Crows and Ravens - Renesting and Reuniting
Baby birds are most successful when raised by their parents in the wild. These babies receive the most natural and appropriate nutrition from the parents, learn where and how to forage or hunt, are taught how to recognize and avoid predators and other dangers, and are overall more adaptable and resilient when raised by parents in the wild. For these reasons, we try to reunite baby birds with their families whenever possible.
Young birds are often left alone while their parents look for food. Parents may also leave their babies temporarily in order to avoid attracting other animals to the nest. If you find a fallen nest, or baby bird without parents, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the bird has been abandoned or orphaned. We always assume the parents are alive and caring for their babies unless proven otherwise.
If you moved a bird, found a single baby bird or disturbed a nest, please use this resource to attempt to reunite them with their parents and monitor the health of the baby bird(s) unless both mom AND dad are found deceased. Please note that, contrary to popular belief, parents will not abandon their babies because you touched them. However, parents will not return if you are too close because humans are seen as threats. Successfully reuniting baby birds with their parents requires you to provide both time and space away from the nesting area.
Background Information
Crows and ravens make large nests out of dead branches, usually in the upper third portion of a tree near the trunk. The parents leave their babies alone for up to two hours while out looking for food.
Because a baby’s first attempts at flying are often clumsy and weak, many crows end up on the ground prematurely where parents will still care for them.
Bird Age and Type
Before you begin the renesting or reuniting effort, please use the information below to confirm the age and the type of bird you found. Once confirmed, follow the renesting instructions based on the bird’s age.
Young crows and ravens have blue eyes, bright pink mouths and black or grey beaks. As the bird gets older, their eyes change color. Once the eyes are brown, the bird should be able to fly. If the bird you found has brown eyes and you were able to catch them, they are likely an injured or sick adult. We would recommend bringing this bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (Box 2).
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Nestling
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Fledgling
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Health Check
Renest or reunite healthy babies only. The parents won’t return for a sick baby or be able to help them recover.
Check for the following:
- Significant injury (the bird has broken bones, deep cuts or a drooping wing, or is non-responsive, gasping, limp, bleeding, etc.)
- Signs of illness: cold to the touch, falling over, discharge from eyes or nose, crusty eyes
- Seen attacked by a cat (or other animal)
- Mites or lice all over their body
- Ant, fly or maggot infestation on the bird or in the nest
We recommend bringing any baby with these symptoms to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2). Minor scratches or bruises are not cause for concern unless known to be caused by a cat attack.
If the baby does not have any of these symptoms and seems healthy, begin the renesting process. If the baby feels cold, warm them before the renesting process (Box 1).
Box 1: Heat Sources
Instant Hand Warmers
HotHands® or similar. Lasts about 5 hours.
Rice Sock
Fill a sock with uncooked rice and microwave until warm. Lasts 1-2 hours.
- Check that heat source won't burn baby.
- Make sure baby has space to move away form heat source.
Timeline
Renest or reunite crows or ravens during the day when the parents are active. If you picked up and kept the bird for eight daylight hours or more AND no other babies remain outside, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).
Renesting and Monitoring Netslings
- Try to identify where the nestling came from. Look around the location where you found the baby to see if there are any adults could be the parents (birds of the same species) or tall trees with nests. If the entire nest is on the ground, look for where it may have fallen from. If possible, simply return the baby to the original nest and secure it back into the tree, if needed. Ask for help from tree services, building maintenance or neighbors if access is a problem.
- If you cannot find the original nest or the nest is damaged, you will need to create a new one. Choose a shallow plastic container big enough to hold the baby. Poke holes in the bottom for drainage. Add some grass, sticks or moss to the bottom to create a nest.
- Return to where you found the baby and attach the nest as close to the suspected original nest as you can. Use zip ties, nails or other sturdy material to secure the nest. Once secure, add the baby bird(s).
- Monitor the nest. Observe the nest area continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parents will not return if you or other animals are too close. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the nest, if possible.
Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if you can spot a parent coming to the nest. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents during your first hour of observation, check on the young. If they are still doing OK, you can give the parents another hour.
Reuniting and Monitoring Fledglings
- If the area is safe, return or leave fledgling at the location where they were found. Fledglings commonly leave the nest or nest tree a bit early, but the parents are very good at caring for them on the ground. If the baby is hopping around and making short flights, simply leave them where you found them. If the baby is sitting still and not moving around, move them to a nearby branch. Fledgling crows and ravens are very mobile and will often be found further from their family than other bird species. They can also take several weeks to fully fledge, so being on the ground or only capable of short flights is completely normal. Be aware that if the parents are nearby, they may not appreciate your help and may fly at you. They pose no real risk if you carry an umbrella or wear a hat to prevent scratches.
- Monitor the fledgling. Observe the fledgling continuously for two hours from a distance. Remember, the parents will not return if you or other animals are too close. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the fledgling, if possible.
- Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if the parents come to the fledgling. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents, check on the baby. If they are still doing OK, you can give the parents another two hours.
If the parents don’t return to the baby within four hours or if the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).
Box 2: Project Wildlife Drop-Off and Contact Information
You can drop off confirmed orphans during our admission hours: seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (excluding major holidays).
Project Wildlife
Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center
5433 Gaines St.
San Diego, CA 92110
619-299-7012
sdhumane.org