help! i moved a baby birds nest...

[NikkiPR81]

Hi everyone,
i just hope somebody can help me to do the right thing since i dont know anything about birds. I was cleaning my windows and saw a birds nest . Thought it was empty so i pulled it away not noticing that there where 2 very tiny birds , probably newborn, and 3 bird eggs.I had to do something about it , but didnt know exactly what so i decided to put the nest between the three branches in front of my house. The place i put the nest is visible, i thought maybe the mother could find them there, its about 25 steps from where it was originally but a lot lower in height.was this the right thing to do?any suggestions?

Thanks for the help!
Nic

[MaryG1959]

look in the phone book for a wild life rehabilitation center. They can advise you and possibly take them in until they fledge.

Mary

[Eliza]

Here are some links that you might find to be helpful:

http://www.nwrawildlife.org/home.asp

http://www.iwrc-online.org/

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm


Is it at all possible to return the nest & babies to where you found them? That might be in their best interest in that the parents will search there first.

Please update as time allows.

Best wishes,

-e-

[sgoad]

Once upon a time, in a far, far, far away rural area of Tennessee, I had a 5th grade student go around the city park where we were having a field trip and gather the bird eggs from the park's bird boxes. By the time somone came and informed us about this incident, she had gathered about 25 eggs. She was very proud of herself. I had to be restrained.

[Bonesy]

Your smell will deter the parent birds from returning, either return the nest or as suggested call a rehabilitation centre & get them to hand rear the chicks, they will die and quickly otherwise.

[Monica]

IMO, it's an old wives tale that birds will stop going to their nest if a human has touched it...

Find a Baby in Need?
A Guide To Assisting Wildlife Babies
Give wildlife a hand, but give it some space, too

[Bonesy]

Not really. Consider it, you are a tiny prey animal & humans are a large predator. Predator touches your nest of young & leaves a smell all over them. Would you trust that enough to go back to it or would you consider it a trap given your position in the food chain & give it a miss..?

Maybe. You can always build another nest, have some more chicks, but if that proves to be the trap you might suspect then you'll be too dead to make either again.

Just a thought from the birds prospective, that's all :)

[Monica]

Supposedly most birds don't have a good sense of smell... and I can say that I've probably dis-proven your theory many times! When I was younger I'd always hunt out birds nests and then watch them... I especially loved watching the chicks grow! There was even a nest built in the window to one of our bathrooms that I'd always check. I loved watching the mother sit on her eggs so well! And care for her chicks! At one point in time, the nest was abandoned.... however that was due to the invasion of a european starling... I had touched this nest many times before and never had any issues.

On top of that, think about all the captive bred birds... many breeders are not tame. They are wild, and afraid of humans... Yet, there are quite a few breeders out there that handle the chicks for weighing, or otherwise. Very rarely do these birds abandon their nests....

[Cody]

I am not sure about birds smelling but they have good hearing and will be nearby for sure.

If you put the nest back close to the area where it was chances are good the parents will then continue to care for the babies.

The idea that they will be abandoned becuase humans touched the nest is a myth.

I returned a nest last year that had fallen from a very high spot in a tree. It was dense and closed all around except for a small opening, and when I picked it up off the sidewalk - little chirps started like crazy. The only branches on the large pine were very high up so it was a good nest. I put the nest back in a smaller tree nearby as high as I could get it and then I crossed the street and waited. About a half hour later, the parents started to check out the new location. Within an hour, they were bringing food. The nest lasted and they fledged fine.

If the parents don't return (they probably will), then you might try finding a wildlife rehabilitator who can take them in. Otherwise, it's generally best to just let nature take its course, however cruel that may seem.

Don't worry! It was an accident and therefore no different than if a storm blew it out of the tree.

[Cody]

"Parent birds do not reject their young just because they have been handled by humans," Pollock said.

*If a nest has been somehow destroyed, create a make-shift nest with a berry basket or plastic butter tub with drainage holes punched in the bottom. If the nest can be salvaged, place it within the container. Or, line the container with soft, dry paper towels. Wire the created nest as close to the original nest as possible, out of direct sunlight. If it's not possible to wire the nest, place it in a hanging plant potter. Leave the area and watch to make sure the parents return. Although they may be wary of the new nest at first, once their young beg for food they will feed them"



Source: Dr. Christal Pollock, 785-532-4244, cpollock@k-state.edu
Photo illustration available. Contact media relations at media@k-state.edu, or 785-532-6415
News release prepared by: Michelle Hall, 785-532-6415

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

K-STATE EXPERT ADVISES WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND 'ABANDONED' BABY ANIMALS THIS SPRING

MANHATTAN -- Springtime brings new life, from green leaves and flowers, to baby animals of all kinds. It's not uncommon in spring to see baby birds, rabbits and deer on their own. But don't assume these young animals have been abandoned, a Kansas State University veterinarian said.

Dr. Christal Pollock, assistant professor of clinical sciences, said the K-State Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital cares for about 450 wildlife patients each year -- with limited funds. She said although baby animals may appear helpless, most of the time they are not -- all young critters have to learn to fend for themselves. A sick or injured animal is a different story, however. Below, Pollock gives suggestions for what to do if you find a baby animal this spring, whether just on its own, or injured.

Baby birds
*If you find an unfeathered or partially feathered baby bird that has fallen from its nest, place it back in the nest (unless the bird appears sick or injured). If the entire nest has fallen from the tree, return the nest and babies to the tree. Watch from a distance to ensure the parents return.

"Parent birds do not reject their young just because they have been handled by humans," Pollock said.

*If a nest has been somehow destroyed, create a make-shift nest with a berry basket or plastic butter tub with drainage holes punched in the bottom. If the nest can be salvaged, place it within the container. Or, line the container with soft, dry paper towels. Wire the created nest as close to the original nest as possible, out of direct sunlight. If it's not possible to wire the nest, place it in a hanging plant potter. Leave the area and watch to make sure the parents return. Although they may be wary of the new nest at first, once their young beg for food they will feed them.

*If you find a fully feathered baby bird with evidence of tail feathers hopping around your yard, it is probably not injured, even if it isn't flying well. This is a "fledgling" (adolescent bird), which can be distinguished from an injured bird -- the injured bird will hold its wounded wing lower than the other one. You can best help these young birds by keeping dogs, cats and curious children out of the area. Do not put a fledgling back in the nest -- it will continue to jump out and may hurt itself.

Birds of prey
*If you find a Great Horned Owl chick on the ground, don't assume it needs help. Some species of owl leave the nest when they are only half-grown -- the parents continue to feed them. Keep pets away from the young bird, but check on it the next day. If it hasn't moved, something may be wrong. Any bird that is not alert, has flies on it or cannot stand or walk requires help.

Cottontail rabbits
*If you find a baby bunny, but it is not sick or injured, return it to the nest, if you can find it. (Look for a shallow depression lined with grass or fur.) Cover the baby bunnies with a light layer or dry grass to hide them.

"Cottontail rabbits hide their nests in plain view, and are therefore frequently disturbed by mowing, raking or digging by dogs or cats," Pollock said.

*If the nest has been destroyed, reconstruct it with grasses, hay and straw. Ideally, remake the nest in the same place, although nests can be moved to a safer place up to 10 feet away. Dig a shallow hole about 3 inches deep and put in as much original material, adding dry grass as needed. Return the young and leave the area, or else the mother will not return. If you check on the babies and they appear healthy and warm, the mother is coming back.

"Baby bunnies are incredibly difficult to hand raise," Pollock said. "Many do not survive even in the care of an experienced wildlife rehabilitator. A baby bunny's best chance of survival is always with the mother."

Fawns
*If you find a fawn alone, don't assume it has been abandoned. Does often leave their fawns to forage during the day. Leave the baby alone and vacate the area. Fawns should be removed only when the baby appears cold, hungry, injured/sick or if its safety is threatened.

When does a baby animal need medical attention?

*When it is sick or injured.

*When you know the parents are dead.

*When there is absolutely no way to return the baby to its nest, den or hiding place.

"Wild animals -- just like family pets -- require professional care when they are sick or injured," Pollock said. "If you find sick or injured wildlife, contact Kansas State University or a local wildlife rehabilitator for help as soon as possible." If an animal is presented to you by a dog or particularly a cat, it should probably be evaluated by a professional even if it doesn't appear injured. The bacteria in cats' mouths can be lethal.

Transporting injured wildlife

*Use a towel or pillowcase to cover the animal, then scoop it up gently.

*Transport in a cardboard box with a lid. Punch air holes in top and sides and place a towel or paper towels in the bottom. Small birds can be transported in a paper bag with ventilation holes. Pet carriers may be used for larger animals.

*Place container in a warm, dark, quiet place, until you can transport the animal.

*While in the car, keep the carrier out of the sun and away from direct air conditioning. Keep noise to a minimum.

*If you can't transport the animal immediately, contact an expert to determine if food would be appropriate.

*Do not handle the animal or look at it more than absolutely necessary.

Help prevent animals from becoming orphaned or injured

*Keep your dog on a leash or closely supervised.

*Do not allow your house cat to roam outside.

*Reduce or eliminate use of pesticides, such as lawn chemicals.

"A juvenile animal's best chance of survival is always with its parents," Pollock said. "If you see a wild animal that appears to be sick or injured, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or Kansas State University immediately for advice. Many young animals that appear to be orphaned are not."