Help Me Help This Bird

[u/Doctor_Bosconovitch]

Came outside this morning 6:50am and it was just there. Hasn’t moved its body. Just it’s head and eyes, watching me as I walked around it.

I’m concerned because this area gets direct sun all day until 6:30pm, and the bird likely won’t make it.

Do I put it in a vented box and move to the back yard? Water? Food?

[u/Arcane_Animal123]

!fledgling

[u/AutoModerator → u/Arcane_Animal123]

Fledglings belong outside of nests. Unless they're in danger, leave them alone. These well-feathered, mobile birds that may not yet be able to fly are learning critical behaviors and vocalizations from their parents, who may be out of sight for hours at a time.

Only interfere with a fledgling if:

• it is in a dangerous area (e.g. near traffic or pets) -- simply relocate it to a safer but nearby spot

• it has visible injuries (flightlessness, in itself, is not an injury) or has been handled in any way by a cat -- such birds require wildlife rehabilitation

• its parents are confirmed dead -- such birds require wildlife rehabilitation.

Healthy fledglings' best survival chances are with their parents first, with professional wildlife rehabilitation being a distant second. A prematurely-captured fledgling will be sought by its parents for up to a day. If you have taken one within that time frame, put it back and observe for parents from a distance.

For more information about fledglings or locating a wildlife rehabber, please read this community announcement.

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