How to Find & Take Care of Baby Birds

Every year, especially during the springtime, baby birds can become injured and abandoned by their mothers. Many people see this as an opportunity to help the little bird. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind if you're to care for the bird. Never take a healthy bird away from its mother, never remove a bird's next and only care of an injured bird for up to one day.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber gloves
  • Shoe or boot box
  • Cotton cloth
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Instructions

    • 1

      Look around the base of a tree for an injured baby bird. Baby birds often are injured when learning to fly or from falling out of the nest. They will land at the bottom of the tree they were living in, often limping or walking awkwardly. Only take care of an injured bird--never take a perfectly healthy bird from its mother.

    • 2

      Make a "home" for the bird. For small birds use a regular shoe box; for large birds, a boot box. Line the inside of the box with a soft, cotton cloth.

    • 3

      Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Birds can carry different diseases on them; protecting your hands from actually touching the bird will help to keep you safe.

    • 4

      Pick the bird up and place it gently into the box. Cover the box with the lid and place the box in a dark, quiet room. After falling from the tree, the bird may have suffered a concussion. Keeping the bird in a dark box and in a quiet surrounding will help the concussion. Leave the bird in the box for two hours.

    • 5

      Take the bird outside under the tree that it lives in. Open the box and move away from the bird. If the bird had just suffered a bad fall, it should be able to fly back up into the tree. If the bird is further injured, continue to step 6.

    • 6

      Place the lid back onto the box, and take the bird to a veterinary hospital or wildlife rehabilitation center. These professionals are the only ones who will be able toassist the baby bird further.