14 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2017
By Julie Geiser
Spring is a time when baby birds
hatch from their eggs. It's also a time
for spring storms that can displace
babies from their nests, sending them
plummeting to the ground. Many
people find baby birds and wonder
what they can do to help; there are a
few things that can be done.
First, determine if the baby is a nestling
or fledgling. A nestling will have few
feathers, if any, and may still have its
eyes closed. If you find a nestling, wrap
it loosely with a paper towel or Kleenex
to keep it warm. Try to locate a nest near
where the bird was found. If the nest
is visible and is safe to reach, put the
baby bird back. It's a myth that a mother
bird will not come back to her young if
touched by a human.
If the nest is too high or you do not
see a nest, make one by using a small
plastic sour cream or butter tub or
something similar. Wash and dry the
tub, then place paper towels or Kleenex
in the bottom. Secure the tub in a tree
where the bird was found by cutting
two holes about an inch apart in the tub,
then run string or wire through the holes
and wrap it around the tree. Make sure
your nest is placed high enough to keep
potential predators away, then place the
baby in the nest. The parent bird(s) will
hopefully find their baby and take care
of it.
If you find a feathered baby bird, you
can use the same procedure as above.
Keep in mind that fledglings will fly
out of their nest, usually unsuccessfully
on their first flights, and will end up on
the ground. Parent birds take care of
their young when this happens. Watch
the fledgling for a while and see if a
parent shows up to take care of it.
It is illegal to take in baby birds and
try to feed and take care of them. As
much as humans want to be kind and
help baby animals, sometimes they are
better off left alone. People sometimes
take a healthy bird out of the wild,
depriving them of the care of their
nearby parent. Nature can be seemingly
cruel at times, but it is how the animal
kingdom makes sure that the fittest
survive and the species live on. ■
What Do You Do With a Baby Bird?
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
