Found A Bird?

Why, When, & How to Rescue Birds

Contact us for immediate help:

TEXT a picture and situation description to: 541-728-8208

Text is quickest. Calls will be answered as soon as we are out of ear shot of our patients.
Hours: 9 am to 9 pm, everyday, even holidays.
Do not send requests for help through email.
Response time is immediately or less than an hour.

Two key quick questions to determine if rescue is needed:

Is the bird easy to catch?
Is the bird's behavior outside of the species' normal behavior? Yes? Rescue.
Example: Is a normally flying Swallow sitting out in the open on the ground?

EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

These are quick tips for when to rescue. Note, birds have only minor facial expressions, so most will look "fine." Often, they may seem "tame," they are not. Flight does not mean a bird is healthy; it's just one factor to consider. Please read about babies below!

Step One - Adults: OBSERVE

Stay back and watch the bird. What is he doing that is concerning?
Is the bird EASY TO CATCH OR PICK UP? Number one sign something is off or wrong.
Can the bird stand, walk? Does not fly well or at all?
Obvious wounds? Drooping wing? Listless? Bloody?
Does baby (or adult) FEEL cold? (legs, bare skin areas).
Did you see the bird get caught by a predator or hit a window?

Step One - Babies: OBSERVE

TEXT us a picture. This is the quickest way to know what to do.
Then, scroll down to When to Rescue a Baby Bird section below.

Step Two: ASSESS WHAT HAPPENED

Window? All must come in, regardless of how or if they fly. Lots of injured birds can fly.
Cat? Car? Other predator? All must come in.
Fell? How far? From what and onto what? With tree limbs?
Where is the family, nest, flock?

Step Three: HELP THE BIRD - TAKE A PICTURE & TEXT US.

IF ANY OF THE ABOVE, RESCUE.
DO NOT pull the wings out! This can misalign fractures.
Do not pet, sweet talk, or stare at bird.
Put bird in anything you have, a bag, box, shirt, whatever.
READ ABOUT BABIES BELOW

CAUTIONS:

Not all babies that are easy to catch are in danger. But many are. Trust your gut.
Babies can be abandoned by parents: runts, diseased, parasite infested, injured, or on the ground (where some birds will not go to care for babies, like swallows). These birds will not survive without help.
Downy, walking babies? Precocial, scroll down. CALL and CONSULT WITH US.

Why Rescue - What befalls birds

Birds need help for many reasons. Here are just a few.
Misinformation abounds on the internet. Read on for tips and tricks for deciding when to rescue a bird.

Window-stricken: Rescue ALL!

Birds hit windows going 20-30 miles per hour. Most have some kind of injury.
Injuries impair foraging and ability to function, which can lead to starvation.
Injuries caused: traumatic brain injury (TMI); fractures; hematomas & wounds; eye and spinal injuries; internal injuries, neurological injuries (torticollis), as well as others.
Never let a window stricken bird fly off or escape.

Cat/Dog/Predator Caught: Rescue ALL!

ALL must come in. Cats carry bacteria toxic to birds. Even a small, unseen scratches can kill a bird.
Internal injuries are not obvious. Talons and dog mouthing can easily injure the tiny bones and organs of birds.

Other Tragedies: Trust your gut. TEXT for help.

Your concerns are likely warranted. People have proven this to me time and again.
Follow your gut. Empathy is love.

When to Rescue a Baby Bird?

Several factors must be considered when a baby bird seems distressed or out of place. Is the baby acting in a way that is normal for that species? How old (stage of development) is the baby? Is the baby healthy? Why is the baby/young bird where she or he is? Both 'kidnapping' babies AND leaving a suffering baby are problematic. We need our thinking caps on.

TEXT us a picture!
Tell us what you know.

Birds are challenging - they lack the facial expressions mammals have and can be excellent fakers. Many appear to be "fine". Even those with serious injuries may need an expert eye to determine health.

Determine species if you can. We can help you on this.
Easy to catch? How vigorous? See list of risks above. Any in play with your found babe?
Could the babe or young one be injured?
What do you think happened?
How long has a hatchling or nestling been on the ground? Does the bird feel cold, listless, eyes closing?
Where's the family? Siblings? Nest?
Downy, walking "precocial" birds that seem orphaned or lost - Text us, do not take the bird yet.
Not all babies that are easy to catch are in danger. But many are because babies get hurt, easily.
CALL and CONSULT WITH US!

Myth busting: Babies and juvenile birds

Please ignore all infographics that have simplified what to do if you find a baby bird!.
Most baby songbirds should never be on the ground. Many fledglings fly straight out of the nest. Others spend time well-hidden in dense shrubs or trees. Not out in the open where they are at risk.
Birds do not 'learn to fly''!!! They are either not developed enough to fly yet or are injured. Some babies leave the nest before they can fly, but they should be well-hidden in shrubs and trees, not out in the open, easy prey.
Fledglings are horribly misunderstood generally, even by those we think should be authorities.
Not all young birds spend time on the ground - only ground foraging species do.
Know the species, age, and health to decide what to do.
Birds that are immobile, listless, subdued, look distressed, do not try to escape - need help.
IF the bird is physically unable to fly and is not a healthy, active, agile fledgling. Rescue.
All young birds with feathers are NOT fledglings.
Never put babies in another fake nest away from the other babies. This is a death sentence. Renesting takes thought and planning, and the bird needs a health assessment before renesting. In some cases when the nest just fell, perhaps.
Text for a consult.

Species + Age + Health + Location + Situation

Hatchling Northern Flickers

Killdeer baby & parent

SPECIES MATTERS!

190 species of birds nest in Central Oregon!
What to do depends on what species the bird is.
We will identify the bird for you.

ALTRICIAL - Songbirds, others

Means born naked, eyes closed, & stay in the nest
ALL Songbirds are altricial (most yard birds are songbirds).
Corvids (jays, crows, ravens) are altricial
Herons & hawks are semi-altricial - born downy, eyes open
Owls are semi-altricial - born downy, but eyes closed

PRECOCIAL - Four types

Born downy, eyes open.
No 100% precocial birds in North America.
All Shorebirds are precocial class 2 - walks in hours, follows parents, feeds on own, may be fed by parents.
Ducks/geese are precocial class 2 - walks in hours, follows parents, feeds on own.
Quail are precocial class 3 - follows parents, look to parents to know what to eat.
Rails & grebes are precocial class 4 - walks in hours, follows parents, fed by parents.
Gulls are semi-precocial - stays in nest, fed by parents.

Altricial Songbird Fledging Patterns

These species fly straight out of the nest: all swallows, black & mtn chickadee, all woodpeckers, bushtit, mountain & western bluebird, pine siskin, red crossbill, pygmy, white breasted, and red breasted nuthatch, Say’s Phoebe, all hummingbirds, Vaux’s swift, western tanager (also brancher), western wood pewee. Any of these on the ground should be investigated as to why.
These species hop out of nest as late nestlings and hang out quietly in nearby shrubs (for ground nesters) and trees for all of them ('branchers'): They should not be huddled on the ground, or hiding in grass or behind the shed, etc. Assess health (warm? dehydrated? parasites? sickly or weak? skinny? disease or deformity? See list above. Text for consult. All sparrows (chipping, savannah, fox, house), all finch (goldfinch, house, purple), cedar waxwing, dark eyed junco, warblers (orange crowned, yellow, yellow-rumped etc), mourning and collared dove, flycatchers, red crossbill, pygmy nuthatch, blackbirds, western meadowlark. A healthy, warm, well-fed, active brancher can be put up near their siblings, or nest.
Robins - text us a picture. That's easiest. See below.

AGE: HOW OLD IS THE BIRD?

Hatchling - naked, maybe downy tufts, eyes closed. Rescue any that are on the ground.
Nestling - feathers in shafts (pins) or small and developing. Small wings, downy tufts. Rescue any on the ground.
Brancher - in between stage, more developed than nestling, but not flighted or far from nest.
Some branchers (robins, jays, sparrows, mockingbirds, a few others) get out into the trees, shrubs, and sometimes the ground at this stage. Lack of low branches and shrubs and vegetation puts them at risk.
Fledgling - young birds that can fly, either right out of the nest (most common) or from the trees. Most will have no downy tufts, larger wings capable of flight, longer but not completely developed tails.
Fledgling robins, doves, jays, a few others: a few birds leave the nest before they can fly very well. They spend some time on the ground or in low shrubs being cared for by the parents.
Fledglings can wind up in trouble.
Call us if you think one needs assistance.

Risk Factors:

Lack of low branches and shrubs/vegetation puts branchers and fledglings at risk as they cannot hide or get back up into the safety of a tree.
Predators - cats, raccoons, corvids (jays, crows, ravens), squirrels, chipmunks, and mice can raid or destroy nests or young.
Disturbance from nest watching, tree climbing, high winds and storms, etc can cause nestlings to jump out of the nest too early. These birds can wind up in trouble.
Poor nest location or poor design can result in nest failure, and babies to fall to the ground.
Tree limbing or removal often causes birds to leave nests early or fall to the ground. Not just the target tree, but trees close by as well.
Intentional exclusion by neighbors or the city.

A cold, wet, suffering nestling robin. Feathers do NOT mean a fledgling!!! This one has undeveloped pin feathers.

HEALTH: IS THE BABY WELL OR INJURED?

Is the baby:

hypothermic (seriously cold) from being out of the nest too long?
Injured from the fall? Bruising? Internal issues?
Cat/dog/predator caught?
Wet? Shivering? Hunkered down?
Pin feathers or naked?
Parasite?
Sick or diseased?
Orphaned? Dead siblings or parents?
Starving and skinny?
Dehydrated from not feeding?

WHAT CAUSED THE BABY TO BE ON THE GROUND?

This tells us how the baby might be injured.
How far she fell and what she landed on (like cement) tells us if there may be injuries, internal or bones.
Are the siblings or parents alive? Well?

LOCATION: WHERE WAS THE BABY FOUND?

SITUATION: WHAT HAS/IS HAPPENING? (or best guess)
This nestling Scrub Jay was left out all day. The caring finder was told he was a "fledgling" and advised to leave him out because the parents were feeding him. He survived somehow, and she finally called us. Once in care it was clear this baby had a serious leg fracture. The baby sat on cement and baked all day in the hot sun. Bad advice is prevalent with baby birds.

Even organizations or agencies that are "authorities" make poor and hasty decisions about baby birds. Do as this wise finder did, follow your gut. Call or Text.

Nestling Scrub Jay with leg fracture out in the open on a sidewalk. Finally rescued.

How to Help Babies in Distress

HATCHLINGS & NESTLINGS - evaluate these, then text us.

Text a picture
How long out of nest?
Cold? Obvious injury?
Dead siblings? Parents?
Nest condition? Predators?

FLEDGLINGS (full or partially flighted, short to long tail)

See list under "When to Rescue" above.
Healthy fledglings will be actively hopping about and hard to catch.
Fledglings with downy tufts and short tails can be placed up into a tree IF they are HEALTHY? See list.
Fledglings that are easy to catch, listless, eyes closing, or otherwise don't look good, CALL for evaluation. Place into a shirt or somewhere warm.
Fledglings that have any injuries, must come in.
Fledglings with dead or missing parents must come in.

Black Capped Chickadee feeding flighted fledgling. Chickadees fly from the nest. She is safe in the shrubs and trees.

Open tree, shrub, and ground nesters can more easily be disturbed or feel the need to leave the nest. Nests are not safe havens, babies and adults are vulnerable when in them. These fledglings have some weak flight ability upon leaving the nest, and stay hidden in shrubs or trees.

Goldfinch, House Finch, Sparrows, Warblers, and Hummingbirds are all open nesters. Babies can be scared out of the nest too soon. Predators can kill adults, and siblings.

Tree removal and limbing in the Spring and Summer can be a death sentence for birds! Please only do this during the fall and winter.

Fledgling birds know how to fly!

Many baby songbirds develop fully in the nest or cavity and fly out of the nest when ready, following their parents. For others, they get out of the nest but hang out in the vicinity of the nest, exercising their wings and making short flights. Ground nesting fledglings, like sparrows and juncos, stay hidden in the shrubs. Each species has it's own style of development and nest departure.

Cavity nesters, like these Chickadees, can take more time in the nest because it is more protected from predators. All cavity nesting fledglings should be able to fly from the nest.

Lesser Goldfinch nestlings found on the ground after tree was removed. Parents abandoned. Not fledglings!

When to Renest & How

Nest or baby blown down: Call us!

If the babies were not out more than an hour and you can get the nest back up, you can replace. Warm the babies first by warming up a sock with rice in it for 30 seconds. Test temperature before putting near babies. Call for more help.

Renesting: Do not renest any baby bird without consulting with us and getting instructions. Many renests fail. House sparrows and starlings may be renested. Sometimes robins, but please consult us on how to do this correctly and allow us to at least, by phone, evaluate the birds.
Renesting is extremely risky. The nest is actually not a very safe place, it can be obvious to predators. Birds try to leave the nest for this reason as soon as possible. Which is why disturbance is so problematic. It can cause birds too young to jump out of the nest.
We renest only if we know: baby has a parent, siblings are living, nest is intact and has not been predated, predators are not lurking about, baby has no trauma or injuries(see below), and if the nest fail was purely accidental.
If it is determined that reuniting is safe and the nest is free from harm, we will advise.
Sometimes a nest box can be put up and the babies moved. HOWEVER, this should NOT be done if raccoons, jays, crows, ravens, or cats are in the area. Renesting is obvious, as is the box. We certainly do not want to just put the babies up just to have them eaten.
For species that nest on a home, it is relatively safer to put a box up on a house. Flickers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, other yard cavity nesters can be placed here. In fact, this is how we exclude these species - we give them their own box.
Open nests in trees are also risky. A robin and corvid renests can be successful if everything is perfect - healthy family and babies, no predators watching you, good nest location. Larger birds are generally safer than the little ones as the parents can defend the nest. (more later).
Branchers can be put back up into trees if they are not suffering any of the traumas listed above.

Case Studies to Guide You.

This Western Wood Pewee is NOT a fledgling. The finder was wise to help her. This species flies straight out of the nest. One of her siblings did just that. But this one and the other sibling fluttered to the ground and were too undeveloped to fly at all.

Look closely, you will see very small wings and no tail. Also, note the yellow around the bill. This baby is still a nestling. Staying on the ground would have been a death sentence.

This baby needs another week of development. The other sibling was strong enough to evade us and stay in the trees where her parents could feed her. This little one could not fly. Finding the nest was impossible and something spooked the babies out of the nest making the nest unsafe. She came into care and was reunited with her family once flighted.

This nestling Black Headed Grosbeak was found on the ground and the parents were not seen for a full day. This species actually does get out of the nest at the brancher stage. The babies disperse into the shrubs and trees, separate from each other and hide out. They make quiet chirps to let the parents know where they are so they can feed them.

Being out on the ground in the open was a sign that this baby was in distress. In fact, the family had abandoned him. We could not find any parents or siblings.

This baby was sick, he had mites as well. This is likely why the family abandoned him. Clearly, he was a runt. He needed extra care to recover from whatever ailment he had. Likely, he was fed an insect with a pesticide on it. This is common. He survived with some dedicated treatment and care.

This nestling Tree Swallow was found on the ground, unable to fly, sitting listless, and easy to catch. Swallows are primarily an aerial insectivore (insect eater). Rarely will they glean insects off surfaces, like the ground. Swallows do land on the ground, for various reasons, but you would never catch a healthy one. Birds incapable of fleeing from predators (like us) are at risk.

This one was taken home and fed a store-bought baby food. This can kill a species like this. They lack the digestive enzymes for grains. Please do not attempt to care for birds.

Getting baby bird feathers dirty can result in loss of feathers. This can lead to bare patches as sometimes the feather follicle can be damaged. Bare spots in feathering can lead to a bird being unable to stay warm or protected from sun.

Even though this Tree Swallow has wings, they are not developed enough for flight. Her gunky face is hard to see, but she also has a lot of yellow around the bill, indicating she is not quite a fledgling.

Swallows of any species leave the nest entirely flighted. They might land on a nearby telephone wire, tree branch, or even the nest box. They will sit with their siblings getting fed and taking practice foraging flights. Some will simply shoot off into the distance.

This adult Tree Swallow has fully developed wings, feathering, the tail is the same length as the wings.

The little one did come into care finally. She was fed the right foods, and given the opportunity to continue her development.

Sometimes parasites, poor weather, a lack of insects, and nest disturbance can result in a young birds leaving the nest before they are ready. That happened here.

Some of the babies may fledge and fly off, leaving the less developed (runts). These babes might jump out of the nest to join the flock but be unable to fly, landing on the ground, where they are easy prey.

American Robins have a long development that leaves them not fully flighted once out of the nest. The term "fledgling" refers to a range of development for these birds. Young often 'fledge' (leave the nest) as young as this little one. Yet, they are not quite ready. The small wings and the amount of yellow around the bill tell us she is still quite young, not a fledgling.

I call these 'branchers', as that is where they are safest, in the branches of a tree, not on the ground. In a habitat with a lot of lush shrubs and vegetation, and low branches for them to ladder up, these little ones can do ok if there are no lurking predators and parents are actively feeding them. In Central Oregon where it is common for people to remove low limbs and native shrubs, for fire and aesthetics, these tiny birds have a hard time.

Nestlings like this can wind up skinny, injured, and cold. If they cannot get up into a tree or shrub with their siblings at night, then our cold nights can wear them down. Predators, like cats and raccoons, as well as jays, crows, and ravens, eat a lot of baby birds stuck on the ground here in Central Oregon. We just lack the dense shrubbery that gives safety. Of course, rivers and more natural areas have better habitat.

One should always ask, 'Why is this baby on the ground?' What happened? Perhaps a large storm blew her out. Perhaps a corvid or raccoon raided the nest. Perhaps the parents died and she is orphaned and hungry. perhaps there was a parasite infestation in the nest (mites for ex). Perhaps someone accidentally took her tree out. Etc, etc.

What we can do is look for the nest and the possible reasons. Look at her physically to see if she is suffering any disease, parasites, starvation, injuries, etc. Warm her up and if it's only a matter of wind blowing the nest, refashion that nest and let the parents care for the babies. Robins can be renested, but it takes times, professional evaluation, observation, and everything being perfect. We do renest robins, but frankly not that often as they often have something wrong. Text us.

A. Nestling 'brancher' healthy & safe in the trees; B. Nestling, injured & cold; C. Fledgling, short tail, agile, healthy; D. Fully flighted fledgling. The first is safe up in a tree, the second should come in to care. C is likely fine if there is sufficient shrubbery and low branches.

Other Baby Birds

Hatchling Pied-Billed Grebe. Disturbed by paddle-boarder, got soaked, came in for care. Reunited in the end.

Precocial birds are born downy and can walk, some can swim. Ex: quail, killdeer and other shorebirds, geese/ducks, grebes.

Precocial babies with no parents - disturbance may have sent babies running. Stand way back and hide, stay in car, or home. Wait one hour. Parents should come out from hiding and call all the chicks.
If baby still not with family in an hour, rescue.
Wild shorebirds, duck-like birds (rails, grebes), other precocial babies around water. Watch and stay back. Text us.
If wet, cold, obvious issue. Rescue. NOTE EXACT LOCATION FOUND!
Keep boats/boards OUT OF THE REEDS DURING SPRING AND SUMMER!
Downy babies are NOT FULLY WATERPROOF. If they are forced into swimming by our disturbance, they can wind up too wet and cold to leave. Intervention to warm and find the parents will be needed. Text us.

Adults: Waterbirds

Grebes and other water birds:
Found a duck like bird on the road or parking lot?

Rescue! All downed waterbirds should come to rescue to be warmed, rehydrated, and checked for injuries.
1) Migratory waterbirds can accidentally land on pavement.

2) Injury is common in landing or be why they landed.

3) Birds must be waterproof, and healthy to release. Expert care is often needed.
4) Waterproofing is often lost when landing. Bird in picture is NOT waterproof. Look for small dark hole at lower part of neck. Looks like a necklace. This is a spot that water can get past feathers and onto her skin. Causing hypothermia, and ultimate death.
5) Care: do not overly handle or feed waterbirds.

Food or handling can contaminate feathers, hurting their waterproofing.
Dehydration happens fast. Birds cannot process food when dehydrated. Do not feed.
Migratory waterbirds often cannot process food due to special migratory status of their intestines. Do not feed.
Never place in bathtub- this kills waterproofing as their poop is full of oil.
Waterbirds on ground are ALL COLD: place on thick towel, in box, place in warm room. TEXT.

6) Find a rehabber: call your local state or federal fish and wildlife; call a local veterinarian, humane society, or other animal related organization; search "wildlife rescue" for your area; go here; or contact the NWRA Central Office at 320-230-9920.

Non waterproof Horned Grebe.

7) Getting waterproofing back. Please take bird to a rehabber...ONLY experienced rehabbers can do this...The bird will NOT get its waterproofing back in the wild....it will get hypothermia and die.
IF REMOTE: TEXT us for advice, we can assist you.

Please do not let children or pets near these birds.

Need Help? TEXT us we are happy to assist. Or if your rehabber needs advice, you may contact me at 541-728-8208 or by email at lovenativebirds@gmail.com.

Why, When, & How to Rescue Birds​