What should you do if you find a baby bird on the ground? The DWR has the answer. Many birds are hatching and often leave their nests before they are able to fly. Some may also be blown out of nests during spring thunderstorms. “They usually chirp and call from the nest, waiting for their parents to bring food to them,” said Blair Stringham, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources migratory game bird program coordinator. “Sometimes, that results in them falling from their perch.” If you find a baby bird on the ground, there are a few things you should do: Put it back in the nest if it doesn’t have feathers. If you can’t find the nest, put the bird on a branch safely out of reach of dogs and cats. You should never take a baby bird home. Most birds are protected by state and federal laws, and it is against the law in Utah to possess wild animals without special permits. Don’t feed the bird. Just place the bird back on its branch or in its nest, and let its parents feed it. Leave it alone if it has feathers. If the baby bird is hopping around, you’ve found a bird that almost isn’t a “baby” anymore. It’s part of the natural process a baby bird goes through before taking its first flight. Its parents are watching the baby bird and are still feeding it. If you think the fledgling is in immediate danger, then move it carefully to a safer spot nearby. Don’t bother or move bird nests that have eggs or baby birds in them. Visit www.wildlife.utah.gov for more information.
