A nestling, on the other hand, should not be out of the nest yet. A nestling does not have all of its feathers and can’t stand up or perch yet. If you have found a nestling, instead of a fledgling, it is more likely to need your help.
If the bird is in your backyard, keep your cats or dogs inside. Be aware that if the bird is very young and has no feathers, it is a nestling and it probably won’t survive out of the nest.
If you can’t find the nestlings nest, make it a new one. [5] X Research source Get a small basket or box, fill it with soft bedding, such as paper towels, and place it, with the nestling in it, near where you found the bird, except above the ground for safety. You want the parents to easily find the bird but predators not to. Birds have a very limited sense of smell, so a parent bird will most likely continue to feed a baby bird even if you pick it up and your smell get on it a little bit. [6] X Research source
If no wildlife rehabilitator is available in your area and you are on your own, you may be able to contact a national or state level organization that can give you help. [7] X Trustworthy Source The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth’s biological diversity through research and education about birds Go to source
Cover the bottom of the cage with soft padding. Make sure it is in a warm and calm space. Do NOT put a dish of water in the cage. Baby birds get all the water they need from the food they eat. A bowl of water is just a hazard that the bird might drown in.
If you can’t identify the bird off the top of your head, look at a book of birds that live in your area. Look up the bird type online to identify the bird and to see how to take care of it properly.
Once you’ve identified your bird, protein eating birds can be fed a mixture of baby bird food blended with meal or earth worms. Fruit eaters can be fed crushed fresh native berries like blueberries, blackberries,and raspberries in addition to baby bird formula. Most pet stores carry baby bird formula mix.
Taking on the responsibility of feeding the bird is a big one. You will need to feed the bird very often, even throughout the night. [8] X Research source In some locations, you even need an ok from local wildlife authorities to raise a wild bird yourself. Keep in mind that pet and bird stores can help you find a local wildlife rehabilitator and can help you figure out how to properly feed a fledgling. You can gently massage the birds throat (crop) when it’s swallowing the mixture and keep it warm. Don’t force feed the bird, this will result in getting bitten and the bird being overfed. Only force feed if the bird is a fledgling and doesn’t accept you as a source of food yet. Don’t try to open it’s mouth, it will bite. If you do, wear thin gloves so that no skin tissue is damaged.
