Woodpecker - Renesting and Reuniting

Background Information

Woodpeckers nest in holes (known as a “nest cavity”) that they create in living or dead trees. They will also nest in manmade structures such as houses and siding. The young remain in the nest cavity until they can fly, but a baby’s first attempts at flying are often clumsy, and sometimes young birds will end up on the ground. In these cases, they should be able to climb a nearby tree to return to their nest cavity.

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.

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

Timeline

Renest or reunite woodpeckers during the day when the parents are active. If you picked up and kept the bird for 12 hours or more AND no other babies remain in the nest area, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 1).

Renesting and Monitoring Netslings

1. Try to identify where the nestling came from. Look around the location where you found the baby to see if there are any adult woodpeckers and locations where a nest cavity could be (such as trees or houses with hollows). If you can see the nest cavity but cannot reach it, try reaching out to tree trimming services or neighbors for help putting the baby back. If other young birds are still present in the original nest, but you cannot return the baby, we recommend calling Project Wildlife for further guidance (Box 1). If the entire nest or nesting hole is on the ground, continue to the next steps to create a new nest box.
2. Make a new nest box (if needed). You can build a wooden nesting box using instructions found online here.
   Keep in mind, the entry hole needs to be large enough for adult birds to enter and nests tend to face east for better temperature control. If this is not an option, we recommend bringing the bird(s) to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 1).
3. Securely attach the nest box. Return to where you found the babies and attach the nest as close to the suspected original nest as you can. Nail or screw the nest directly to the tree or use zip ties or bungee cords to secure the nest to branches.
4. Add the babies and monitor the nest box. Observe the nest box continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parents will not return if you or other animals are too close to the babies. To help monitor the nest from a distance, we recommend using a camera, computer or similar device, if possible. 
5. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if you can spot the parents coming to the nest. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the parents, check on the babies. If they are still doing OK, 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 1).

Reuniting and Monitoring Fledglings

1. If the area is safe, return or leave fledgling at the location where they were found. Fledglings typically do not leave their nest cavity until they can fly. First flights are often awkward and weak which can result in fledglings being found on the ground.
   Healthy babies should be able to climb, hop, walk, etc. You can place the baby on the trunk of a nearby tree to encourage them to climb off the ground. If the bird attempts to fly and falls again, they are either too young to be out of the nest (see above) or injured and we would recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 1).
2. 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 to the baby. To help monitor the fledgling from a distance, we recommend using a camera, computer or similar device, if possible.
3. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if the parents return 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, 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 1).