Gulls - Renesting and Reuniting

Background Information

Gulls nest on piers, roofs and other manmade structures, in addition to more natural spaces. They may nest alone or in groups, and their nest isn’t much more than a loose circle of plant material. Babies depend on their parents for food but can stand and walk almost immediately after hatching. The parents routinely leave their young alone while out looking for food, typically for up to two hours at a time.

When the parents return with food, they call the young and young return to them and/or the nest for feedings. Gulls will walk around and explore their surroundings long before they start to fly. Depending on where the nest is and the age of the bird in question, finding a young, non-flying gull in an odd area (such as on the sidewalk) may be completely normal.

Bird Age and Type

Estimate the baby bird’s age by choosing the closest description, then follow the correct reuniting or renesting instructions.

If you believe that the bird is not a nestling or fledgling, but is an injured or ill adult bird, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for further evaluation and potential rehabilitation. If we find that no treatment is required, we may ask you to return the bird to where you found them.

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. Minor scratches or bruises are not cause for concern unless known to be caused by a cat attack.

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

1. Try to identify where the nestling came from, and return or leave the baby gull in the nesting area. Young gulls do not need to be placed in a nest, as they start moving about in the general area of their nest soon after hatching. If the gull is on the ground in a natural setting (such as a beach), they may already be in their nesting area and no action is needed. If the gull is on the ground in a more urban setting (such as a sidewalk in a city), the nesting area is probably on a nearby rooftop, piling or other elevated structure. In this case, the baby needs to be returned to the nesting area. If you cannot return the baby to the nesting area due to access issues or inability to locate the nesting area, we recommend calling Project Wildlife for further guidance (See Box 2).
2. Monitor the nest area. Once the nestling has been returned or left in the nesting area, observe continuously for two hours from a distance. Remember, the parents will not return if humans or other animals are too close. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the nest area, if possible.
3. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if you can spot a parent coming to the nest area. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents during your first hour of observation, check on the baby. If they are doing OK, give the parents another two hours.

If the parents don’t return to the baby within four hours or the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).

Reuniting and Monitoring Fledglings

1. Return or leave the fledgling at the location they were found. Fledglings move around a lot and are starting to make short flights and flap their wings. They can reunite with their parents even if they are in a location other than the nest area. If the baby is in a dangerous location (such as a busy road), encourage them to move toward a safer location by slowly herding them. Walk slowly toward the bird with arms extended, guiding them toward desired location.
2. Monitor the fledgling. Observe the fledgling continuously for two hours from a distance. Remember, the parents will not return if humans or other animals are too close to the baby. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the fledgling, if possible.
3. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if the parents come to the baby. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents, check on the baby. If the baby is still doing OK, give the parents another two hours.

If the parents don’t return to the baby within four hours or the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).