Songbirds - 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
Songbird parents leave their babies alone for up to one hour while looking for food. Young songbirds stay in the nest until they can fly, but their first flights are usually short and weak, meaning it’s common for them to be found on the ground near their nest.
Bird Age and Type
Songbird parents leave their babies alone for up to one hour while looking for food. Young songbirds stay in the nest until they can fly, but their first flights are usually short and weak, meaning it’s common for them to be found on the ground near their nest.
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Nestling
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Fledgling
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If you believe that the bird is not a nestling or fledgling, and in fact 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 nor be able to help them recover.
Check for the following:
- Significant injury (the bird has broken bone, 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 starting 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 songbirds during the day when the parents are active. If you picked up and kept the bird for eight or more daylight hours 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 that could be the parents (songbirds of the same species). If possible, simply return the baby to the original nest. Ask for help from tree trimming services, building maintenance or neighbors if access is a problem. If you cannot find the original nest, you will need to create a new nest.
- To create a new nest, use a basket or a tissue box lined with tissues, grass, sticks or moss 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 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 observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents during your first hour of observation, check on the young. If all remains well, you can give the parents another hour.
If the parents don’t return to the baby within two 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
- Return or leave fledgling at the location where they were found. Fledglings leave the nest and move around branches in their nest tree, but since they aren’t great at flying yet, they will likely end up on the ground. If you see a fledgling on the ground, the parents will still care for them there.
- 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 nest or tend 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