Help I’ve Found a Baby Bird

We often take calls about fledgling (baby) birds from well-meaning animal lovers who find them and think they need help. However, it’s normal to see fledglings sitting or hopping about and it’s usually best to leave them where they are. Their parents are generally in the vicinity, but they won’t return until you’ve left.

Unnecessarily ‘rescuing’ baby birds can dramatically reduce their chances of survival. If you are worried that a baby bird has been orphaned, please monitor the situation from a distance because the closer you are, the less likely the parents are to return to their young.

If you find a fledgling in a dangerous location, such as on a road or close to a cat/dog – relocate it a few meters away to a safer place, out of the reach of danger.

If the bird doesn’t have any feathers yet, it may have fallen out of a nearby nest, so if you can find it, try to gently put it back in.

Urgent Veterinary Help is Needed if the Bird is:

• Lying on its side and floppy – needs urgent veterinary care
• Obviously injured or unresponsive – needs urgent veterinary care

Please only help if it is safe for you to do so.

Remember, rehabilitation of wildlife casualties requires a license and expertise, so please contact your local veterinary practice if the animal is injured or your local wildlife organisation if you find any orphaned wildlife:

Please contact Kildare Wildlife Rescue info@kwr.ie 8am to 11pm, 7 days a week. Please include location, phone number and short video of the animal for assessment.