In the third grade, my instructor found what she thought was an abandoned baby bird on the schoolhouse grounds. She asked if someone in the form would treat it, and days afterward, the European Starling I named Bluego (for a reason I wish I remembered) was living in a cardboard box in my sleeping accommodation, padded with fake spider web left over from Halloween. As a child, I was thrilled to be on my way toward becoming a wild fauna rescuer, just years later I wondered if it was the right affair to do.

As I've learned, it probably wasn't. Similar the vast bulk of baby birds that people encounter, Bluego was a weeks-old fledgling—not a newly born nestling. And this stardom is critical, wildlife rehabbers say, because about fledglings don't need to be rescued. "80 percent of baby birds that come in take basically only been kidnapped," says Melanie Furr, educational activity director at the Atlanta Audubon Society and a licensed volunteer at Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort. "They need to be taken dorsum."

Wandering from the nest is exactly what fledglings—which are but learning to fly—are supposed to practice, she says. Information technology's a normal part of a bird's development, and though these chicks might appear abandoned, they're likely under surveillance by their parents nearby. Of course, in that location is a chance that they could be injured, sick, or in danger, and so there are some cases where a fledgling might crave assistance.

Nestlings, on the other mitt, are about always in demand of rescue. Whether they fell or got pushed from their nest, they're " not prepare to become off into the world," s ays Rita McMahon, Co-Founder and Director of the Wild Bird Fund, a nonprofit animal rehab eye in New York . How to help them, though, can vary.

To know when yous should arbitrate—and how you tin can help if needed—inquire yourself the questions beneath.

Is the bird a nestling or fledgling?

When you come up across a rogue baby, offset determine its historic period, McMahon says.And there's one obvious sign: feathers. While fledglings are larger and covered almost completely in down and feathers, nestlings are small-scale and typically naked—or with just a few fluffs. In other words, one looks like an awkward young bird, and the other kind of looks like a pink petty alien. You can likewise distinguish age past motion: fledglings can hop, whereas nestlings might merely drag themselves on the footing by their bare wings.

If you've institute ahealthy fledgling:  "Walk away from the bird," McMahon says. Rescuing healthy fledglings is non only unnecessary, simply information technology can be detrimental to their development. When raised past hand, she says, babies might confuse humans as their parents (non dissimilar the geese in the picture show Fly Abroad Home). If that happens,"they don't know how to be a bird," McMahon says.

American Robin nestlings. Tom Warren/Audubon Photography Awards

If you've plant a nestling: Aid. Offset, look for the baby's nest in the nearby bushes or trees; if you observe it, simply put the chick back and the parents will resume care. And don't worry almost touching the bird: The thought that in one case yous've touched a baby bird it will exist rejected is not truthful, says Susan Elbin, manager of conservation and science at New York City Audubon."Birds have a sense of smell, but it's not very well developed," Elbin says. "They're non going to abandon their chick."

If the nest is nowhere to be found or just out of attain, just craft 1 yourself, Furr says. Find a small container, like a strawberry basket, and load information technology with a fleck of T-shirt or some straw—anything dry volition practise. Gently place the youngling inside, and braze the bogus nest in a tree close to where the bird was constitute. "You want to get information technology as loftier up every bit possible," Furr says.

One time you lot've returned the bird to a nest—whether real or homemade—go on an center out for the parents. If they don't render within an hour,phone call a wildlife rehabilitation heart.

Is the bird sick, wounded, or at risk?

Whether you lot come beyond a fledgling or nestling, it's important to assess whether the bird needs medical aid or is in danger.

Oft, it'south clear when the bird is in demand of urgent care—if the cat dragged it in, that's a sure sign. Other times the signals are more subtle: Though information technology's a fledgling, information technology can't stand or hop normally. The feathers might exist wet though it's not raining, indicating discharge or an illness that inhibits the production of preening oils. Or maybe it'southward surrounded by flies, which might signal an open up wound.

During hot summertime months, dehydration is also mutual, McMahon says. "Their belly is like a prune, wrinkled, shriveled and suck in," she says.

If you call back you've found a sick or wounded fledgling or nestling, call a rehabber, state wildlife agency, or veterinarian immediately. If it's after hours, take the baby to a safe and warm location, Furr says, such as a closed box with air holes and a heating pad beneath it. And even if your parental instincts kick in, don't feed the baby, she says.

"People have good intentions and think the babe bird is going to starve," Furr says. "Simply a lot of times it ends up doing more than harm than good."

At Atlanta Wild Beast Rescue Attempt, she's seen babies with food in their lungs from improper feeding. Merely if the chick is just kept in a dark place, its metabolism will tedious down, she says, leaving enough of time for professional rehabbers to swoop in for a rescue.

You might likewise encounter a fledgling or nestling that'due south non injured, but at risk—such as from a prowling cat or human feet. Here's an like shooting fish in a barrel set up: "Put information technology in a bush," Elbin says. In other words, hide the chick or put information technology in a place that's out of accomplish or out of the way.

And afterwards all this, if y'all're still not sure if the bird needs help or what to exercise, before doing anything, telephone call your local wild animals rehabilitation center. Helping animals—and preventing fledgling kidnappings—is what they exercise.

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