05/31/2026
It's springtime, so you know what that means... BABY BIRDS! 🥰
If you find a baby bird that is alone... the key is to determine if it's a nestling or a fledgling before intervening.
✔️ Fledgling (American Robin pictured): Fully feathered, alert, and hopping around? Leave it alone! These young birds are learning to fly and are still under their parents’ care. Watch from a distance, and you'll likely see an adult nearby.
✔️ Nestling: Partially feathered or bare-skinned and unable to move well? Look for a nearby nest. If you find it, gently place the bird back and observe from a distance.
❗ If you find an injured, truly orphaned bird, or can't locate the nest, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or ask us for our local facility contact. Also, remember that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to handle most wild birds without a permit in North America.
🔍 Learn more at Cornell Lab’s NestWatch.org.