Contrary to popular belief, parent birds will not reject their young if touched by human hands. Birds have a very poor sense of smell and a strong urge to raise their young! Many times, you can watch after a bird by simply monitoring it until it is able to fly on its own. Read these simple tips to find out when you should bring a bird in and when you should try to help it yourself. If at all possible you should always reunite the baby with its own mother.  There is just no substitute for the nurturing, care, and protection that a wild mother can give her infant.  Just remember--Mother Knows Best!

Nestling birds are either naked or covered with soft down, not feathers. If you find a nestling bird on the ground, contact the Wildlife Hotline at (205)621-3333 for assistance. If their nest is broken, you may have to make a substitute nest. Do this by lining a plastic strawberry basket with the original nest materials and positioning it as close as possible to the original site.

(Left: Nestling Cardinal)

Fledgling birds have their wing feathers, but they are still small and may have a few lingering tufts of down. During the first few days after they leave the nest, they are unable to fly and will hop around on the ground or in low bushes to gain strength and coordination. The mother and father birds hear them call and will bring food down to them. If you find a fledgling on the ground, contact the Wildlife Hotline at (205)621-3333 for advice. The hotline representative will probably advise you to watch the fledgling from a distance for at least two hours before intervening. Always keep cats and dogs confined until the fledgling can fly.

Baby raptors (hawks, owls, eagles, vultures) need special diets and handling, and are protected by federal law. Do not attempt to feed or raise a baby raptor. Please limit contact with baby raptors if rescued; these birds are easily imprinted on humans, which almost  always results in their not being able to be released back into the wild.Contact the Wildlife Hotline at (205)621-3333 immediately.

(Right: Baby Owls)

When to Take Action

For the following situations, call the Wildlife Hotline at (205) 621-3333 immediately for information on how to rescue the bird.

	If the baby bird's parents are known to be dead
	If the bird is visibly hurt (if it is bleeding or is struggling)
	If the bird is tangled in string or plastic
	If the bird is stunned from crashing into a window
	If there are flies, maggots, or ants on the bird

In the meantime, it is best to wear gloves to catch the bird. You may have to approach it from behind and use a towel, sheet or blanket to throw over it. After lining a cardboard box with soft, ravel-free material, place the bird in the cardboard box and close the lid to warm it. It is not necessary to poke holes in the box; the bird will get plenty of air, and a dark environment helps to keep it calm. If the bird is alert, you may offer water in a jar lid, but do not try to feed it.

The Wildlife Center does not have the personnel to send people out to rescue baby songbirds. The exception to this rule is baby raptors, which often require specialized training and equipment to capture. If The Wildlife Center arranges to send a volunteer  to capture a young raptor, it is important to keep monitoring the bird until the volunteer arrives so that the bird's location is known.

Please Note:

All migratory birds are protected by federal and state law, and there are stiff penalties for violations. It is illegal to shoot, trap, or otherwise harm any bird of prey. It is illegal to have possession of a bird of prey, even if it's one that was injured or orphaned. It is even illegal to possess an egg or feather of one of these birds without a special federal permit. These laws are intended to protect our valuable migratory birds, so they will continue to play their vital role in maintaining the health of Alabama's natural ecosystems.

Help Protect Baby Birds by Keeping your Cat Indoors

One of the best things you can do to protect the birds around your home is to keep your cats indoors. Millions of birds of different species are killed by domestic cats each year, according to scientific studies. Even birds that survive cat attacks often die from an infection brought on by the cat's claws or teeth. Keeping your cat indoors will help protect baby birds, and it will also keep your cat safe from cars, attacks by other animals, diseases, and parasites.