How to help songbirds
Birds will not abandon their young if a human touches a baby.
Harmony can help injured adult songbirds as well as baby owls, eyases (hawks and falcons), and baby mourning doves.
We do not have the necessary staffing resources to care for baby songbirds. If you have a baby songbird, please call or text Ziggy’s Treehouse at (931) 841-9781 and Walden’s Puddle at (615) 559-9453. Leave a message. They will call you back as soon as they can.
I found a nest on the ground with eggs or baby birds inside
If you find a nest with young birds in it, wire it back up in the tree you believe it fell from. Make sure it is protected from rain or too much sun and try to get it has high as you can.
If the nest is broken, take a plastic container (like a butter bowl) just large enough to hold the nest.
Poke some holes in the bottom of the container for drainage and securely wire it back to the tree with the nest and birds in it.
Watch from a considerable distance for a few hours for the parents to return. If there is no activity after several hours, contact a rehabilitator.
I found a naked baby bird or a bird with tiny feathers
If you find a bird this young, the nest is probably nearby. Look for adults flying nearby or at you. The adult birds can help you locate the nest.
If you find the nest, make sure the bird you found looks exactly the same as the other babies in the nest. If they are alike, put the bird in the nest.
Move away and watch. If the parents return and attend to the babies, everything should be fine.
If the baby is thrown from the nest, please follow temporary care instructions below and contact a rehab that cares for baby birds, such as Ziggy’s Treehouse at (931) 841-9781 and Walden’s Puddle at (615) 559-9453.
I found a baby bird with most of its feathers.
A baby bird with most of its feathers is a called a fledgling. Fledglings cannot fly yet but will jump to the ground when they are ready to leave. A young bird will not remain in the nest or on a branch if it is ready to fledge.
The parents continue to feed the youngsters on the ground until the babies learn to find their own food. If you are concerned that a fledgling is orphaned, watch and listen from a distance. Usually a parent will come down and feed it about once an hour. Sometimes the parents will call to the babies, encouraging them to move closer for food. If you are certain that there are no parents feeding, contact a rehabilitator for advice.
Guidelines for temporary songbird care
Use a cardboard box or unwaxed paper bag appropriate to the size of the bird (the container should allow at least 3 inches of space between the bird and the walls on all sides). Crows may be housed in a plastic pet carrier with a towel or sheet draped over the the carrier door. Ensure there are air holes on two up- per sides of the box to allow sufficient airflow.
The container should be placed in a warm quiet area, such as a closet or empty room. Keeping wildlife where they cannot see or hear predators (including people) minimizes their stress and improves their chances of survival.
Never house wild birds in wire cages (such as those used for domestic birds) or any other container with slats or bars, even temporarily, as wild birds often hit their wings against the bars and can break their feathers. They can also get a wing or leg caught between the bars, especially if the limb is fractured.
Where possible, containers should be lined prior to rescue with clean, soft, string-free material such as a pillowcase or square of fleece/flannel.
Nestling songbirds or those who cannot stand up or balance should be given a "donut," which can be made by rolling a small piece of material lengthways and taping the two ends together to form a donut shape that is the size of the bird's body. Place a string-free piece of material over the donut to protect the bird from the tape. For very small nestlings, use rolled toilet paper or paper towel to create the donut and the covering. Nestle the bird inside the circular shape for support.
Adult songbirds may be housed at room temperature. Babies and juveniles who are not yet fully feathered (i.e., still have feather shafts visible), or any bird who appears fluffed up or wet should be given a heat source, such as a heating pad set on low underneath half of the container. You can use glove warmers, microwaveable water bottles, or, as a last resort, a plastic bottle or other leak-proof container filled with hot tap water wrapped in a thin towel as an alternative to a heating pad, though they must be replaced frequently as they cool down. Be sure the heat source cannot roll onto the bird.
If you have an adult songbird that is standing, appears alert and has no apparent difficulties with balance you may offer water in a shallow, heavy bowl that won't tip. For very small birds, use a smaller dish, such as a metal jar lid. Be sure to remove the water dish prior to transport. Do not offer food.