Hummingbirds - 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
Hummingbirds nest in many locations, including those often occupied by humans such as patios, walking trails, etc. The nests are very small, not much bigger than a ping pong ball, and may be on very low branches in shrubs. Only female hummingbirds raise the young, so babies are frequently left alone for short periods while the mother is out looking for food — until they are old enough to fly and keep up with her. Young birds leave the nest when they can fly, but a baby’s first attempts at flying are typically clumsy and short.
Note: Young birds have yellowish coloration on the corners of their beak. If the bird has any red or pink on their head or throat, they are an injured adult rather than an orphan. If you’ve found an injured adult, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation. If we find no treatment is needed, we may ask you to return the bird back to where you found 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.
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Nestling
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Fledgling
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Health Check
Renest or reunite healthy babies only. The mom 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, limping or bleeding)
- 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 hummingbirds during the day when mom is active. If you picked up and kept the bird for four daylight hours or more, 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 adult hummingbirds or bushes with nests. Remember, hummingbird nests are very small and often decorated with moss-like plants. They may be less than six feet off the ground. If possible, simply return the baby to the original nest. If you cannot identify where the baby was likely to have fallen from, we recommend bringing the baby to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).
- If the original nest is damaged or you are unable to find it, you will need to make a new nest. Choose a shallow plastic container (such as an empty Chobani yogurt cup, or something similar) big enough to hold the baby, and poke holes in bottom for drainage. Line the container with grasses and moss to make a nest. If you have the original nest, you can place it inside the container instead.
- Return to where you found the baby and attach the nest as close to the suspected original nest as you can. Use zip ties or similar sturdy material to secure the nest. Once the nest is secure, add the young.
- Monitor the nest. Observe the nest area continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parent 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 see the mom coming to the nest, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the mom, the bird is a confirmed orphan.
If the mom doesn’t return within one hour or if the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the baby to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).
Reuniting and Monitoring Fledglings
- If the area is safe, return or leave fledgling at the location where they were found. Fledglings leave the nest and make short flights around their nest area.
These flights are often clumsy and may result in a crash or premature landing, causing the baby to potentially end up in an odd location (sidewalk, parking lot, etc.). Place the baby on a branch or other elevated location off the ground. If the bird cannot fly at all that could mean they are sick, injured or too young to be out of the nest (see nestling instructions). - Monitor the fledgling. Observe the fledgling continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parent 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 mom comes to the fledgling. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the mom, check on the baby. If they are still doing OK, you can give the mom another hour.
If the mom does not return to the baby within two 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