What should I do if a baby bird falls from its nest?

Many of us see young birds who are unable to fly and seem abandoned by their parents. It's natural for people to become concerned about the welfare of the youngster. There are a few points to keep in mind, though.

Northern Cardinal nestling

First, determine if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling. If it has few feathers and cannot hop, walk or grasp your finger with its feet, it is a nestling. That also means that the nest is nearby. If you can find the nest (which may be hidden), try to put the bird back as quickly as possible.

Don't worry about "leaving your scent." Parent songbirds have a poor sense of smell and will not abandon the baby because we picked it up.

If the little bird has feathers and is capable of hopping or flitting and can hold onto your finger or a twig, it is a fledgling and most likely has left the nest. While quite cute and fluffy with a tiny stub of a tail, it may seem to "need us." However, a fledgling needs a special diet and needs to learn about behavior and vocalization from its parents--things we cannot provide.

American Robin fledgling

Fortunately, the majority of "abandoned" baby birds are perfectly healthy fledglings. Their parents are nearby and looking out for them. The parents may be looking out for four or five young scattered around the yard but they will return and care for the one you have found shortly after you leave.

When fledglings leave their nest, they rarely return so even if you see the nest and return the bird to it, the fledgling will hop right out. The best thing to do to keep the baby out of harm's way is to place it on a branch of a nearby bush or tree. The bird will produce sounds the parents recognize, and they'll soon return to care for it.