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Baby birds
The season of baby birds is upon us. Occasionally, nestlings and fledglings are found on the ground, worrying their finders who wonder what to do.
Here's are some baby bird dos and don'ts, thanks to Linda Wiggins, wildlife rehabilition manager at the Nature Center for Environmental Activities in Westport, and others.
Before attempting to rescue a baby bird:
* Don't be surprised to see fledglings - baby birds with feathers and short tails - on the ground. Parents often kick the kids out of the nest when they should be ready to fly. However, parents may still feed the fledglings on the ground several days.
* Thus, if you see a fledgling hopping around, leave it alone. If you put it back in the nest, it will only hop out or get tossed out again.
* Rescue a fledgling only if it's in real danger from animals or traffic, or if you've observed it for several hours and see it's not being fed by the parents.
* If you find a baby without feathers, try to put back in its nest, if you can spot and reach it. None of our backyard birds has a sense of smell - it's not true that parents will reject babies that have been touched because they smell of humans.
* If the nest has been destroyed or is out of reach, put the bird in a wicker basket filled with grass or straw. Attach it to a shaded side of the tree, using a wire. If you don't have a wicker basket, a margarine tub can be used, but punch holes in the bottom so water will drain. Place the baby in your nest and watch for the parents to feed it.
* If the parents do not return within a few hours, you should bring the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator - such as Linda.
* Put the baby in a small, covered box with air holes. Don't handle the baby any more than necessary; it's delicate.
* Keep the baby warm and dry.
* Don't try to feed the baby fluids - birds breathe through an opening in their tongues and the fluids can thus be inhaled.
Here are some things you can do to help baby birds (this list appeared recently in Florida Today, published in Melbourne, and was sent up by Elizabeth Nash):
* Avoid trimming your trees and shrubs during nesting season.
* Plant native trees and flowers, which provide natural food, water and shelter for wildlife.
* Replace chemical insecticides with organic products. Many birds depend on insects as their main diet.
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