picking up baby birds.

[AllaN01Bear]

i was at a shopping center the other day and noticed a young starling on the ground . it peeped at me. i sensed that the parents were in the area and i dare not pick it up to put it back into the bush. is this ok or not? i saw 1 of the parents on the roof of the building and he/ she divebomed me .

[Diamond_Dog]

1. I had the same situation with a baby Robin in my yard a few years ago.

I looked on line for answers, and everything I read said to leave them alone and don’t pick them up (as hard as that is to do). The parents who dive bombed you are doing their job keeping it out of danger. It may have been a fledgling that just left the nest for the first time.

Our little Robin was OK after a day or so, we heard and saw them hopping around a few days later. You did the right thing leaving it alone.

[2naSalit]

2. Leave them be.

There are several reasons for not "coming to their aid" . One is because you may do more harm than good for the subject.

Also, especially now, is that there is a bird flu epidemic in the US and you could be endangering yourself and your family by taking them in. Nature usually handles things even when we think it's cruel. Baby birds out of the nest may also have been rejected by a parent and was removed to protect the others in the nest.

Best to leave some things alone. If you suspect a bird flu situation, do call your local wildlife agency to report it.

[2naSalit]

4. Indeed.

In Montana, we have a bird flu problem already.

FWP has PSAs all over the place but I think it was here last year. I saw an inordinate number of dead birds from magpies and songbirds to bald eagles lying dead somewhere in my travels each day. At the time I was thinking it was possibly the incredible heat wave but it may have been both that and bird flu.

[2naSalit]

6. I plan to.

I expect to spend a good deal of time in the woods this year, until it is too hot and too many tourists show up. I have been out three times in the past week already. Found an antler each time.

At least I can still hike about five miles with a pack, I will be bummed when I can't do that anymore... won't be too long till that comes around.

[2naSalit]

8. SHHHH!

What do you think I was doing out there with my bear spray on hip?

Not warm enough here yet but prospects are good given the percip we've been getting.

And I also found three rather hefty-sized agates in a field! That was rewarding.

[2naSalit]

10. Soon.

Glad we're getting drenched right now.

[intrepidity]

11. I have anecdotal evidence that it *may* work out ok

I have twice rescued baby birds with whom their parents continued to interact.

In one case, the mother actually flew inside my house daily to feed the baby (while the dad stayed outside, perched next to the window peering in, watching.)

In the other, the rescue occurred right as I was leaving town for a few days (car trip) so baby bird came with, and mom was waiting for him when we returned. When baby was old enough to fledge (couple weeks), mom was there to take over and lead baby away.

First case was a type of finch; second was a mockingbird.