species of a young specimen.
