Things You'll Need
- Wicker basket
- Paper towels
- Twigs
Instructions
Observation
Clear the area of dogs and cats. This should be your highest priority.
Observe the bird from a distance. Watch how it moves. Does it appear to be injured? If not go on to the next step. If you believe that the bird is injured, there are places you can call, however, it could cost you money. It is up to you to decide whether or not to allow nature to take its course.
Look for the parents. If you can see them in the area, this is a very good sign. They will continue to feed the bird on the ground until it learns to fly. You can often identify the parents because they will answer when the baby bird chirps. If you do not see the parents, check again later. They may be out looking for food.
Locate the nest. The bird's original nest is probably nearby. In fact, it is probably somewhere directly above where the bird is now, unless it has hopped around a lot. Keep in mind that some birds (woodpeckers) build there nests inside of trees, so it may be difficult to spot.
Evaluate the relative safety of the area where the bird is. Do you often see cats, dogs or other predators in the area? If not, and the area is safe, then no further action is needed on your part. Let the bird's parents care for it. If you feel that the area is unsafe, then you will have to move the bird to a safer location. The parents are unable to pick the bird up themselves.
Find a safe location for the bird that is as close as possible to the original nest. Otherwise, the parents may not be able to find and feed the baby. If the original nest is within reach, or easily accessible, then you can simply put the bird back in its own nest. Read below about handling the bird. If you cannot reach the nest, then you will have to build an artificial nest.
Build an artificial nest
Find a small wicker basket. Otherwise improvise with a container of similar size, preferably with some sort of handle or hook for hanging it.
Line the basket with paper towels.
Place dried leaves and twigs in the bottom of the basket.
Move the bird to a new location
Place you artificial nest on the ground next to the bird. Take care that the parents are not around at this time, as they could attack you.
Pick up the bird very gently, and place it into the basket. Take special care not to squeeze the bird, as its bones are very thin and delicate. Pay no heed to what you may have heard about a bird's parents abandoning their babies that have been touched by humans. This is not true.
Pick up the basket and hang it from the tree in which the bird had its original nest. This way the parents will easily be able to find the bird.
Check on the bird regularly, observing from a distance. It may take several days before it learns to fly, and it may occasionally jump out of the basket onto the ground again. If it does, just put the bird back in the basket as before.